One of three NC state parks still closed because of Helene partially reopens
South Mountains State Park reopens this spring, after months of work to clear roads and trails of fallen trees and debris left by the remnants of Hurricane Helene in September.
But some trails remain closed, including the most popular, as recovery work continues.
The western entrance of the park, known as the Clear Creek Access, reopened for day use on March 17, along with the Clear Creek and Lake View trails and Broughton Hospital Reservoir. The park’s main entrance at Jacob Fork is expected to reopen sometime in April.
The return of South Mountains leaves two state parks still shuttered — Chimney Rock and Mount Mitchell. Both parks are still inaccessible by car because of washed-out roads and bridges nearby, and the state does not yet know when they might reopen.
The state closed all 13 of its parks west of Interstate 77 after the remnants of Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina. Most were at least partially open again by mid-December.
But the damage in South Mountains posed a particular challenge. At 21,000 acres, the park is the largest in the state system, with 50 miles of hiking, equestrian and cycling trails through remote and rugged terrain. Downed trees, landslides and washed-out bridges made them impassable after the storm.
State parks employees from across the state put in more than 4,300 hours clearing roads and trails of downed trees. They received help from about 75 people from other agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Mississippi Forestry Commission, the Virginia Department of Forestry and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
They cut and cleared thousands of trees from all 50 miles of trails and another 10 miles of fire lines, said parks spokeswoman Kris Anne Bonifacio.
“Right now, we are working on debris removal from the thousands of hours of cutting and sawing of hazard and downed trees,” Bonifacio wrote in an email.
Still ahead is repair or replacement of bridges damaged by flooding creeks and the Jacob Fork River, which is “going to be a lengthy process,” Bonifacio said.
Access to the park’s main attraction still closed
South Mountains State Park, in Burke County south of Morganton, drew nearly 423,000 visitors in 2023. N.C. Parks Director Brian Strong said he appreciated people’s patience as the state worked to make the park safe again.
“I’m especially proud of our staff who have been working incredibly hard to reopen the park as quickly as possible, recognizing that our visitors are eager to enjoy the beautifully rugged backcountry again,” Strong said in a statement.
Four trails will remain closed after the park reopens: Headquarters Trail, Shinny Trail, Possum Trail and the park’s most popular, the loop trail to High Shoals Falls, an 80-foot waterfall about a mile from the main parking lot.
A bridge spanning the river just above the falls was swept off its piers during Helene, leaving its steel frame perched on rocks atop the waterfall and above the viewing platform below. The bridge frame is still there and appears to have shifted in the latest storms, said ranger Mary Griffin.
It’s not clear yet how the steel frame will be removed, Griffin said, but given its location it may require a helicopter.
Chimney Rock State Park in Rutherford County has been closed since the Rocky Broad River washed away the highway outside the park and the bridge leading into it. The N.C. Department of Transportation has partially reopened the highway but is still working on plans to rebuild it and the bridge.
Mount Mitchell State Park is accessible by car only from the Blue Ridge Parkway, which remains closed on either side of the park because of landslides.
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This story was originally published March 11, 2025 at 8:54 AM.
