Closures Due to Hurricane Helene

We have noticed that social media and the internet in general has a lot of inaccurate and conflicting material on closures due to Hurricane Helene.

Our data in this article comes from official sources. This article will be updated as repairs complete or reopenings occur. We have included links throughout the article, which is the fastest way to check and see if closures remain in place for the duration specified by the agencies as time progresses.

If you see something posted on an official site that we have missed or has changed after article publication, please notify us.

The Impact of Hurricane Helene

When you think about hurricanes, people typically think about coastal areas. However, with Hurricane Helene, most of the most severely damaged areas were not where Helene reached the coast, but much further inland. Hurricane Helene was the deadliest to strike the mainland United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. United States Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this would “be the most expensive emergency relief project that we have ever had in the country.”

Although Helene made landfall in Florida and affected Florida and Georgia, the most damage occurred in North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina.

Several of these areas had weeks of drought, followed by heavy rainfall for a week leading up to the arrival of Helene. Unlike a lot of states, in the majority of the areas typically affected by hurricanes, the soil is clay, not sand. Sand absorbs the water much faster than clay, causing the land to still be saturated when Helene hit.

Because of the mountainous area, the water was not distributed, but ran downhill, and collected. This resulted in landslides, flooding, the destruction of many bridges, roads, and extensive damage because of downed trees and debris.

North Carolina

Immediately following Hurricane Helene, 13 of North Carolina’s State Parks were closed due to extensive damage and the need of the rangers to assist with the statewide emergency and rescue efforts through October 31, 2024.

Chimney Rock State Park (the Rumbling Bald hiking trail is the only section that is currently open) and the Chimney Rock attraction are currently closed due to the impact of Hurricane Helene and will remain closed until further notice, with no public access permitted.

Mount Mitchell State Park, including the campground and trails, is currently under a long-term closure until further notice due to hurricane damage and the need for repairs to the Blue Ridge Parkway access roads.

South Mountains State Park in Burke County reopened its Clear Creek Access in Morganton on March 17 and is partially reopening its main access at Jacob Fork on April 10. The rest of the park remains closed.

Several trails in the Grandfather Ranger District remain closed until October 1, 2025 or until the order has been rescinded. Trails closed are listed on the forest closure order here. Several trails, recreation sites and roads in the Appalachian Ranger District remain closed until October 1, 2025 or until the order has been rescinded. Closed locations are listed here.

The Blue Ridge Parkway experienced severe damage as a result to Hurricane Helene. Large portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway remain closed until further notice. The Blue Ridge Parkway has a page dedicated to closures. Areas affected are:

milepost 120.3 (VA section)

milepost 121.4 – 135.9 (VA section)

milepost 216.9-285.5 (MP217.3 – MP 234.1 is undergoing replacement of 3 bridges)

milepost 234.1 – 242.3 (a multi-year road construction project is currently underway)

milepost 248 to milepost 249 (Laurel Fork bridge replacement)

milepost 305.2-330.9

milepost 333.9-377.4

milepost 393.6-405.5

milepost 420.2 – 423.2.

On March 20, 2025 a ban on open fires, including campfires, will be in effect at all North Carolina state parks until further notice.

Tennessee

David Crockett Birthplace State Park experienced catastrophic damage from flooding during Hurricane Helene, which washed away all the farmstead buildings, cabins, and playgrounds and left nearly a foot of mud on the trails. David Crockett Birthplace State Park is closed until further notice and is currently undergoing extensive repairs.

Roan Mountain State Park has reopened since Hurricane Helene, but still has areas of the park that will remain closed until further notice.

The following trails are inaccessible and will be closed indefinitely:

• Bearwallow Trail
• Chestnut Ridge Trail
• Forest Road Trail
• Riverside Trail
• Turkey Trot Trail

Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area, which is currently listed as closed according to their website, also sustained extensive damage from Helene, but hopes to reopen Elm Hollow Trail, however Birchfield Trail is listed as closed indefinitely. For the most updated information, please visit the Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area website.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to their website, still has several trails closed because of damage from Hurricane Helene, including:

Cataloochee Area trail closures due to Hurricane Helene damage:

• Balsam Mountain Trail from the intersection with Mount Sterling Ridge Trail to the Appalachian Trail
• Big Fork Ridge Trail
• Boogerman Trail
• Caldwell Fork Trail
• Cataloochee Divide Trail
• Hemphill Bald Trail
• Little Cataloochee Trail
• Long Bunk Trail
• McKee Bridge Trail
• Mt. Sterling Trail
• Palmer Creek Trail
• Pretty Hollow Gap Trail
• Rough Fork Trail

Big Creek Area trail closures due to Hurricane Helene damage:

• Big Creek Trail
• Gunter Fork Trail
• Swallow Fork Trail

Backcountry campsite closures due to Hurricane Helene damage: 39, 40, 41, 42

Scott Mountain Trail is closed from campsite #6 to Schoolhouse Gap. Campsite #6 is open.

South Carolina

Immediately following Hurricane Helene, 28 of South Carolina’s 48 State Parks were closed due to damage and power outages. Jones Gap State Park was the last state park to reopen on March 1, 2025. However, hikers ignored a statewide burn ban listed on the South Carolina State Parks website and caused a large wildfire closing Table Rock State Park, Caesars Head State Park and Jones Gap State Park. If you are looking for closures at South Carolina state parks, visit their website and click on the red bar at the top of their main web page or their Facebook page.

There are too many city and county parks to list, however you can search for closures on their Facebook pages or do a Google search with the waterfall/trail name and the city/county and state and you should be able to find the information you need.

Road Closures That May Have an Impact

According to the Department of Transportation (TDOT), in Tennessee, five major road sections remain closed, mostly due to the repairs on collapsed bridges caused by Hurricane Helene, including the following:

• Carter County – SR67 (bridge) estimated opening: May 31, 2025
• Greene County – SR107 (bridge) estimated opening: June 23, 2025
• Washington County – SR81 (bridge) estimated opening: June 23, 2025
• Carter/Johnson County – SR159 estimated opening: August 31, 2025
• Washington County – SR353 (bridge) estimated opening: May 22, 2026.

A 12-mile stretch of Interstate 40 between North Carolina and Tennessee, which has been closed since Hurricane Helene last September, reopened on March 1, 2025 with one lane of travel in each direction. The speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph. Expect delays, especially on weekends. Wide loads are not permitted to travel on the road until further notice.

138 roads in western North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), remain closed due to damage from Helene as of March 30, 2025. The NCDOT provides updates on road closures and recovery efforts on its website, DriveNC.gov.