Five Western N.C. State Parks have reopened
Crowders Mountain State Park
According to a press release from the State of North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Crowders Mountain, Gorges, Grandfather Mountain, and Lake Norman state parks reopened on November 1, at least partially. Rendezvous Mountain fully reopened. These parks were temporarily closed due to impacts from Hurricane Helene.
The following areas are open at each park:
Crowders Mountain — trails and day-use are reopened, all camping will remain closed through November
Gorges — Grassy Ridge Access (visitor center, trails to Rainbow and Upper Bearwallow Falls, RV/trailer/tent camping and cabins) are reopened; the backcountry area (Frozen Creek Access, including Auger Hole and Canebrake trails and backcountry campsites) will remain closed
Grandfather Mountain — most trails and campsites are reopened; Profile Trail, Profile Connector Trail, and Profile Campsite will remain closed
Lake Norman — day-use and tent/trailer/RV and group campsites are reopened; some sections of mountain bike trail may be closed; cabins remain closed to new reservations; existing reservations are being honored
Rendezvous Mountain — all areas are open
The following parks remain closed entirely: Chimney Rock, Elk Knob, Lake James, Mount Mitchell, New River, South Mountains, and Stone Mountain state parks, as well as Mount Jefferson State Natural Area.
“We are very excited to be able to reopen these parks, and we hope to open additional facilities in November,” said State Parks Director Brian Strong. “We know our visitors have been missing our closed parks, and we hope these reopenings will help our neighbors, local towns, and communities.”
The division continues to assist with emergency and rescue efforts in western North Carolina. To date, over 150 division staff have been deployed with the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center as well as to assist with Incident Management Teams and with cleanup projects at western state parks.
“Our priority first and foremost is visitor and staff safety,” Strong said. “There are areas that will be marked closed due to hazardous trees and branches with a high likelihood of falling as well as unsteady bridges and washed-out trails. We ask that visitors follow signage and do not attempt to access areas that have been closed off.”
Some of the remaining closed parks may reopen partially in November, depending on progress with cleanup and hazard mitigation. Chimney Rock, Mount Mitchell, and South Mountains will be undergoing extended closure. Reservations for campsites anticipated to be closed have been refunded in full.
Refer to the North Carolina State Park’s Places to Visit website to check the current status of a specific park or trail.
About North Carolina State Parks
North Carolina State Parks manages more than 262,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina’s state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, including its local grants program, as well as a state trails program, North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers and more, all with a mission dedicated to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomes more than 19 million visitors annually.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
