Major stretch of Blue Ridge Parkway reopens, restoring access to Mount Mitchell State Park

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The National Park Service announced on Monday it has reopened a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway from milepost 382 in Asheville to milepost 355.3 at the Ridge Junction Overlook after completing landslide repairs.

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The repairs were completed at mileposts 375 and 380, allowing access to popular locations such as the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and Craggy Pinnacle Trail.

The reopening of this section of the Parkway provides access to Mount Mitchell State Park and lands managed by the USDA Forest Service.

Visitors are encouraged to check the status of USDA Forest Service trails near Craggy Gardens on the National Forests of NC website.

While the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and Craggy Pinnacle Trail are open, the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area and sections of the Mountains to Sea Trail remain closed.

The reopening of the Blue Ridge Parkway section nearly one year after it was devastated by Helene is expected to enhance access to recreational areas and boost tourism in the region.

Usefull NPS links:

Businesses, including the Pisgah Inn, told ABC affiliate WLOS that they’re starting to see more visitors.

“The opening of the parkway has been like turning on a water spigot. From that first moment that the gates opened, the traffic has increased, the hotel was full last night, the parking lot was full all day yesterday,” said Bruce O’Connell, the owner and operator of Pisgah Inn.

These openings are right in time for leaf season, as well.

OCT 24, 2024: Portion of Blue Ridge Parkway in NC reopens near Blowing Rock