More Blue Ridge Parkway Cleared

FANCY GAP, Va. —

The National Park Service has restored access to more miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, in North Carolina and Virginia, five weeks after Hurricane Helene, officials said Friday.

Six more miles of the historic and scenic road are now open from Milepost 405.5, near N.C. Route 151, to Milepost 411.8, at N.C. Route 276.

This newly opened stretch extends an open section of the Parkway announced earlier this week from Milepost 411.8 to Milepost 421.

Campgrounds, picnic areas, and other visitor services are closed in this section of the park for the 2024 season.

The area north of milepost 405.5 remains closed for all uses due to a significant landslideat milepost 401.6.

See more photos of Helene damage to the Parkway and recovery efforts here.

Another 16 miles of the Parkway is also now open from Milepost 201, near Fancy Gap, to milepost 217.3, at N.C. Route 18.

The Parkway is now continuously open from milepost 0, at the southern end of Shenandoah National Park, to milepost 217.3, just south of the North Carolina/Virginia state line.

The Blue Ridge Music Center, located at milepost 213, will open on Saturday, Nov. 2, including museum exhibits, park store, and free concerts called Midday Mountain Music will also resume. The center will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 10.

Before Hurricane Helene closed the entire Parkway on Sept. 27, an existing closure related to a multi-year road project was in place just south of milepost 217.3. Detour signs for that project remain in place along Route 18. Until the Parkway reopens north of milepost 285.5, please disregard Parkway detour signs in this area. The detour signs do not direct traffic to an open section of the park.