NPS Expects All Helene-Damaged Blue Ridge Parkway Sections To Reopen by 2026

The National Park Service said on March 6, 2026 that all Helene-damaged sections of the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway are expected to reopen by the end of 2026, as crews continue phased repairs after a storm that the NPS and multiple reports say affected roughly 200 miles of roadway and caused at least 57 landslides.

NPS leaders and park partners have been working through a phased recovery plan that began with emergency stabilization in late 2024 and moved into larger reconstruction in 2025. Leesa Brandon, spokesperson for the Blue Ridge Parkway, told local officials that, “In the coming weeks, really, we expect to see some of these sections opening that are part of Phase 1, and miles being restored. By the fall, nearly 50 miles [will be] restored.” BPR reporting earlier counted about 83 miles still closed at one point and set a target of restoring 50 more miles by fall 2025.

Milestones since October 2024 include an October 30, 2024 reopening of nearly 55 miles from milepost 411.8 to milepost 421 and from milepost 423.2 to milepost 469, and a June 11, 2025 work image showing an excavator removing asphalt at milepost 375. WLOS coverage documented completion of landslide repairs at milepost 401.5 that restored access between NC-191 in Asheville and milepost 420, and WLOS and NewsChannel9 reported additional reopenings including milepost 393.6 on Aug. 22, 2025 and a reported reopening of milepost 420.2 to milepost 423.2 tied to work near milepost 422 by mid-2025.

Not all sections have a single, unambiguous status. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation cautioned that the stretch from milepost 421 to 423.2, including the Devil’s Courthouse overlook, “remains closed for all uses due to a significant landslide” and that the Devil’s Courthouse closure “to be in place for an extended period as plans for permanent reconstruction are developed and implemented.” WLOS reporting around the same period described repair activity at milepost 422 and said uninterrupted access from milepost 382 in Asheville to milepost 469 near Cherokee had been restored in stages; local reporters and advocacy groups have sought NPS confirmation of the exact milepost boundaries as they shift.

Public safety and trail access remain immediate concerns. WLOS urged that “the public is urged to follow all remaining road closures along the Parkway, as both visible and hidden hazards remain. Active construction zones, including crews and heavy equipment, make some areas unsafe for visitors.” A source identified only as Stasny added, “Whenever you’re on the parkway, even in a good year, visitors do need to take some level of responsibility when it comes to outdoor recreation and hiking. And I think now more than ever, they should just be aware of additional hazards.” BPR reporting also cites staffing shortages delaying trail assessments and trail reopenings.

Local businesses and communities have felt the economic impact: Bent Creek Lodge owner Randy Claybrook lost all October revenue in 2024 after Helene damaged Asheville infrastructure, and Asheville’s drinking water was out for 53 days before being restored on Nov. 18, 2024. NPS officials say phased road and reconstruction work will continue through 2026, with the agency’s Helene recovery pages and Blue Ridge Parkway information pages carrying the latest status updates and safety guidance.