Grandfather Mountain Remains "Snowed-in"

Dec 31, Grandfather Mountain, Linville NC. A major storm came through December 18-20, dropping two feet of snow on Grandfather Mountain. Crews were still clearing snow from the paths when an ice storm arrived on Christmas Eve, coating surfaces with half an inch of ice and downing trees and limbs all across the Mountain. Crews used chain saws to clear the road to the summit while they awaited the arrival of the power company. The attraction remains closed to visitors as of December 31st.

Grandfather Mountain got power back during the night December 30th. All effort is being made to get the attraction ready to welcome visitors "half-way" to the Nature Museum by the afternoon of New Year's Eve. There is no estimate on how long it will be before guests can drive to the Swinging Bridge. For current information, phone our entrance gate at 828-733-4337. Read more...

Heavy rains cause Parkway Closure

A small section of the Blueridge Parkway approaching Mt. Pisgah is temporarily closed. From Milepost 393.6 at the French Broad River junction to Milepost 405.5 near the Pisgah Campground Country Store is now closed as a precaution. The recent heavy rainfall has made the area subject to slides. Pisgah Inn remains open and accessible from US Highway 276 at Wagon Road Gap. Read more about Parkway closures...

Closure News: Great Accessibility for Fall Colors

Blueridge Parkway Closures
As of September 29, 2009 all areas of the Parkway are open except 269.8 at Phillips Gap to 271.9 Cascade Park Overlook. The short section is currently closed for slide repairs but expected to be open this fall.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm

Reminder of Park Road Closures and Delays

Milepost 269.8 - 280.9 - Blowing Rock Area

Roadway fill repair at Milepost 270.3 will close the Parkway until November, 2009.

For southbound traffic, exit the Parkway at Phillips Gap (Milepost 269.8) to Phillips Gap Road (NC 1168) to Idlewild Road (NC 1003) to US 221 south to US 421 south back to the Parkway at Deep Gap (Milepost 276.4).

For northbound traffic, exit the Parkway at Parkway School (Milepost 280.9) to Old US 421 south to New US 421 south to US 221 north to Idlewild Road (NC 1003) to Phillips Gap Road (NC 1168) back to the Parkway at Phillips Gap (Milepost 269.8).

Milepost 285.5 to 291.8 – Blowing Rock Area

Goshen Creek Bridge repair has closed the Parkway between US Route 421 east of Boone, NC and US Route 321 south of Boone. The detour will begin for visitors traveling south at milepost 285.5, Bamboo Gap. Visitors will follow state road (SR) 1514 Bamboo Road to Deerfield Road, following the detour signs along US Route 321 south of Boone then connecting back to the Parkway at milepost 291.8.

Visitors traveling north will begin the detour at milepost 291.8, intersection US Route 321; follow the detour signs along US321 to state route 1514 Deerfield Road to Bamboo Road which will bring them back to the Parkway at milepost 285.5. The total detour is estimated to be approximately 8 miles.

Bridge repair is anticipated to be complete by late summer or early fall 2009.

Other construction areas to be aware of...

Some short construction delays of 10-15 minutes or one-lane traffic may occur at the following areas during the summer...Milepost 359-375 north of Asheville, and Milepost 401 near Mount Pisgah. Some old pavement in this area is rather rough so bikers beware!

Update: Chimney Rock Park - Work Continues to Exclamation Point

Progress is being made along the Skyline trail leading to Exclamation Point. So far, they've got about 1/3 of the gravel in place and have completed some of the necessary retaining walls. Remember, the project necessitates that more than 25 tons of gravel and 120 timbers be moved to the work site, and that work site is 2,480 ft. up the side of a mountain.

They hope to have the section of the trail from Devil's Head to Exclamation Point open sometime early this summer. The plan for the rest of the Skyline-Cliff Trail Loop will be considered in State Parks' overall Master Plan for Chimney Rock State Park.

BR Parkway Road Closure-Blowing Rock Area

Milepost 269.8 - 280.9

Fill repair at Milepost 270.3 will close the Parkway until November, 2009.

For southbound traffic, exit the Parkway at Phillips Gap (Milepost 269.8) to Phillips Gap Road (NC 1168) to Idlewild Road (NC 1003) to US 221 south to US 421 south back to the Parkway at Deep Gap (Milepost 276.4).

For northbound traffic, exit the Parkway at Parkway School (Milepost 280.9) to Old US 421 south to New US 421 south to US 221 north to Idlewild Road (NC 1003) to Phillips Gap Road (NC 1168) back to the Parkway at Phillips Gap (Milepost 269.8).

Grandfather Mountain: Cougar Exhibit Temporarily Closed

Grandfather Mountain's popular cougar exhibit will be temporarily closed until sometime in June while construction continues. The re-designed habitat will include a 5-foot wall of glass allowing better viewing of the stunning cats.