South Mountains State Park in Burke County is partially reopening its main access at Jacob Fork on April 10, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. For the first time since Hurricane Helene, the visitor center will reopen to the public and camping will be permitted in the park.
The park's Clear Creek Access in Morganton reopened for day use March 17.
Located in Burke County, South Mountains is at the crossroads of the Appalachian Mountains and the Foothillls to provide the ultimate backcountry experience. The park boasts elevations up to 3,000 feet, nearly 50 miles of trail, and an 80-foot waterfall, although the loop trail by High Shoals Falls will remain closed.
The park was closed for an extended period following Hurricane Helene due to extensive trail and bridge damage and thousands of downed trees. From October-December 2024, over 4,300 hours of work for all staff across the Division were completed. Staff from other state parks were sent on six internal deployments in October and November to assist with park recovery. The Division also received support from the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team, who brought in about 75 staff total from the U.S. Forest Service and the forestry departments in Mississippi, Virginia, and Arizona. The IMT reopened fire lines across the park and provided access to conduct damage assessments to state facilities.
Visitors should pay close attention to onsite signage and not attempt to access areas that remain closed. Facilities that remain closed continue to have major safety hazards. Park staff are working diligently to clear debris and conduct repairs to reopen the remaining closed areas as soon as possible.
Below is the full list of facility status beginning April 10:
Day use:
Open
• Visitor center, picnic area and nearby trout streams
• Most trails for hikers only
• Clear Creek Access
Closed
• Headquarters, Shinny, and Possum trails
• Loop portion of High Shoals Loop Trail, including the waterfall viewing areas
• Equestrian day-use parking area
• No trail access for mountain biking or horseback riding
Camping:
Open
• Tent/trailer/RV campground will reopen.
• Five backpack campsites: Fox Trail, Jacob Branch, Little River, Murray Branch, and Sawtooth
Closed
• Equestrian campground, including horse barn
• Shinny Creek and Upper Falls backpack campsites
For additional information, please visit ncparks.gov/somo.
The Division of Parks and Recreation manages more than 264,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina’s state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, including its local grants program, as well as a state trails program, North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers and more, all with a mission dedicated to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomes more than 19 million visitors annually.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.