Parks and hiking trails in Catawba, Burke and McDowell counties are still being repaired four months after Hurricane Helene caused flooding and heavy damage at the end of September.
The U.S. Forest Service reopened 64 miles of trails in Burke, Caldwell and McDowell counties in January, the U.S. Forest Service said in a news release.
“We have about 300 miles of trail,†U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Lisa Jennings said. “Pretty much every single mile of trail was damaged in some way or another. But about 75% of our trail system was pretty severely damaged.â€
Jennings said the U.S. Forest Service is continuing to repair trails. Jennings said about half of the trail system in the Grandfather Ranger District has been reopened.
“We don't quite know what the solutions are for some trails, yet,†Jennings said. “The trails where we're seeing the most damage are the ones that follow rivers or creeks that have washed away, which is kind of predictable. But then we also have some trails that are just in areas of intense landslides.â€
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Jennings said it will take time to recover the U.S. Forest Service trail system that winds throughout parts of McDowell, Burke and Caldwell counties.
“We've done a lot of work over the past 10 years on improving our trail system,†Jennings said. “We were in a good place going into this with great volunteer groups that help us maintain our trails. Even though this challenge is really big and may take a while to get some of the most complex trails open, like Linville Gorge Trail, for example, we're committed to finding a way to make sure that we don't lose our trail system.â€
McDowell County
The Catawba Falls trail was among the U.S. Forest Service trails reopened in January.Â
In summer 2024, the trail reopened after two years closed for improvements. Three months later, Hurricane Helene hit and destroyed some of the improvements and trails, forcing Catawba Falls to close again, the U.S. Forest Service said.
A trail at Catawba Falls was damaged in Hurricane Helene. Parts of Catawba Falls opened in January.
The Catawba Falls staircase and tower structure were not damaged. Additions at the base of the upper falls were destroyed by the flood and a viewing deck was damaged.
As of January, the entire Catawba Falls loop trail is open but the upper viewing platform and the Wildflower trail remain closed, the U.S. Forest Service said.
This photo of the stairs to Catawba Falls was taken after Hurricane Helene devastated Old Fort and its surrounding area. The new stairs only suffered minor damage.
Repairs to the Catawba Falls trail are expected to continue into the summer, the U.S. Forest Service said.
Heartbreak Ridge and the west of Star Gap in the Old Fort area are now open, the U.S. Forest Service said.
Burke County
Five trails in the Linville Gorge area of Burke County have fully reopened: Wiseman’s View, Bynum Bluff, Babel Tower, Brushy Ridge and Table Rock Climbers Access. Steels Creek is partially open on the west end to Steels Creek Road, the U.S. Forest Service said.
The Mountains-to-Sea trail is partially open in two areas. The first open section is Old N.C. Highway 105 to Forest Service Road 106. The second walkable portion is the pinnacle section from N.C. Highway 105 to the Linville River, the U.S. Forest Service said.
The Greentown trail near Â鶹´«Ã½ is reopened, the U.S. Forest Service said.
Caldwell County
Eight trails in the Wilson Creek area of Caldwell County have reopened: Wilson Ridge, North Harper Creek Shortcut, Persimmon Ridge, Pine Ridge, China Creek, Thunderhole Falls, Bill Vines and Timber Ridge, the U.S. Forest Service said.
Two sections of the Mountains-to-Sea trail have reopened in Caldwell County. The Lost Cove Loop section of the Mountain-to-Sea trail is open. The other section is from Old House Gap to Beacon Heights, the U.S. Forest Service said.
Boone Fork Pond, Buckeye Loop and the Gem Trail in the Lenoir area are also open, the U.S. Forest Service said.
“As everybody just lived through Helene knows, conditions have changed,†Jennings said. “Areas that you were used to hiking are going to be different. There's going to be more hazards. Things are going to take longer, and so always give yourself more time than you think you need and have a backup plan in case you get somewhere and that trail is closed.â€
State parks and trails
The state parks in Burke and McDowell counties were damaged by the storm. South Mountains State Park in Burke County and Bob’s Creek State Natural Area in McDowell County remain closed to the public, said Kris Anne Bonifacio, with the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Lake James State Park is open. Some areas of the park remain flooded, but the majority of the trails are open. Bonifacio said some trails may be closed for a short time in the winter due to ice. Two loops on the mountain biking trail are still under repair.Â
South Mountains State Park, which is more than 20,000 acres, saw significant flooding and damage from the hurricane. Multiple bridges were damaged or destroyed. Bonifacio said South Mountains State Park does not have an estimated reopening date.
Flooding caused by Hurricane Helene washed away a foot bridge at South Mountains State Park. This photos was taken shortly after the storm.
“Because the park is so large and the trails are interconnected, the recovery process is going to take a significant amount of time,†she said.
Bonifacio urged hikers to pay attention to signs posted along trails. Visitors should not attempt to access closed trails.
“Areas that sustained damage from Hurricane Helene and have not yet reopened pose significant danger to visitors if they attempt to access the area,†Bonifacio said. “These include trail washouts and hazard trees, the latter of which is even more dangerous when there’s ice on the branches or when it’s a windy day.â€
Bonifacio said winter weather may temporarily close some trails for the safety of park visitors. Trail closings are kept up to date on the website.
Remnants of a foot bridge were left on rocks at South Mountains State Park after Hurricane Helene.
Catawba County
All four parks maintained by Catawba County are currently open to the public, Catawba County Communications & Marketing Director Amy McCauley said.
“Hurricane Helene resulted in Catawba County Parks being closed for three to five days due to the impact of significant rainfall, shoreline flooding and heavy winds,†McCauley said. “Mountain Creek and St. Stephens reopened three days after Helene passed through. Bakers Mountain and Riverbend parks reopened after five days. For perspective, the county’s parks are usually only closed three days per year (Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).â€
McCauley said 133 trees in county parks fell due to the storm. Heavy rain caused erosion along trails in all four parks.
Riverbend Park suffered the most damage. Floodwaters from the Catawba River cause shoreline erosion at Riverbend Park
A culvert at Riverbend Park washed out by flooding during Hurricane Helene. The culvert cause three trails to be detoured in the park.
A culvert was washed out at the intersection of the Red, Green and Blue trails at Riverbend Park. All three trails were rerouted until the culvert can be replaced. McCauley said there is no timeline for when the culvert will be replaced. All three trails will return to their typical paths once the culvert is fixed.
Despite the damage, the park is open.
“During winter, the open tree canopy allows for the most unobstructed long-range views from the observation platform at Bakers Mountain Park, where on a clear day visibility can exceed 75 miles and include familiar peaks such as Mount Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain, Table Rock, Hawksbill and the Brushy Mountain range,†McCauley said. “Early morning visits to Riverbend Park this time of year present a chance to see a frost-covered landscape and fog lifting off the Catawba River. Plus, the best opportunity to spot wildlife.â€
