Last Updated on November 25, 2024 10:28 am
NEBO, N.C. – The Grandfather Ranger District on Pisgah National Forest has reopened several roads and eighty-five miles of trails, lifting the area closure that has been in place since Hurricane Helene. While access is now restored, visitors should remain cautious as some storm-related hazards, such as fallen debris or unstable conditions, may still be present.
In addition to the roads open last Friday, the following roads are now open:
- Armstrong Road (Forest Service Road 469)
- Back Irish Road (Forest Service Road 118)
- Brown Mountain Road (Forest Service Road 299)
- Carroll Creek Road (Forest Service Road 466)
- Edgemont-Pinola Road (Forest Service Road 464)
- Pearcy Creek Road (Forest Service Road 4101)
- Rose’s Creek Road (Forest Service Road 210)
- Rich Cove Road (Forest Service Road 464B)
- Maple Sally (FS Road 187)
- School House Ridge (FS Road 4068)
- Boone Fork (FS Road 2055)
- Roseboro Edgemont (FS Road 981)
- Northern Section of Roseboro Gragg, locally known as “Old House Gap” (FS Road 192)
- Watauga Turnpike (FS Road 45)
- Marks Mountain (FS Road 451)
The following trails have been reopened and are grouped by location:
| Area | Open Trail |
|---|---|
| Old Fort | Gateway Foundation Betty’s Run Jarrett’s Run* Salt Gap Connector Oak Hollow Forager Kitsuma Kitsuma Peak Point Lookout Bernard Mountain Old Fort Picnic Area |
| Marion | Toms Creek Falls Harris Creek Horse Woodlawn Fitness Mountains to Sea from 221 to Old Toms Creek Mountains to Sea from 221 to North Fork of Catawba River |
| Linville Gorge | Hawksbill Spence Ridge Shortoff Table Rock Summit Devils Cellar Table Rock Gap Mountains to Sea from Shortoff to Linville River |
| Morganton | Upper Creek Falls Brown Mountain OHV Area and all trails |
| Wilson Creek | Woodruff Ridge Upper Wilson Ridge (NC90 to Schoolhouse Ridge) Schoolhouse Ridge Estes Mill White Rocks Bill Crump Thorps Creek Big Lost Cove Cliffs Little Lost Cove Cliffs Darkside Cliffs Huntfish Falls North Harper Creek Falls Mountains to Sea Trail from Old House Gap to Beacon Heights |
| Lenoir | Boone Fork Pond Buckeye Loop Gem Trail |
*The Jarrett Creek Bridge, the bridge that connects from Curtis Creek to the Gateway Trailhead, was heavily damaged during the storm. These trails are only accessible through the Rostan trail at Camp Greir.
The G5 Trail Collective have built a website to provide the latest updates on trail conditions on the Grandfather Ranger District following Tropical Storm Helene. For more information, visit http://G5trailcollective.org/helene.
Again, visitors are encouraged to exercise extra care as they explore these areas, as crews continue working towards recovery. Using extra caution and following all posted signage and closures will help ensure a safe experience for everyone.
For more details visit our website and Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/nfsnc
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1216601
