GA-VA – Hurricane Helene, Updated 3/18/25
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Current Conditions
03/18/2025, Updated at 5:00 p.m.
The Iron Mountain Gap detour is now in place to route hikers around the final remaining closed section of the A.T. from about a mile south of the destroyed Cherry Gap Shelter to about a mile north of Iron Mountain Gap (approx. NOBO mile 360.6 to 365.9). The detour is mapped below and is marked with temporary plastic white blazes. The detour is the official route of the Trail.
The section of the A.T. that the Iron Mountain Gap Detour routes around remains closed to give crews room to remove storm debris. Removing storm debris will reduce wildfire risk by removing fuel (downed trees left by the storm). The timing for the completion of this work is not yet determined, but the goal is for the cleanup to be complete this summer. Because of the safety hazards presented by heavy equipment used for the project, the section remains closed. Hikers must use the detour. Stay out of closed section for your safety and the safety of crews working.
We now have a detailed table of closures, conditions, and detours, in addition to the simplified closure table below and the map. Trail conditions change daily and storm-damaged areas are dynamic. We will update the table as often as possible.
Just because a section of the A.T. is open does not mean it is safe and returned to pre-Helene conditions. Since there is a high risk of wildfires in storm-damaged areas, the ATC strongly urges hikers to not have campfires from Davenport Gap to the New River at Pearisburg, VA (NOBO mile 239.4 to 637.8), regardless of whether there are official burn bans in place.
For information about what you may encounter and how to stay safe, visit our blog post about hiking the A.T. in 2025. See also ATC’s Hurricane Helene’s resource page.
Closed Sections & Detours
| A.T. NOBO Mileage | Waypoint(s) | Detour? |
|---|---|---|
| 344.6 | Chestoa Bridge over the Nolichucky River. | Nolichucky Ferry. Alternative: Nolichucky River Detour. Use extreme caution when walking along roads. |
| 352.9 to 374.2* | Indian Grave Gap to Hughes Gap, including Cherry Gap Shelter (which was destroyed)* | Hikers should plan to use the Iron Mountain detour around this section. |
If there is a discrepancy between the map and this alert, this alert should be considered correct.
*Important Notes:
- The A.T. follows the NC/TN border for most of its length between Davenport Gap, at the northern end of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Doll Flats, just south of U.S. 19E outside the towns of Elk Park and Roan Mountain.
- 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. It is not possible to do an extended hike in this section without crossing from one forest to another, and back again. So, a closure in this section of the Trail on one National Forest should be treated as a complete closure. Hikers should stay out of closed sections.
- Day hikes may be possible on open Cherokee National Forest land. It is up to you to know whose land you are on. Official maps will show National Forest boundaries.
Road Conditions
Access roads for the A.T., many of which are Forest Service roads, may be damaged or closed. For Forest Service road conditions:
- Pisgah National Forest (NC)
- Cherokee National Forest (TN)
- George Washington & Jefferson National Forests (VA)
For state roads:
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