News Release »
| Beverly Eaves Perdue, Governor | Dee Freeman, Secretary |
| N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources |  |
| Release: Immediate | Contact: Charlie Peek | |
| Date: 2010-01-05 | Phone: (919) 715-8709 |
Grandfather Mountain State Park Closed Due to Winter Weather
RALEIGH -- Grandfather Mountain State Park, with its 11-mile trail network, has been closed indefinitely due to heavy snow and ice accumulation and downed trees, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
In addition, Mount Mitchell State Park and some other, high-elevation state park areas in western North Carolina are closed due to ice on roadways. Trails and facilities can be closed on short notice due to rapidly changing weather conditions, and visitors should check the state parks system’s Web site, www.ncparks.gov, to determine current conditions.
Deep drifts, trees felled by accumulated ice and wind chills below zero have combined to make access onto Grandfather Mountain extremely difficult and dangerous. Trailheads on N.C. 105 and along the Blue Ridge Parkway are inaccessible to vehicles. The region experienced snowfall of up to two feet Dec. 18-20 followed by a severe ice storm on Dec. 24. Additional snow has fallen sporadically in the past week.
State parks system rangers and staff of the private Grandfather Mountain attraction will be working to clear trails of downed trees in the coming weeks.
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