Updated 09/24/2025

Hurricane Helene, which hit the southern Appalachians in late September 2024, caused widespread destruction. A section of the A.T. on the North Carolina and Tennessee border remains officially closed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Latest Trail Conditions

Continue reading for the best ways to plan your A.T. adventure and learn about how to stay safe in areas with storm damage. We will continue to update our Helene Trail Alert with the latest closures and conditions.

Register your hiking plans on ATCamp.org and sign up to receive urgent Trail Alerts.

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A.T. hikers should not make campfires and exercise caution when using camp stoves between Davenport Gap and the New River at Pearisburg, VA, regardless of whether official burn bans are in place (NOBO miles 239.4 to 637.8).

There is an official burn ban in the Roan Highlands from Hughes Gap to Doll Flats (NOBO miles 374.2 to 392.6).

Continue reading for more information about how to stay safe through storm-damaged sections.

FAQs

What are current conditions like in open sections?

All of the open sections of the A.T. that were damaged by Helene are now “punched-through,” meaning that the footpath itself is passable. However, more work is needed.

• In some places, there are walls of downed trees on either side of the Trail. Crews and volunteers have been out throughout the spring and summer clearing debris and trees further back from the Trail.
• Hikers should be prepared for it to be difficult to find campsites and be very careful to not get lost when leaving the footpath for water or to use the bathroom.
• Sun exposure and dehydration is a much bigger risk this year. Pack sun protection and extra water.

Storm damaged areas are also dynamic. Trees will continue to fall (and have from high winds this spring in the Smokies and southern Virginia). Don’t be afraid to turn around and skip around severe damage. Skipping impassable sections will not impact a hiker’s eligibility for our 2,000-miler program.

Continue reading this blog for more details on what to expect in storm-damaged areas and how to stay safe. 

What detours are in place?

Nolichucky River Road Walk (NOBO mile 344.6)

The Chestoa Bridge that the A.T. followed across the river was washed away during the storm. The ATC-funded ferry service to get hikers across the river ended for the year on June 15.

Hikers should use the road walk detour and be very careful along the road, which has heavy construction traffic right now, and may want to shuttle around. Shuttling around the river vs. walking the detour may be a safer option, and will not impact a hiker’s eligibility for our 2,000-miler program.

Nolichucky Road Walk Detour

Iron Mountain Gap Detour (NOBO mile 360.6)

There is now a ~6 mile detour around Iron Mountain Gap to route hikers away a storm debris removal project. This project will reduce wildfire risk by removing fuel (downed trees). The project is underway and uses heavy, dangerous equipment. Because of this, the detour will remain in place until storm debris removal is complete.

The detour is the official route of the Trail and is marked with temporary white plastic blazes.

Iron Mountain Gap Detour

Why hasn’t the Trail been fully opened yet?

1. Helene was a catastrophic and widespread natural disaster and had devastating impacts to life and safety and critical infrastructure. While the A.T. is an important recreational resource, it is one of many resources and habitats that the USFS manages in the storm-damaged areas.
2. The severity and complexity of the damage from Helene has made clearing some sections slow-going. Some areas require heavy equipment to clear, like around Iron Mountain Gap. Winter conditions and the availability of funding and contractors further slowed this work in late 2024/early 2025. Re-opening the A.T. around Iron Mountain Gap is dependent on the storm debris removal project to reduce wildfire risk on National Forest land. 

The ATC, Trail Club volunteers, USFS, and NPS have all been working extremely hard since the storm to assess damage, clear the Trail, and gather funding and resources to restore the Trail. 

I’ve heard from other hikers that the Trail is passable in a closed section. Can I go through?

Just because other hikers say that an area is passable does not mean that it is safe.

The area around Iron Mountain Gap is closed for hiker safety and to give crews room to work. Always stay out of closed sections. 

Official closures from the U.S. Forest Service are legally binding, meaning that you can be fined and/or arrested for being in closed areas. 

 

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Pack Flexibility, Patience, & Good Judgment

Besides the 10 Essentials, the most important things to pack for your A.T. hike to areas that were damaged by Helene are flexibility, patience, and good judgment. Conditions will continue to evolve, and you may have to make last-minute changes to your hiking plans.

