Helene Recovery Resources & Updates

Hurricane Helene has left behind tremendous destruction in the southern Appalachian Trail (A.T.) landscape and surrounding communities. This page will gather the latest resources and information for A.T. visitors, partners, and supporters.  The ATC is committed to providing support to our A.T. Communities and to rehabilitating the Trail and landscape—no matter how long it takes. 

For Hikers

Current A.T. Conditions:

(10/8/24, 12:05 p.m.) Forest Service land that the A.T. passes through in North Carolina, Tennessee, and southwest Virginia remains officially closed.

The ATC, USFS, and NPS no longer discourage hiking on the A.T. between VA 42 in Bland County and Black Horse Gap (NOBO miles 558.6 to 744.2). The National Forest lands that the Trail passes through in this section are open. However, the Blue Ridge Parkway and all its lands, including in this section, are closed. It is up to each hiker to know whose land they are on. Hikers in this section are also warned of limited emergency services, limited road access, and of storm damage along the route. There is no vehicle access at Black Horse Gap.

If hikers choose to visit the A.T. in the south in areas that are not officially closed, they should be prepared with extra food and supplies. Visitors in these sections may encounter dangerous conditions such as landslides, downed trees (which continue to fall due to saturated soil), and flooded river crossings. Road access may be extremely limited and hiker services, such as shuttles, unavailable.

DETAILED TRAIL CONDITIONS

2024 Thru-Hikers

Thru-hikers who need to skip around closed or impassable A.T. sections in the areas impacted by Helene are still eligible for 2,000-miler status. Thru-hikers can also suspend their hikes and continue where they left off when it is safe to do so and still be considered a thru-hiker so long as they complete the A.T. within 12 months of when they restart their hike.

LEARN MORE

2025 Thru-Hikers 

It is too soon to anticipate how Helene will impact 2025 thru-hikers. Over the coming weeks and months—once we can safely access the A.T.— the ATC will be working with the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, the Clubs, and local partners to inventory the damage to the Trail and determine the need for re-routes. More information will be shared once it becomes available.

For Volunteers and Clubs

We are humbled and grateful for the outpouring of support and offers from individuals and clubs eager to get to work clearing and repairing the A.T. We ask for patience as relief and recovery in the nearby trail towns continues, essential services are restored, and we can confirm it is safe for volunteers to get out on the Trail. You can support these communities now by donating to local relief efforts and emergency response organizations.

WAYS TO HELP

New Volunteers

In the near term, the ATC is focused first on the people and communities that were impacted by Helene. We ask for patience as relief and recovery in the nearby trail towns continues, essential services are restored, and we can confirm it is safe for volunteers to get out on the Trail. You can support these communities now by donating to or volunteering with local relief efforts and emergency response organizations.

Please do not go out to impacted sections of the A.T. on your own and separate from an organized ATC or Club project. Do not self-deploy to disaster zones as doing so can stress already taxed emergency responders.

Stay informed about future volunteer opportunities to rebuild and repair the A.T.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES NEWSLETTER

WAYS TO HELP

Current Volunteers 

Please keep in mind that we are still weeks if not months away from conducting any Trail work or assessments in impacted areas. Some A.T. lands remain completely closed to the public, including volunteers.

Club members in impacted areas should also not head out to the A.T. without express permission from the local land manager. There is still the risk of landslides in many areas, and portions of the A.T. in the south are inaccessible due to road closures. The ATC, local Clubs, and public land managers will be working together to assess the damage to the Trail and its features and will let volunteers know when it is safe to begin work on specific sections.

Connect with your ATC staff contact or your Club RPC representative for more information. You can also email volunteer@appalachiantrail.org.

For A.T. Communities

The 56 unique Appalachian Trail Communities from Georgia to Maine share a special bond and connection to the Appalachian Trail. The devastating destruction from Hurricane Helene in the southeast has impacted our communities and disrupted the fabric of our landscapes in unimaginable ways.

We want to support and share stories of the recovery and rebuilding efforts that will be needed in our A.T. Communities. Please submit updates and images so we can shine a light on these efforts and encourage additional support.

SUBMIT STORIES

Many A.T. Communities in Georgia through Virginia are welcoming visitors who can access them through safe routes. Show your support to these communities by planning a trip this Fall. Be sure to check with individual communities to see if they are open to visitors.

A.T. COMMUNITIES

For ATC Members 

The outpouring of support from the ATC community has been incredible, and it speaks to the resilience and generosity that define this group. We are deeply grateful for your patience and readiness to help during such a challenging time.

While we are eager and anxious to tackle the work necessary to restore sections of the A.T. impacted by Helene, we ask for patience. Critical infrastructure—water, electricity, and internet—must be fully restored and roads must be cleared for the ATC and our partners to evaluate the Trail’s conditions. Here are ways you can help:

Donate to local relief efforts:

Appalachian Voices has gathered an extensive list of resources for people in the communities impacted by Helene and those looking to help specific communities and regions: https://appvoices.org/helene-relief/

Donate to humanitarian and emergency response organizations supporting the impacted areas:

Stay informed about how you can support future efforts to rebuild and repair the A.T.: 

SUBSCRIBE

BECOME A VOLUNTEER

As the only non-profit devoted exclusively to the entirety of the Trail and its landscape, the ATC serves as liaison and unifying entity between the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, State land managers, and the 30 Clubs that maintain the A.T. on the ground. When emergencies occur, we work closely with these partners and volunteers to share critical communication between responding parties to inform recovery efforts across the Trail and to relay important messages and alerts to visitors about current Trail conditions.

A.T. COOPERATIVE MANGEMENT SYSTEM