The final Virginia portion of the Appalachian Trail that was closed more than two months ago in the wake of Hurricane Helene has reopened.
The 28-mile stretch of the trail from Elk Garden Trailhead to the Virginia/Tennessee line is again open to hikers, the Forest Service announced Friday. This section of the trail had been closed since Oct. 2.
The trail has not returned to its pre-Helene condition, but downed trees and other issues have been sufficiently addressed, the Forest Service said. Hikers can monitor trail conditions at appalachiantrail.org/helene.
“We are grateful for the public’s understanding and patience during this challenging time,” forest Supervisor Joby Timm said in a news release. “A.T. clubs and volunteers, together with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, helped clear debris where it was safe to do so, and our employees diligently worked to get this treasured trail back open for recreation on the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.”
This section of the trail was “heavily impacted” by Hurricane Helene, Kathryn Herndon-Powell, the ATC’s interim regional director of the Virginias, said in the release. In some areas, she said, hundreds of downed trees blocked the trail in a single mile.