NC/TN – Nolichucky River Ferry & Detour, Updated 8/7/25

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Reroute/Detour

Alert

08/07/2025

The Chestoa Bridge that carried the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) over the Nolichucky River was swept away during Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024 (NOBO mile 344.6).  

Until the bridge is rebuilt, hikers have two options: 

  1. The Nolichucky Ferry. A free, daily ferry service is provided to A.T. hikers during the peak hiking season (from April through approximately mid-June). The Nolichucky Ferry is funded by the ATC thanks to donations to our A.T. Resiliency Fund. 
  1. The Nolichucky River Detour & Road Walk. When the ferry is not running, the road walk detour is the official route of the A.T. Hikers should be extremely careful when walking along roads. Hikers may choose to shuttle around instead of walking. 

The ATC, along with officials from the town of Erwin, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Forest Service, are working on plans to rebuild the bridge. There is currently no estimated completion date for the new bridge. We will update this notice as we receive more information. 

For more information about damage from Hurricane Helene and Trail conditions in storm-damaged sections, visit our Helene Trail Alert.  

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