January 2010 Update
An unusually harsh winter storm dumped two feet of snow on December 17-18 in many areas of the Parkway. A Christmas Day ice storm compounded the damage by bringing down thousands of trees and limbs in several districts. Cleanup efforts have been hampered by a week or more of below freezing temperatures and extended closures are likely. The Museum of North Carolina Minerals (Milepost 331), the Folk Art Center (Milepost 382), and the Parkway Visitor Center (Milepost 384) are open year round. Check the park information line at (828) 298 0398 for the most up-to-date road closures, especially when major winter storms have impacted the area.
On January 19th, the Parkway opened from U.S. 25 (Milepost 388) to U.S. 70 (Milepost 382). The Folk Art Center at Milepost 382 and the Visitor Center at Milepost 384 are open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
While many sections of the Parkway are gated closed at this time, motorists should be aware that it is not physically possible to gate many hazardous sections of the Parkway. When major accumulations of snow, ice or other road hazards such as downed trees and tree limbs are present, it often takes Parkway personnel several weeks to clear the road, especially at higher evaluations where snow pack is deeper and cooler temperatures impede the melting of snow and ice accumulations. In road sections with tunnels or north facing cliffs, the closures may last longer due to heavy ice accumulations and limited exposure to warm air.
October 16, 2009 Update
Blue Ridge Parkway Closed South of Asheville near Mt. Pisgah - 1.5-mile section
With growing fears of a major landslide onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, officials have indefinitely closed a 1.5-mile section of the Parkway near Mt. Pisgah - south of Asheville. Barricades are at the Bad Fork Valley Overlook at milepost 399.7 and the Wash Creek Valley Overlook at milepost 401.1. The closure is a result of widening 300-foot-long fissures on a slope 200 feet above the road. If the 50-foot-deep cracks cause a landslide, an estimated 1,000 tons of rock and soil could end up on the Parkway. The cracks are 5-7 feet wide and a bulge has developed under the down-slope roadbed. Federal Highway Administration geotechnical engineers determined that an inordinate amount of rainfall, the likelihood of additional precipitation and the tenuous condition of the slope create a high risk of failure. The slope failed in 2002 and has been closely monitored since being repaired.
Near fear! There's an easy and beautiful detour from Asheville. To reach the highly scenic section of the Parkway south of Mt. Pisgah, travelers from Asheville can take NC 280 (Exit 40 on I-26) to Brevard, then drive the beautiful Forest Heritage Scenic Byway (see our guide) via U.S. 276 through Pisgah National Forest to the Parkway. From NC 280 as you enter the Brevard area, turn right on U.S. 276 at the shopping center with Wal-Mart. You will pass Looking Glass Falls and Cradle of Forestry and other great hikes and stops along the way. It's a beautiful 15 mile drive from Brevard to the Parkway.
If you are traveling north or south on the Parkway, here are detour routes:
Detour for Southbound Traffic already on the Parkway:
After crossing French Broad River Bridge turn right onto parkway ramp
• Follow ramp to traffic light, turn right onto NC Route 191
• Stay on NC Route 191, turn right onto NC Route 280
• Stay on NC Route 280, turn right onto US Route 276
• At top of mountain turn right onto parkway ramp
Mt. Pisgah traffic: Turn right onto parkway
Southbound traffic: Turn left onto parkway
Detour for Northbound Traffic
(Mt. Pisgah traffic: Stay straight on parkway)
Northbound traffic: At parkway intersection with US 276
• Turn right onto parkway ramp and turn left onto US 276
• Stay on US 276, turn left onto NC Route 280
• Stay on NC Route 280, turn left onto NC Route 191
• Follow NC Route 191 to intersection of NC Route 191 and parkway
• At traffic light turn left onto parkway entrance ramp
• At top of ramp turn left onto parkway north
September 2009 Update
Good News: In May, Blue Ridge Parkway reopened at Craggy Gardens near Asheville.
Bad News: You will encounter a few delays since repaving continues on the Parkway north of Asheville.
Repaving operations continue through 2009 on 16 miles of the Parkway between Asheville and Craggy Gardens. Three overlooks north of Craggy Gardens are closed. But there are many others to enjoy! Parkway officials caution visitors traveling though this area to pay close attention to traffic control by flagmen as slight travel delays may occur in the re-paving zones.
