🚧 No Hikes, Just Hurdles: Hurricane Helene Leaves NC Parks in Limbo

No Hikes, Just Hurdles: Hurricane Helene Leaves NC Parks in Limbo

When Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina, it didn’t just rustle some leaves; it wreaked havoc on our beloved parks. Now, South Mountains State Park, Mount Mitchell State Park, and Chimney Rock State Park remain shuttered indefinitely, leaving adventure-seekers stuck in nature’s waiting room. Here’s what’s keeping the gates closed and why your boots won’t hit these trails anytime soon.

South Mountains: From Scenic to Shambles

As the largest state park in North Carolina, South Mountains State Park is famous for its breathtaking views, challenging trails, and that Instagram-worthy High Shoals Falls. But thanks to Helene, it’s now famous for something else—catastrophic damage.

Here’s the rundown:

• Trails in Trouble: All 50 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails are tree-free, thanks to a heroic team of chainsaw-wielding pros, but many sections are now impassable due to landslides, missing bridges, and erosion that turned paths into canyons.

• Waterfall Woes: The beloved High Shoals Falls trail is mostly intact—until you reach the bridge perched precariously above the falls, now more of a steel trapeze act than a safe walkway. Removal? Likely requiring a helicopter or very patient engineers.

• Quiet as a Tomb: Without visitors, the park feels eerily peaceful, except for rangers hustling to rebuild walkways and picnic spots that Helene turned into kindling.

Mount Mitchell and Chimney Rock: Nature’s No-Go Zones

For those hoping to summit Mount Mitchell, the tallest peak east of the Mississippi, or marvel at Chimney Rock’s iconic views, your plans are on indefinite hold.

• Mount Mitchell: This crown jewel is currently landlocked, thanks to sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway being washed out. With access roads buried under debris, the only way up is…well, there isn’t one right now.

• Chimney Rock: The bridge over the Rocky Broad River is now a memory, leaving this park isolated like a castle with its moat permanently flooded.

Both parks are closed until repairs can reconnect them to civilization—timelines TBD.

When Will the Parks Reopen?

Let’s just say Helene didn’t leave a quick fix behind. Rebuilding washed-out roads, trails, and bridges is a monumental task, and officials are keeping timelines vague. For now, adventurers are encouraged to find alternative trails or explore other parks that have reopened, like Grandfather Mountain State Park or Pisgah National Forest.

If you’re itching for updates, check each park’s official page:

• South Mountains State Park

• Mount Mitchell State Park

• Chimney Rock State Park

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Senior Writer, Queen City Express