Nearly 200 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway reopens as long-term work remains in North Carolina
(WJZY) -- After National Park Service officials closed all of the Blue Ridge Parkway indefinitely following Hurricane Helene, nearly half of the most visited national park property has been able to reopen.
On Friday, officials were able to reopen the Blue Ridge Parkway between its starting point at Shenandoah National Park and milepost 198.4 in Virginia.
The Mabry Mill Cultural Site, the Eastern National/America’s National Parks sales outlet, and three visitor centers — Humpback Rocks, James River, and Peaks of Otter — also reopened on Friday.
NPS said that while Peaks of Otter and Rocky Knob campgrounds would operate on a first-come, first-served basis through the weekend, existing reservations will be honored as usual starting Monday, Oct. 14.
Peaks of Otter Lodge, which did not close for Hurricane Helene, will continue operating.
Before the end of the month, NPS said it hopes to reopen the remainder of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.
The park service warns that trail assessments have not been conducted in all areas and those hiking along the trails should use caution. Visitors may also find fewer services while NPS teams assist with efforts on the North Carolina side of the parkway.
"While we celebrate this achievement, we also recognize that significant and, in some areas, long-term work remains in North Carolina. We are committed to restoring all sections of the parkway to the highest standards of safety and accessibility for our visitors," Tracy Swartout, superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, said in a released statement.
The entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina remains closed as crews continue emergency stabilization and damage assessments following Hurricane Helene.
Blue Ridge Parkway damage in North Carolina
Considerable work remains in North Carolina, NPS said in a Friday update. Blue Ridge Parkway crews and NPS employees have "encountered tens of thousands of trees across the roadway and nearly three dozen rock and mud slides."
"The slides have occurred above and below the road and have also severely damaged or swept away the roadbed in numerous places," park officials said while reminding potential visitors that the parkway is closed to all vehicles and uses. "Hazards both seen and unseen endanger unauthorized users and some threats may not be obvious, such as weakened road structures or hanging limbs, which are subject to falling in changing weather conditions. The parkway is also an active work area, with vehicles and heavy equipment moving through the area."
Entering closed areas along Blue Ridge Parkway is considered illegal, NPS warned.
No schedule has been established for reopening the parkway in North Carolina.