The Blue Ridge Parkway has reopened two additional sections in western North Carolina, just in time for the autumn leaf season, two years after Hurricane Helene caused significant damage. These recent reopenings now allow travelers to drive the Parkway without detours from Virginia all the way to Little Switzerland. However, 11 miles of the scenic route, specifically between NC-80 at mile marker 344.2 and Mount Mitchell, remain closed, with the National Park Service (NPS) anticipating their full reopening by the end of 2026.
The newly accessible stretches include the area from mile marker 317.5, south of Linville Falls, to mile marker 324.7, and another segment from mile marker 333.9, in Little Switzerland, to mile marker 340.2. These restorations mark significant progress in recovery efforts following the hurricane, which severely impacted one of the national park system's most visited sites.
Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout emphasized the timing of these reopenings. "October is an especially important time for tourism throughout the region," Swartout stated, adding that the restored access enables visitors to enjoy more of the Parkway's fall scenery and improves access to communities, businesses, and destinations along the route.
Under Secretary of the Interior Kate MacGregor provided an update on the extensive repair work, noting that 48 of the 60 landslide repairs required on the Blue Ridge Parkway after Hurricane Helene are already completed, with work progressing on the final 12 sites. MacGregor further stated that access has been restored to 458 of the Parkway’s 469 miles, with continued progress on the remaining 11 miles. She highlighted that this development "supports the communities, small businesses, and local economies" that rely on the scenic route. The NPS cautioned that the exact reopening date for the final sections is contingent on hiring and the pace of ongoing construction.
While vehicular access improves, some recreational areas along the Parkway remain closed. All recreational activities are prohibited within the 11-mile section that is still closed to traffic. Although Linville Falls is now accessible by car via the access road at mile marker 316.5, its campground and picnic area remain closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene. Similarly, the picnic area at Crabtree Falls is open, but the campground there is still closed, and hiking is prohibited in that immediate area. Near Boone and Blowing Rock, sections B and D of Camp Julian Price have reopened, and reservations can be made through October 30 via recreation.gov.
Visitors planning to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway this fall are advised to check weather and road conditions daily, as these are updated by the NPS. The park also provides visitor information in Spanish.
The sections between Linville Falls and Mount Mitchell, encompassing both the recently reopened segments and the still-closed portions, experienced the "worst damage from the storm" according to the NPS. Hurricane Helene brought up to 30 inches of rain and sustained winds reaching 60 miles per hour, resulting in thousands of uprooted trees and numerous landslides that washed away entire sections of the highway. Crews repaired 21 landslides south of Linville Falls alone to facilitate the reopening of that stretch. Between Little Switzerland and Mount Mitchell, where work is ongoing, more than 24 damage sites are being addressed. Beyond the Parkway, nine state highways in western North Carolina were still closed in early October, indicating the broader impact of the storm.
Despite sections being closed, the Parkway was the most visited site in the entire national park system in 2025, recording over 16.5 million visits. The NPS's most recent report on visitor spending from 2024 indicates that travelers on the route spent more than $1.520 billion in nearby towns. This substantial spending supported 15,679 jobs in a region where many businesses continue to experience the effects of Hurricane Helene. The continued efforts to restore full access are critical for the sustained economic health of these communities.
