South Mountains State Park to partially reopen April 10

Hikers and fishermen around the region can rejoice! After being closed for more than six months, the Jacob Fork Access Area of South Mountains State Park will partially reopen on Thursday, April 10, at 8 a.m.

Mountain bike riders and equestrians will have to wait a while longer to again enjoy the park. No trail access will be available to them until the equestrian parking area and campground can be reopened.

The Jacob Fork Access Area has not been open since Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 — the day that Hurricane Helene roared through the region.

The storms caused extensive damage to trails, prompted at least one major landslide, washed out bridges, and downed an estimated 5,000 trees within the park’s 20,000-plus acres.

Getting the park ready for its partial reopening has been a Herculean task. From the day after Helene struck until Dec. 31, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation reported more than 4,300 hours of work in clearing downed trees and removing debris.

Staff from other state parks assisted in the cleanup, as did staff from the U.S. Forestry Service and the forestry departments of Mississippi, Virginia, and Arizona.

According to Park Ranger Mary Griffin, park staff is bracing for quite the influx of visitors that first open weekend.

“No way to estimate how many visitors we might have,” Griffin said. “But we’re expecting a lot of folks will want to come in to hike and fish and to simply see how things are looking after the storm.”

Griffin said the lower reaches of the Jacob Fork River, which flow by the visitors center, are being restocked with trout ahead of the reopening.

WHAT’S OPEN

The park visitor center, the main picnic area, and the river for fishing.

The drive-up tent/trailer/and RV campground as well as the backpack camping areas on Fox Trail, Jacob Branch, Little River, and Sawtooth.

Outer hiking trails, including Little River, Lower CCC, Turkey Ridge, Horse Ridge, Upper CCC, Fox, Benn Knob, Chestnut Knob, Raven Rock, Saddleback, and Hidden Cove.

The Clear Creek Access Area and the two trails there: Lake View and Clear Creek.

WHAT’S CLOSED

The park’s most popular hiking trail — the High Shoals Falls Loop, which means there is currently no way to view the 80-foot High Shoals Waterfall.

Several hiking trails in the central section of the park, including Headquarters, Shinny, and Possum.

The Equestrian Campground, including the horse barn.

The Shinny Creek and Upper Falls backpack campsites.

So how will the park staff keep enthusiastic hikers and fishermen from venturing into areas that remained closed?

“We’ll be using barricades and signs,” replied Griffin. “It will be very obvious where folks are not supposed to go. We will issue citations if we need to.

“What we want to do is keep folks safe,” she continued. “There truly are major safety hazards that we are still addressing and it’s simply not safe for people to venture in there.”

Griffin said there is no timetable at present for the reopening of the central hiking trails or the equestrian facilities.

“We’re hoping the components that need to come together to make that happen will happen sooner than later,” she said.

Griffin did add that soon after the reopening of the Clear Creek Access Area on March 17, several trees fell across the Lake View Trail when the winds got high.

That obstruction has now been cleared, she said.