With the Blue Ridge Parkway closed, here are some alternative routes to see the changing fall colors

With the entire North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway remaining closed after being battered by Hurricane Helene last month, those wishing to enjoy the changing color of leaves that come with the fall season will have to settle for alternative venues.

The National Park Service’s Facebook page for the 469-mile roadway that runs across the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park North Carolina posted on Tuesday asking the public to respect the road closures.

“Many areas remain unsafe due to visible and hidden hazards, such as weakened and missing portions of the roadway; standing dead and downed trees; unstable slopes; and crews and heavy equipment operating on the road,” the post read. “Unauthorized use also hinders recovery operations of work crews.”

The agency said it’s seen increasing instances of people entering closed areas despite the warnings and that rangers would begin issuing citations if necessary to prevent accidents.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited unit of the NPS with 16.7 million visitors last year.

Is the Blue Ridge Parkway completely closed?

No. The National Park Service announced on Wednesday that the Blue Ridge Parkway had reopened from Milepost 0 to Milepost 200.1 in Virginia. The stretch of road includes 200 miles of scenic views from Shenandoah National Park south to US Highway 52 and Sunbelt Road south of Fancy Gap. Those traveling north can access the road from Sunbelt Road.

That said, Blue Ridge Parkway is by no means the only place where people can enjoy the changing fall colors. Here are some options worth considering:

Cades Cove

Those willing to travel west can check out Cades Cove, an 11-mile route in Tennessee that’s also part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that has three restored churches, a working gristmill, barns and log houses, all 18th- and 19th-century structures that tell the story of the Cherokee and later European settlers called home.

The National Parks Service recommends allocating at least two to four hours to drive this loop.

Roaring Fork

Another popular Great Smoky Mountains destination is Roaring Fork, a five-and-a-half mile one-way loop a few miles away from Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The road features old-growth forests, historic structures and waterfalls. Buses, trailers and motorhomes are prohibited, however, due to the steep and windy conditions

Newfound Gap

The Newfound Gap Road is renowned for its beautiful landscapes. The 33-mile route runs from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to Cherokee, North Carolina, offering views of Campbell Overlook and more. Along the way, you'll find the Rockefeller Memorial, Kuwohi and North Carolina's Mingus Mill.

The Newfound Gap is also known as the lowest pass through the Great Smoky Mountains. Driving along Newfound Gap will take around an hour to complete, according to Pigeon Forge's approximations. This route is open 24 hours a day, year-round.

Cherohala Skyway

The Cherohala Skyway is a 41-mile stretch that connects Tellico Plains, Tennessee, with Robbinsville, North Carolina, and takes motorists through the mountainous terrain with few traces of civilization. This route has a similar feel to the Blue Ridge Parkway plenty of opportunities to picnic, camp, and hike along the way.

Some popular detours and strops include the the old wagon train road at the North Carolina and Tennessee state line, a 30-mile, gravel Forest Service Road, and a stop at the Bald River Falls, located near paved Forest Service Road 210.

When will Blue Ridge Parkway fully reopen?

NPS didn’t have an estimate as of Wednesday afternoon as to when the Blue Ridge Parkway way would fully reopen, noting that crews were working diligently to assess and repair the damage incurred by Hurricane Helene. Rangers and other staff have encountered tens of thousands of downed trees across the roadway along with nearly three dozen rock and mudslides above and below the road. “Once assessments are completed, the National Park Service will be better equipped to project timelines and costs for restoration of North Carolina,” NPS said on its website .

Updates are posted regularly on the parkway website and social media platforms. Updates will be posted on the Blue Ridge Parkway website at www.nps.gov/blri and on the park’s social media platforms at @BlueRidgeNPS (Facebook, X and Instagram).

Contributing: Allison Kiehl, USA TODAY Network-Tennessee, Karen Chávez, USA TODAY Network-North Carolina

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: With the Blue Ridge Parkway closed, here are some alternative routes to see the changing fall colors