• Understand that areas with severe storm damage are dynamic. The forest has been completely changed, with some areas losing more than 90% of their tree cover (no more long Green Tunnel in storm damaged areas – so pack extra sunscreen!). Just because a section is open when you start your hike does not mean it will stay open and vice versa.
  • Trees will continue to fall as they die and rot,
  • High winds and other storms will have a bigger impact on the damaged landscape,
  • Rain could lead to landslides now that these areas no longer have roots holding the soil in place,
  • Storm debris unfortunately makes great fuel for wildfires.

• 

  Storm damage in southwest VA.

  Remain flexible and be ready to change your plans quickly.

  • It is much easier to mentally prepare for changes before you leave for your hike. Take time while you prepare to think through what it would look like to skip sections, skip north of the worst storm damage, or end your hike early.
  • Budget for the possibility of changing plans. Skipping sections and flip-flopping will add transportation, lodging, and other costs. Having emergency funds built into your hike budget will let you be flexible when you need to be.

• Exercise good judgment and err on the side of caution. If you come across an open stretch of the A.T. that has new damage and you are unsure if it’s safe to go through, turn around. We know that it is deflating to backtrack or turn around before your destination, but nothing is worth your safety. The Trail will be waiting for you once it is cleared and repaired.

• Please be patient. Again, areas with severe storm damage are dynamic. Conditions will change. Many Trail towns and sections of the A.T. will still bear the scars of the storm. You can show your care for the A.T. and the Trail community by giving others grace as we all rebuild.
• Stay out of closed sections. Sections of the A.T. are rarely closed and only for very good reasons, usually for hiker safety. Staying out of closed sections protects you and gives crews room to work. Official closures from the U.S. Forest Service are also legally binding, meaning that you can be fined and/or arrested for being in closed areas.

Storm Damage

What to Expect and How to Stay Safe

The A.T. north of the Smokies into southwest Virginia saw the worst impacts of Helene. Some areas are still closed. Learn about the conditions you may encounter in open sections with severe storm damage and how to stay safe.

Downed Trees, pt. 1

• While the Trail has been punched-through following Helene, storms will cause trees to fall throughout the 2025 season and beyond. 
• Also called “blowdowns,” after the storm these ranged from only a few trees across the Trail to hundreds in a mile or two. While most blowdowns from Helene have been cleared from the footpath, more will continue fall and they can slow you down to a mile or less an hour and are exhausting to go over, under, and around. Climbing through can be extremely dangerous due to hidden tension points that can cause branches and trunks to snap suddenly. Turn around instead. 
• Bring a map and compass and know how to use them together. Apps like FarOut are not sufficient – apps can have glitches and phones can die. Turn around if you come to a section and cannot easily see the Trail in front of you. Be extremely careful when leaving the footpath.

Essential Skills

Map & Compass

Click here for a larger, printable version of the graphic. 

Downed Trees, pt. 2

• Know that trees will continue to fall as they die and rot and the ground settles, and as more storms come through. Trees that have already fallen will also continue to settle and move. Look for dead, leaning, snagged, or damaged trees (large cracks in the bark, dying or dead branches, fallen trees caught in others). Standing dead and damaged trees are especially dangerous during windy weather. 
• Know that downed trees make the perfect tinder for wildfires, which the A.T. is at risk of throughout the hiking season. 
• Again, some areas have lost 90% of their tree cover. This means that you’ll be much more exposed to the sun and heat, so be sure to pack sunscreen and consider bringing other sun protection like a sun hoodie, wide brimmed hat, and sunglasses. 

Essential Skills

Hazard Tree ID

Click here for a larger, printable version of the graphic. 

Erosion & Unstable Ground

• Sections of the footpath (also called the tread or treadway) may have severe erosion. Other sections will be soft and unstable. 
• There may be large craters in the treadway due to uprooted trees. These will be especially hard to see in snow.  
• Moderate to heavy rain will increase the risk of landslides in areas where lots of trees were blown down since their roots no longer help hold the soil in place.  
• Rocks and boulders may slide or fall out of place. 

Essential Knowledge

Weather Forecast Helene Landslides

Click here for a larger, printable version of the graphic. 

Damaged Structures & Roads

• Shelters and privies may have been damaged, causing them to have structural issues and leaks after trees and debris are cleared.  
• Signs and Trail markers may also be gone. 
• Roads may still be closed, and open roads may have soft shoulders or eroded edges. 

Essential Skills

Safely Ford Rivers

Click here for a larger, printable version of the graphic. 

