Entire Blue Ridge Parkway Closed To Traffic

NORTH CAROLINA — The entire Blue Ridge Parkway, stretching more than 460 miles from Virginia to North Carolina, was closed. Friday in anticipation of high winds and heavy rains from Tropical Storm Florence.

The closure will remain in effect until further notice, the National Park Service announced. Officials say saturated soils combined with high winds will increase the risk of rock slides and falling trees and debris.

All associated facilities along the Parkway, with the exception of the Pisgah Inn and Peaks of Otter Lodge, will be closed.

• Access to Pisgah Inn will be via US-276 only. No access via the Parkway from the north will be available.
• Access to Peaks of Otter Lodge will be via VA-43 only. No access to Peaks of Otter Lodge via the Parkway from the north will be available.

During this closure, all scheduled ranger programs and special events and uses are cancelled. This includes concerts at Humpback Rocks, Roanoke Mountain and Mabry Mill, as well as the Overmountain Victory Celebration at the Museum of NC Minerals.

The Parkway is closed to all use, including cyclists and pedestrians. Attempts to route around gates and barriers is prohibited.

Park officials said the cooperation with these closures is important for the safety of visitors and emergency responders, as well as the protection of Parkway resources.

Updates and information regarding the status of park facilities, including the road itself, will be available on multiple platforms, including the Parkway’s website, and its Twitter and Facebook pages.

Park visitors and neighbors are encouraged to check these sites regularly for information and before heading out to the Parkway.

Keep up with all breaking news reports on Hurricane Florence by subscribing to Patch's alerts and daily newsletters.

Patch Images/Jeff Stacklin