What Cumberland Gap National Historical Park visitors should know after Hurricane Helene

Park officials start clearing the hurricane debris from Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

By Sarah Joseph Published October 5, 2024

Chadwell Gap Trail after Hurricane Helene at Cumberland National Historical Park — National Park Service / National Park Service

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, staff and volunteers at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park are working tirelessly to assess and address the damage caused by the storm. While significant progress has been made in restoring certain areas, there are still parts of the park that remain closed due to ongoing safety concerns.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park’s recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene

Early recovery efforts have focused on reopening park roads and front country camping facilities. Wilderness Road Campground and State Road 988 (Sugar Run Road) have now fully reopened, allowing visitors access to these areas once again. However, Pinnacle Overlook remains off-limits, with the road to the popular viewpoint closed at the Thomas Walker parking area. Similarly, Lewis Hollow Road and its accompanying picnic area are also inaccessible.

Recommended Videos

Park trail crews have successfully cleared several trails, including Object Lesson Road, Wilderness Road, Tri-State, and Daniel Boone. Although these trails are now available for use, the park advises visitors against hiking on other trails because of the hundreds of fallen trees and additional hazards such as trail washouts and damaged bridges. Many other trees are at risk of falling, adding to the unpredictability of the park’s trail conditions.

In light of these challenges, all horse and bike trails, as well as backcountry campsites, are closed until further notice. For visitors looking to explore the park, the visitor center in Middlesboro, Bartlett Park, and Civic Park remain open. However, Gap Cave and Skylight Cave have closed for the winter, effective September 30, and guided tours to the historic Hensley Settlement are temporarily suspended due to road conditions leading to the site.

Topics

Contributor

With a bright sense of adventure and a heart for the mountains, Sarah is always thrilled to share nature with others through…

Outdoors

Grand Canyon camping fees are rising: Here’s what you need to know

Grand Canyon increases campsite fees for the first time in 20 years

Grand Canyon

Starting on May 1, 2025, Grand Canyon National Park is gearing up to implement a new fee increase for front country standard campsites at the major campgrounds in the area. Desert View, North Rim, and the Mather Campgrounds will all see a standard campsite fee change from $18 per night to $30 per night. Here's what you need to know.

First, this change will affect the Senior discounts and Access pass holders, who normally receive a 50% discount to these campsites. This price jump will change payment from $9 to $15 per night at one of the tent or RV campsites in the Grand Canyon National Park area.

Outdoors

The best things to do in Big Bend National Park: An adventure you’ll never forget

A list of the must-see stops on your next trip to the popular Texan park

The Big Bend National Park Entrance Sign

Big Bend National Park is the jewel of the Chihuahuan Desert, brimming with life just under its rugged surface. The park straddles the border of the United States and Mexico, and even has a border crossing between the two. There are dozens of things to do in Big Bend National Park -- it's one of the best places for stargazing, exploring the Rio Grande, and enjoying days worth of breathtaking trails.
Need help deciding what to prioritize in this massive park, which spans over 1,250 square miles? I regularly visit Big Bend, and these five park features are always worth a stop. They're doable in a single day or easily extended if you're spending a longer period of time in Big Bend.

Hike through Santa Elena Canyon

Outdoors

The 20 best U.S. national parks to explore now

There are a lot of national parks to see, so here's a list to start with

Glacier National Park

As filmmaker Ken Burs rightly described, the national park system was "America's best idea." Today, these nature oases see over 331 million recreational visits per year, by last year's count. According to the National Park Service, 2024 saw the highest number of U.S. national park visitors of all time, as people from all walks of life sought a bit more of the outdoors. If that's you, it can be overwhelming to try and figure out which park to explore. From sea to shining sea, I've compiled a list of our favorite U.S. national parks that will satisfy your taste for adventure.
National Park Pass programs

Before we get into our list of the best national parks, we need to have a quick chat about the various National Park Pass programs. These passes will give you entry to the 430 parks across the U.S., and it's a good idea to book them in advance even though many also allow you to pay with card only at the entrance gates. Depending on your needs, there are different types of passes to choose from.