GA-VA – Hurricane Helene UPDATED 11/20/24
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Current Conditions
11/20/2024, Confirmed as of 11:45 a.m. (no updates since 11/14)
Please see the table below for the most recent guidance from the ATC, National Park Service (NPS), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the latest information about Trail closures from USFS. We also have this information organized into a map below as a visual aid below.
11/14 Update: The Cherokee National Forest reopened the A.T. between U.S. 19E and U.S. 321 (NOBO miles 395.6 to 428.9) as of 11/6/2024. Please note that just because a section is open does not mean it is safe. For information about what you may encounter in open but storm-damaged sections, visit our blog post about hiking the A.T. in 2025.
Please note that the ATC has received confirmation from federal partners that areas listed as closed below are officially closed. Updates to agency websites may be delayed because agency staff are focused on recovery.
See also ATC’s Hurricane Helene’s resource page.
| A.T. NOBO Mileage | A.T. Section | Status | Land Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 to 78.3 | Springer Mountain to GA/NC line | Open. Partial closures elsewhere in the forest**; hikers warned of potential storm damage. Visitors are also warned of elevated fire danger due to storm debris and drought. | Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest |
| 78.3 to 166.6 | GA/NC line to Fontana Dam | Open. Partial closures elsewhere in the forest; hikers warned of potential storm damage. | Nantahala National Forest |
| 166.6 to 239.4 | Fontana Dam to Davenport Gap | Open. Partial closures elsewhere in the park; hikers warned of potential storm damage. | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
| 239.4 to 392.6 | The A.T. follows the border of NC/TN from approx. Davenport Gap to Doll Flats | Closed. | Pisgah National Forest* |
| 239.4 to 392.6 | The A.T. follows the border of NC/TN from Davenport Gap to approx. Doll Flats (just south of U.S. 19E). | Open but please continue to postpone visits; see *note below. | Cherokee National Forest* |
| 392.6 to 467.3 | Doll Flats to the TN/VA line, the A.T. is entirely in the Cherokee NF (except a short section around Watauga Lake, which is on TVA land) | Open. Partial closures elsewhere in the forest; hikers warned of limited emergency services, storm damage. | Cherokee National Forest |
| 467.3 to 495.2 | TN/VA line to Elk Garden/VA 600 (Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area) | Closed. | George Washington & Jefferson National Forest - Mt. Rogers National Rec Area |
| 495.2 to 704.9 | Elk Garden/VA 600 to VA 624 | Open. Partial closures elsewhere in the forest/in Grayson Highlands SP; hikers warned of limited emergency services and storm damage. | George Washington & Jefferson National Forest Grayson Highlands State Park |
| 704.9 to ~732.1 | VA 624 to approx. U.S. 11 (McAfee Knob area) | Open. | National Park Service |
| ~732.1 to 864.6 | Approx. U.S. 11 to Rockfish Gap | Open. Partial closures elsewhere in the forest/Blue Ridge Parkway; hikers warned of potential storm damage. | George Washington & Jefferson National Forest Blue Ridge Parkway |
| 864.6 to 972.4 | Rockfish Gap to approx. U.S. 522 | Open. | Shenandoah National Park |
Notes From the Table
*Single Star Note
*The A.T. follows the NC/TN border for most of its length through these national forests. Pisgah National Forest land is on the NC side and Cherokee National Forest land is on the TN side. The state line is not clearly marked on the Trail. Cherokee National Forest has reopened most of their lands, including large sections of the Trail. However, Pisgah National Forest remains completely closed to the public. Since extended hiking trips in this section are not possible without crossing closed Pisgah National Forest land, backpackers and long-distance hikers should continue to postpone trips to this area. It is up to you to know whose land you are on. Official maps will show National Forest boundaries.
Day hikes via side trails from the Tennessee side may be possible so long as hikers remain entirely within Cherokee National Forest. Keep in mind that many areas of Eastern Tennessee are still recovering from Hurricane Helene and might not be able to accommodate visitors.
**Double Star Note
**“Closures elsewhere in the forest/park” means that there are closures in the National Forest or National Park that do not impact the A.T. (campground closures, visitor center closures, etc.) but may impact some services or visits to other places within that area.
Map
Click for a larger image. See the table above for more information.
Road Conditions
Many access roads for the A.T. may be gone, washed out, or inaccessible. Many access roads for the A.T. in these states are Forest Service roads. For state road conditions, visit the following links.
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