Mount Mitchell State Park News

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Mount Mitchell State Park Reopens After Hurricane Helene

Mount Mitchell State Park
Mount Mitchell State Park reopened Sept. 15, 2025, for the first time since Hurricane Helene. The reopening coincides with the Blue Ridge Parkway reopening between milepost 382 in Asheville and milepost 355.3, near the entrance to the state park. With this announcement, all North Carolina state parks are now at least partially open.

Additional Western N.C. State Parks to Reopen Nov. 15, Three State Parks Face Long-Term Closures

Chimney Rock State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Gorges State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Mount Mitchell State Park, Rendezvous Mountain, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park, Mountain Region
Elk Knob, Lake James, New River, and Stone Mountain state parks will reopen at least partially on Nov. 15; three parks will remain closed until further notice and face long-term closures: Chimney Rock, Mount Mitchell, and South Mountains.

Five Western N.C. State Parks to Reopen Nov. 1, Eight Parks to Remain Closed

Chimney Rock State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Gorges State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Mount Mitchell State Park, New River State Park, Rendezvous Mountain, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park
Crowders Mountain, Gorges, Grandfather Mountain and Lake Norman state parks, as well as Rendezvous Mountain, will reopen at least partially on Nov. 1.

A Letter From Our Director

Bobs Creek State Natural Area, Chimney Rock State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Gorges State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Mount Mitchell State Park, New River State Park, Pisgah View State Park, Rendezvous Mountain, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park, Mountain Region, Marketing and Communications, Office of the Director, Operations
State Parks Director Brian Strong provides additional information on post-Helene rescue and recovery efforts and the status of western state parks.

State Parks Closures Through October, All Programming Canceled Across the State

Chimney Rock State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Gorges State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Mount Mitchell State Park, New River State Park, Rendezvous Mountain, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park
All North Carolina state parks west of Interstate 77 are closed through at least Oct. 31.

State Parks Closures Due to Hurricane Helene, Including Monarch Festival Cancellation

Gorges State Park, Mount Mitchell State Park, Mountain Region
Due to expected impacts of Hurricane Helene, Gorges State Park and Mount Mitchell State Park will be closed Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26-27. The Mountain Monarch Festival at Gorges, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28, has been cancelled.

Bear Activity

Mount Mitchell State Park
Commissary Ridge dispersed camping area inside Pisgah National Forest closed; please be bear aware when you are at Mount Mitchell State Park and the surrounding area.