The trail and parking lot of Crabtree FallsThe Blue Ridge Parkway reopened this week. The area had been closed since Hurricane Helene downed trees and triggered landslides in this part of the mountains more than two years ago.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, managed by the National Park Service (NPS), announced its reopening on November 10, with a warning for those planning to visit the waterfall.

“Visitors should be aware that several bridges along the trail have not yet been repaired, so for now, you must return the way you came. Please use caution while enjoying the area,” the Parkway said.

The hike to the waterfall

The path It drops 0.9 miles through a forest of oaks and walnut trees to the waterfall, where the water falls from a 60-foot rock wall.

Before HeleneThe complete route was a circuit of about 3 miles, because the return journey was made via another path that crosses Crabtree Creek.

With the bridges closed, it is no longer possible to complete that circuit and you have to return along the same path downhill.

It is a moderately demanding trail, with a steep slope and rocky terrain, and the hike takes between one and a half and two and a half hours.

Campsite and closed sections

Crabtree Falls is located between mile markers 339 and 341 of the Parkway, about 15 miles north of Mount Mitchell State Park. The picnic area was already open before this reopening, but The camp remains closed. and it still doesn't have a reopening date.

Those traveling from Asheville on the Parkway cannot pass Mount Mitchell State Park, because the 11-mile stretch between that park and NC-80 remains closed, where the NPS prohibits any recreational activity.

Es the last section of the Parkway that remains to be reopened in North Carolinaand all road recovery projects are expected finish by the end of 2026.

Since conditions can change throughout the day, it's advisable to check the closing page from the Parkway or call 828-348-3400 before leaving.

The crews behind the reopening

The Parkway thanked the trail crews of Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state and the Carolina Mountain Club for their work in restoring access to the area.

“This reopening is another step in the recovery from Hurricane Helene,” the Parkway posted. “Recovery is a team effort, and we are grateful to everyone who is helping to make these places accessible to visitors again.”

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Crabtree Falls, the tallest waterfall on the Blue Ridge Parkway, reopens after being closed for two years due to Helene

by Patricia Serrano, Enlace Latino NC
November 12, 2026

Enlace Latino NCNovember 12, 2026 The Crabtree Falls trail and parking lot on the Blue Ridge Parkway reopened this week. The area had been closed since Hurricane Helene downed trees and caused landslides in this part of the mountains more than two years ago. The Blue Ridge Parkway, managed by the National Park Service (NPS), announced its reopening on November 10, with a warning for those planning to visit the waterfall. "Visitors should be aware that several bridges along the trail have not yet been repaired, so for now, you must return the same way." "Please exercise caution while enjoying the area," Parkway said. The hike to the waterfall Before Helene, the trail to Crabtree Falls was a loop of about 3 miles. File photo courtesy of the National Park Service. The trail descends 0.9 miles through a forest of oak and walnut trees to the waterfall, where the water falls from a 60-foot rock wall. Before Helene , the complete route was a loop of about 3 miles, because the return journey was made via a different path that crosses Crabtree Creek. With the bridges closed, it is no longer possible to complete that circuit and you have to return along the same path downhill. It is a moderately demanding trail, with a steep slope and rocky terrain, and the hike takes between one and a half and two and a half hours. Campsite and closed sections Crabtree Falls is located between mile markers 339 and 341 of the Parkway, about 15 miles north of Mount Mitchell State Park. The picnic area was already open before this reopening, but the campground remains closed and does not yet have a reopening date. Those traveling from Asheville on the Parkway cannot pass Mount Mitchell State Park, because the 11-mile stretch between that park and NC-80 remains closed, where the NPS prohibits any recreational activity. It is the last remaining section of the Parkway to be reopened in North Carolina , and all of the highway's rehabilitation projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2026 . Since conditions can change throughout the day, it's advisable to check the Parkway closures page or call 828-348-3400 before heading out. The crews behind the reopening The Parkway thanked the trail crews of Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state and the Carolina Mountain Club for their work in restoring access to the area. Trail crews worked to reopen Crabtree Falls after Hurricane Helene. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service. "This reopening is another step in the recovery from Hurricane Helene," the Parkway posted. "Recovery is a team effort, and we are grateful to everyone who is helping to make these places accessible to visitors again." This article first appeared onEnlace Latino NCand is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License . PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: "https://enlacelatinonc.org/reabre-crabtree-falls-la-cascada-mas-alta-del-blue-ridge-parkway-tras-dos-anos-cerrada-por-helene/", urlref: window.location.href }); } }

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