Appalachian Trail Section Devastated by Hurricane Helene Reopens After Nearly 2 Years

A five-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail on the North Carolina-Tennessee border has finally reopened nearly two years after Hurricane Helene devastated the area in September 2024. 

Last week the Forest Service ended its closure order between northbound 360.6 and 366.1 in the area of Iron Mountain Gap after extensive salvage logging to clear downed trees from the storm.

“Iron Mountain Gap took a hard hit from Hurricane Helene. Downed trees blocked much of the Appalachian Trail, making it dangerous for folks and raising the risk of wildfire for nearby homes and communities,” said District Ranger Jennifer Barnhart of the Pisgah National Forest’s Appalachian Ranger District.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) has cautioned that while the section has reopened, some work is ongoing. Per the organization’s Trail Updates page, hikers in the area should come prepared for the following:

• Parts of the section south of Iron Mountain Gap are heavily overgrown. Crews will be clearing back the brush over the next week or so (NOBO mile 360.6 to 364.8). However, it may be very difficult to find the footpath in some areas.
• Cherry Gap Shelter was destroyed in the storm, but hikers can tent at the former shelter site (361.7).
• Work is still needed to repair the footpath in the section north of Iron Mountain Gap (NOBO miles 364.8 to 366.1). In the meantime, hikers should follow the dirt road that closely parallels the AT from Iron Mountain Gap to Weedy Gap. Signs will be posted directing hikers along the road.

The Iron Mountain Gap detour will be decommissioned over the next few weeks.

“This is a significant milestone in the ongoing, long-term recovery and repair efforts of the iconic Appalachian Trail following one of the most devastating storms to hit the Southern Appalachian region,” said Franklin Tate, Appalachian Trail Conservancy southern regional director. “We’re grateful to the USDA Forest Service and volunteers with Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club for their continued collaboration and hard work, and to the many hikers who tackled the detour’s numerous steps during the closure.”

With the Iron Gap closure now officially lifted, fewer than 13 miles of the AT remain closed as a result of Hurricane Helene, out of the 800-plus miles that the storm initially impacted. The two remaining closures are a 9.2-mile section north of Damascus, Virginia where the Virginia Creeper Trail is being rebuilt, and a 3.6-mile section to cross the Nolichucky River in Erwin, Tennessee as workers replace the Chestoa Bridge that washed away during the storm.

The ATC has credited its donation-funded AT Resiliency Fund with assisting volunteer efforts to repair major storm damage including root ball holes and severe erosion.

Featured image: A section of storm-damaged trail near the Iron Mountain Gap detour, photographed in spring 2026. Photo: Brock Miller.