Hikers planning to explore the Appalachian Trail are advised to avoid the southern sections that are still grappling with the impact of Hurricane Helene.

Although Helene had downgraded from hurricane status by the time it hit the beginning of the famous trail in North Georgia last week, its heavy rainfall resulted in significant flooding throughout the Southeast.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, responsible for the trail’s management and preservation from Georgia to Maine, issued a statement saying:

Hurricane Helene represents the largest natural disaster in terms of area coverage to affect the Appalachian Trail in its 100-year history. While it is premature to fully assess the damage to the trail itself, the flooding, strong winds, tornadoes, and downed trees have impacted countless individuals in the Southern Appalachians, including ATC staff, leaving many without basic necessities like power, clean water, and internet access.

Numerous national forests along the trail are currently closed, while others are discouraging visitors to concentrate on recovery efforts.

Which parts of the Appalachian Trail were affected by Helene?

Hikers are strongly advised to avoid traveling from mile 0.0 at Georgia’s Springer Mountain to mile 864.6 at Rockfish Gap, Virginia, due to the aftermath of Helene.

“While not all areas in this segment are officially closed, many remain prone to landslides, a lot of the southern A.T. is blocked due to road closures, and emergency services are stretched thin,” the ATC stated in an update on Wednesday. “There are also potential hazards along the trail due to the storm, such as fallen trees, severe erosion, washed-out bridges, and swollen waterways.”

When will the affected areas reopen?

The timeline for the full reopening of the trail remains uncertain.

“We ask for understanding as recovery and aid efforts continue in the affected areas and essential services are restored,” mentioned Ann Simonelli, Communications Director of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, in an email to YSL News. “Once it is safe to access the A.T., the ATC and our partners will start a thorough evaluation of the trail’s conditions.”

The ATC is keeping an updated list of trail closures on its website. Additional updates can be found on the websites of the various public lands traversed by the trail. For instance, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is currently advising against hiking and backcountry activities, and both Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are temporarily closed.

What can hikers do while waiting?

Those attempting to achieve the 2,000-mile challenge of completing the entire Appalachian Trail can pause their efforts and resume once conditions are deemed safe.

“Hikers will have a full year from their chosen resumption date to finish their journey and still be recognized by the ATC as a thru-hiker,” the ATC noted, along with resources available to assist affected community residents.