What's Open: Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville
Visitors to the Asheville area can once again enjoy the majesty of the Blue Ridge Parkway as we carefully turn the page to a new chapter in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
In the months since the road was completely shut down, large portions of the Parkway have reopened for safe travel alongside some popular hikes. Here’s what we know and the best way to safely access the Parkway openings from Asheville. Be sure to find the most recent information on open roads and safe routes to your destination or head to DriveNC.gov for real time updates.
Pro-Tip: Don’t park on the roadside — only in official parking lots. There may be hidden hazards, and parked cars hinder work crews.
This article will continue to be updated as new information is provided.
Blue Ridge Parkway Sections Open Near Asheville
NC Route 151 (Milepost 405.5) to NC Route 276 (milepost 421)
The National Park Service restored access to an additional six miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mount Pisgah which opens many popular overlooks and hikes, including:
*Please double-check before heading out to see if trails are open post-Helene. The Devil’s Courthouse area is closed due to significant road damage on the parkway. This closure includes bicycle and pedestrian use.
Milepost 285.5 at Beacon Gap to milepost 305 near Beacon Heights
This section, which was the first to open after Hurricane Helene, wraps around Grandfather Mountain near Boone, Blowing Rock and Linville. Popular trails open near here include:
- Rough Ridge Hiking Trail
- Daniel Boone Scout Trail
- Beacon Heights Trail
- Linn Cove Viaduct via Tanawha Trail
- Flat Top Mountain Trail
- Stack Rock Trail
Mileposts 423.2 (Beech Gap) to Mileposts 469 (Oconaluftee, US 441)
Located near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cherokee, this section includes some great reopened areas, including the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center, Heintooga Spur Road to the Masonic marker and other nearby trails.
Milepost 382 at the Folk Art Center to Milepost 393.6 at the NC Arboretum.
The section extends from the U.S. 70/Tunnel Road intersection at Milepost 382.5, south to N.C. 191 (Brevard Road) at Milepost 393.6 near the French Broad River and the North Carolina Arboretum. The Asheville Visitor Center, at milepost 384, has resumed year-round operations daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Folk Art Center operations at milepost 382 have also resumed. Trails in this section of the Parkway are also open, but caution is advised.
This allows access onto and off of the parkway from the following roads:
- U.S. 70 (Tunnel Road)
- U.S. 74
- U.S. 25 (Hendersonville Road)
- N.C. 191 (Brevard Road)