Pisgah and Uwharrie National Forests to close areas in anticipation of Hurricane Ian

ASHEVILLE, NC (September 29, 2022) — The U.S. Forest Service is closely tracking the forecast for Hurricane Ian and is temporarily closing some campgrounds and recreation areas on the Pisgah and Uwharrie National Forests in advance of the storm.

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PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST

Appalachian Ranger District
The roads listed below will close starting Thursday, September 29, and are expected to reopen Tuesday, Oct 4, pending hazard assessments:
• In Yancey County
• Neals Creek Road (NFR 2074) at the Blue Ridge Parkway gate and bottom gate
• Flattop Road (NFR 278) at the Harm Miller Gap gate and Spivey Gap gate
• In Madison County
• Hickey Fork Road (NFR 465)
• Murray Branch Recreation Site Road (NFR 3518)

Black Mountain, Briar Bottom, and Harmon Den Horse Campgrounds will close Friday, September 30, at 11 am and are expected to reopen Tuesday, October 4, at noon pending hazard assessments.

Roan Mountain Recreation Area will close for the season on Thursday, September 29, at 4 pm. This area reopens Memorial Day weekend.

Grandfather Ranger District
The roads listed below will close starting Thursday, September 29, and are expected to reopen Tuesday, Oct 4, pending hazard assessments:
• Raven Cliff Road (NFR 197)
• Steeles Creek Road (NFR 228)
• Curtis Creek Road (NFR 482)
• Thunderhole Road (NFR 4071)
• Pearcy Creek Road (NFR 4101)

Brown Mountain OHV Trail System and Mortimer and Curtis Creek Campgrounds will close on Friday, September 30, and are expected to reopen Tuesday, Oct 4, pending hazard assessments.

Pisgah Ranger District
The roads listed below will close starting Thursday, September 29, and are expected to reopen Tuesday, Oct 4, pending hazard assessments:
• Avery Creek Road (FS 477)
• Bent Creek Road (FS 479)
• Davidson River Road (FSR 475) beyond Cove Creek Group Campground
• Headwaters Road (FSR 475B)
• Ivestor Gap Road (FSR 816)
• Lickstone Road (FSR 97)
• Wash Creek Road (FSR 5000)
• Yellow Gap Road (FSR 1206)

Sycamore Flats Picnic Area and Wolf Ford Campground will close on Thursday, September 29, and are expected to reopen by Tuesday, October 4, pending hazard assessments.

Butter Gap Shelter on the Art Loeb Trail is also closed.

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UWHARRIE NATIONAL FOREST
Badin Lake OHV Trail Complex will close starting Thursday, September 29, and is expected to reopen Monday, October 3, pending hazard assessments.

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Other roads and recreation sites across the National Forests in North Carolina may close for public safety due to weather conditions as the hurricane passes through the area. Potential impacts include heavy rains, flooding, landslides, high winds, and falling trees.

For more information and updates, check our website at www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc or follow us on social media at www.facebook.com/nfsnc or on Twitter @NFsNCarolina.

For Blue Ridge Parkway road closures, check the National Park Service website at www.nps.gov/blri.

For NC State Parks closures, check the State Parks website at www.ncparks.gov/blog/2022/09/29/north-carolina-state-parks-closures.

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