Depending on the elevation, winter conditions can come as early as November on the Parkway, sometimes happening quickly and with little warning. During the winter months, expect many sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway to be closed due to accumulations of ice and snow. With our tunnels, long bridges, and shaded curves, these can sometimes be fairly long-term closures.
This is also the time of year that we work on road maintenance, with several long-term construction closures scheduled for this winter. Always check road conditions before heading out.
Hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing behind closed gates is welcomed and a wonderful way to experience nature’s quietness in our otherwise noisy world. If conditions allow, however, the Parkway is open to vehicle travel, and with colder temperatures, we often get those clear and crisp long-distance views from the ridgetops. And with the leaves off the trees, the views open up even more.
Always have some extra clothes and a few emergency supplies in the trunk of your car when traveling the Parkway in winter.
Spring opening dates generally happen on a staggered basis beginning about the first of May. These will be announced in early spring.