Virginia Blue Ridge Parkway Set to Reopen After Hurricane Helene
Phased Reopening Schedule
The Virginia Blue Ridge Parkway will begin reopening in phases starting this week after being closed indefinitely to clear debris caused by Hurricane Helene. According to the office of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, staff from the Blue Ridge Parkway and National Parks Service (NPS) have worked diligently on recovery efforts.
Opening Details
- Ongoing Phased Reopenings: Milepost 1 to milepost 198 will soft open on Thursday, Oct. 10, with a formal reopening on Friday, Oct. 11.
- Milepost 198 to milepost 217 at the North Carolina state line will reopen the following week, with the exact date to be announced.
National Park Service campgrounds will operate on a first-come, first-served basis until October 14, after which existing reservations will be honored. However, trail assessments are still pending in various sections, so caution is advised while hiking.
Visitors might also encounter reduced services due to staffing shortages, as several employees are assisting with operations in North Carolina, and some areas that were under construction prior to the hurricane will remain closed.
For the latest travel updates, visit Virginia.org.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.