Yet another popular section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is reopening just in time for leaf season. Additional landslide repairs were completed, opening up the parkway from milepost 382 to 355.3. This means access has been restored to Mount Mitchell State Park (which has been closed since Helene) as well as popular spots including Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, Craggy Pinnacle Trail, and short sections of the Mountains to Sea Trail.
This opening represents a milestone in Helene recovery, rounding out the first of three phases in restoring NC sections of the parkway. During phase two, the NPS will repair 21 landslide areas primarily between milepost 318.2 and 323.4, in the area south of Linville Falls. Phase two is expected to be completed by fall 2026.
The NPS asks visitors to be patient with construction work and exercise caution on the trails. Check out the current road status before you head out.
Ever wonder how the regional sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway came to be in the first place? Journey back to the 1930s to learn how Asheville fought to be included along America’s Favorite Drive.
