GA-VA – Hurricane Helene UPDATED 10/4/24
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Current Conditions
10/4/2024, Updated at 6:45 p.m.
The ATC, National Park Service (NPS), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have updated guidance for A.T. hikers based on initial, limited assessments:
- Hikers should continue to postpone their trips to the A.T. in Georgia, North Carolina, and southwest Virginia where the A.T. is on Forest Service land until further notice.
- Forest Service lands that the A.T. passes through in Georgia are open, but the ATC, NPS, and USFS discourage hiking this section while emergency response is still limited and the USFS continues to assess damage in the forest.
- NOBO miles 0.0 to 78.3
- Forest Service land that the A.T. passes through in North Carolina, Tennessee, and southwest Virginia remains officially closed.
- NOBO miles 78.3 to 166.6 and 239.4 to 558.6
- Forest Service lands that the A.T. passes through in Georgia are open, but the ATC, NPS, and USFS discourage hiking this section while emergency response is still limited and the USFS continues to assess damage in the forest.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open, but visitors are warned of limited emergency services and there are still closures elsewhere in the park.
- NOBO miles 166.6 to 239.4
- The ATC, USFS, and NPS no longer discourage hiking on the A.T. between VA 42 in Bland County and Black Horse Gap. The National Forest lands that the Trail passes through in this section are open. However, hikers in this section are warned of limited emergency services, limited road access, and of storm damage along the route. There is no vehicle access at Black Horse Gap.
- NOBO miles 558.6 to 744.2
- The A.T. between Black Horse Gap and Rockfish Gap winds in and out of the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests and Blue Ridge Parkway lands. It is not clearly marked on the Trail when it passes from National Forest land to Parkway land. Official A.T. maps will show the different land units.
- The Blue Ridge Parkway and its lands are completely closed to the public. The National Forest is open. If you choose to hike in this section, it is up to you to know whose land you are on. There will also be limited emergency services, limited road access, and storm damage.
- NOBO miles 744.2 to 864.6
- National Park Service land around McAfee Knob from VA 624 to U.S. 522 is open and sustained little storm damage.
- NOBO miles 704.9 to 730.6
We also have this information organized into a table below.
Please be aware that in many areas with storm damage, there is still a high risk of landslides, much of the A.T. in the south is inaccessible due to road closures, and emergency responders are at max capacity. There also may be dangers on the Trail from the storm like downed trees, severe erosion, washed out bridges, and swollen creeks and streams. Many devastated towns along the A.T. also have emergency orders in place excluding visitors so they can prioritize recovery.
Update for SOBOs, Flip Floppers, and section hikers: We have received reports that shuttles around Rockfish Gap are booked or unavailable, and that some roads nearby are closed. Hikers heading southbound (SOBO) who are planning to exit the Trail at Rockfish Gap should consider leaving at Front Royal, VA instead (at the northern end of Shenandoah National Park). We have more information about transportation here, including info about the Virginia Breeze bus line.
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 either themselves in disaster zones or are focused on recovery.
See also ATC’s Hurricane Helene’s resource page.
| Land Manager | A.T. Section | A.T. NOBO Mileage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest | Springer Mountain to GA/NC line | 0.0 to 78.3 | Open with partial closures elsewhere in the forest; hiking strongly discouraged by the ATC, USFS, & NPS |
| Nantahala National Forest National Forest | GA/NC line to Fontana Dam | 78.3 to 166.6 | Closed |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Fontana Dam to Davenport Gap | 166.6 to 239.4 | Open with partial closures elsewhere in the park; hikers warned of limited emergency services. |
| Pisgah National Forest* | The A.T. follows the border of NC/TN from approx. Davenport Gap to Doll Flats | 239.4 to 392.6 | Closed |
| Cherokee National Forest* | The A.T. follows the border of NC/TN from approx. Davenport Gap to Doll Flats. From Doll Flats to the TN/VA line, the A.T. is entirely in TN on the Cherokee NF. | 239.4 to 467.3 | Closed |
| George Washington & Jefferson National Forest** - Mt. Rogers National Rec Area | TN/VA line to VA 42 in Bland County | 467.3 to 558.6 | Closed |
| Grayson Highlands State Park | Approx. Massie Gap to Big Wilson Creek | 501.9 to 504.6 | Closed |
| George Washington & Jefferson National Forest** - Eastern Divide Ranger District | VA 42 in Bland County to VA 624 | 558.6 to 704.9 | Open with partial closures elsewhere in the forest; hikers warned of limited emergency services and storm damage. |
| National Park Service | VA 624 to approx. U.S. 11 (McAfee Knob area) | 704.9 to ~732.1 | Open |
| George Washington & Jefferson National Forest** - Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger Districts | Approx. U.S. 11 to Rockfish Gap | ~732.1 to 864.6 | Open with partial closures elsewhere in the forest; hikers warned of limited emergency services and storm damage. |
| Blue Ridge Parkway and all parkway lands** | Black Horse Gap to Rockfish Gap | 744.2 to 864.6 | Closed |
| Shenandoah National Park | Rockfish Gap to approx. U.S. 522 | 864.6 to 972.4 | Open |
Notes
Notes
*The A.T. generally follows the NC/TN 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 A.T. is mostly on the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests from the TN/VA state line to Rockfish Gap, with exceptions including Grayson Highlands State Park and the McAfee Knob area (see mileages above). However, the Trail does cross some town land in Virginia and is on National Park Service land around McAfee Knob. The Trail also winds on and off Blue Ridge Parkway lands from Black Horse Gap to Rockfish Gap, and it is not always clear on the Trail when you are passing from National Forest to Blue Ridge Parkway land. Official maps show land units. It is up to you to know whose land you are on.
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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