An excavator begins to remove asphalt from the motor road at milepost 375 of the Blue Ridge Parkway as work begins to repair a slide caused by Hurricane Helene. June 11 2025 NPS

A 26-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway has reopened in western North Carolina - just in time for the busy fall season - marking a major milestone in the state’s recovery nearly one year after Hurricane Helene devastated much of the region.

The 469-mile scenic roadway managed by the National Park Service winds through North Carolina and Virginia. The famed route experienced extensive blowdowns, erosion, and landslides, resulting in much of the roadway being impassable after Helene struck in September 2024.

More than 16.7 million people visited the parkway, making it the second-most visited NPS site in

See Full Page