A large section of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina reopened this week as part of the ongoing repairs from landslides caused last year by Hurricane Helene.
The 26-mile stretch of the road in and near Asheville features popular sites like the Craggy Pinnacle Trail and its visitor center, both of which are now open again to the public. The openings marked the end of the first stage of projects to the restore the over 400-mile-long road, the National Park Service said Monday.
Two landslide repair projects at milepost 375 and milepost 380 were completed, as well as sections from milepost 382 to milepost 355.3 at the Ridge Junction Overlook, providing access to Mount Mitchell State Park.
Visitors can now return to the Craggy Gardens area, which is about 20 miles north of Asheville and is known for its mountain views and is particularly popular during the autumn leaf peeping season. However, the picnic area and sections of the Mountains to Sea Trail remain closed.
