Blue Ridge Parkway opens 26-mile section from Asheville to Craggy Gardens

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The National Park Service has announced the completion of two landslide repair projects located at milepost 375 and 380 and reopened a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway from milepost 382, in Asheville, to milepost 355.3 at the Ridge Junction Overlook, near NC 80 and the entrance to Mount Mitchell State Park.

This section of the Parkway includes popular locations in the Craggy Gardens area, near milepost 364. Monday’s opening includes the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, Craggy Pinnacle Trail, and short sections of the Mountains to Sea Trail.

Locations that remain closed include the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area and sections of the Mountains to Sea Trail from the Craggy Trail Shelter to the Snowball Mountain Trail.  

Monday’s opening also marks the completion of an initial round of recovery projects underway to repair landslides that occurred on the Parkway as a result of Hurricane Helene. The park is prioritizing the restoration of road access through a phased system, and additional projects are beginning in 45 remaining locations.

The highest concentration of overall roadway and infrastructure damage along the Parkway occurred from the Linville Falls area, near milepost 317, south to Mount Mitchell State Park. 

Projects slated for repair as the next phases of road recovery will restore and stabilize the road, remove remaining debris, and repair overlooks and guardrails.  

For safety reasons, the park asks that people continue to be patient and respect remaining closures. 

For more information about current road statuses, regional maps, details about the park’s recovery process, and other helpful information, click here.