 

What to do if you run into a Trail crew

A.T. Maintaining Clubs, USFS staff, and ATC crews have been hard at work this season repairing damage from Helene, and will continue to work on storm-damaged sections through the fall. You can support their efforts and the Trail’s recovery by giving them room to work and making sure it is safe to pass before continuing on your way.

Consider flip-flopping or saving storm-damaged sections until the fall to give crews more time and space to work this spring and summer.

• Never try to pass a working crew or Trail maintainer until you are certain that they know you are there and have paused work to let you pass. This is critical for crews using chainsaws and heavy equipment like rigging.
  • Stay as far away as possible from saw crews until you are certain that they know you are there. Make sure you get a response from them indicating that they see you (hand wave, a call out, etc.) and that they turn their chainsaw off/stop sawing before you continue.
  • If the crew cannot see you unless you get close because of the terrain, wait for a pause in work and yell out. Do not continue until you get a verbal response back letting you know it’s safe to approach.

• Listen for the sound of folks working. If you hear the buzz of chainsaws or clanking of tools up ahead, slow down and approach with caution. Some crews may put out signs at either end of the work area letting you know they are ahead.

• Some crews may also have folks posted at either end of the work area to stop hikers. Respect these crew members and wait until they give you the all-clear to proceed. This is also a great chance to ask questions about upcoming shelters, water sources, and towns!

Last but not least, please say thank you! Many of the crew members you’ll run into on the A.T. are volunteers. Everyone you meet working on the Trail is there because they love it and want to keep it open for everyone. A simple thank you goes a long way toward making these folks feel appreciated for their hard work!

Want to give back to the Trail by volunteering?

A.T. Clubs welcome volunteers to join them on a workday or you can sign up for a multi-day volunteer trail crew experience. Check out all our volunteer opportunities and sign up for our volunteer newsletter by clicking the button below.

Become a Volunteer

 

Trail Towns and Giving Back

Support Local Businesses

Many small mountain towns along the Trail rely on hiker business during the spring, summer, and fall months. As communities along the A.T. in the south rebuild, you can help recovery efforts by patronizing local businesses in places that are welcoming visitors again.

Be sure to check with individual communities and businesses ahead of time to see if they are open to visitors. If businesses and towns are open, consider visiting these impacted Trail towns:

• Hot Springs, NC – visit Hot Springs Recovery Hub for more info on the town’s status. Hot Springs Tourism also has updated info about the status of hiker services.
  • The Hot Springs Resort & Spa has also announced a Hiker Support Program for 2025 to offer A.T. hikers a place to rest, shower, and do laundry.
• Erwin, TN – check out Visit Unicoi County and Real Wild Unicoi for more updated information.
• Elk Park, NC – the nearby town of Banner Elk, NC has information about recovery resources.
• Roan Mountain, TN
• Hampton, TN
• Shady Valley, TN
• Damascus, VA – visit the town’s Helene Updates page.

You can help by patronizing local businesses. If your budget allows:

• Buy gear and gear replacements from locally owned outfitters along the way.
• Schedule rides with shuttle providers instead of hitchhiking or yogi-ing a ride at the trailhead (this is also a much safer option!).
• Plan zero days in impacted towns. Hikers tend to spend more money in town the longer they are off Trail, so picking your zero days in places like Erwin and Damascus will help give the local economy a boost.
• There’s so much going on in Trail towns besides the A.T.! Plan your visit around and attend local events and festivals if you can.

Volunteering for recovery efforts in towns

If you’d like to help with recovery efforts in towns or at hostels along the way, please call ahead first to ask about opportunities. Help will be welcomed in many places, but showing up unannounced or self-deploying can take up valuable resources, create confusion, or slow things down.

Give Back

The ATC and our partners are already posting volunteer opportunities to help rebuild the A.T. and will continue to do so into 2025. Sign up for our volunteer newsletter to receive information about opportunities, including our Trail crews.

Receive Volunteer Opportunities

You can also donate to the A.T. Resiliency Fund to give directly to efforts to clear and reconnect the Trail.

 

Summary

Even though the 2025 hiking season requires more flexibility and patience than other years, remember that we are all stewards of this special place. The A.T. has flourished for 100 years and, with your help and careful planning, will remain a premier National Scenic Trail for another 100 years and more!

More Information

• Helene Trail Alert 
• ATCamp 
• Transportation page with shuttle services 
• Safety on the A.T.
• Guidebooks and FarOut 
• 2025 Hiker Prep Series