"Closure signs and barriers are there for a reason – to protect you from harm and allow crews to work efficiently and safely."

The Blue Ridge Parkway has released new numbers showing a sharp drop of visitation after Helene hit the mountains.In September 2024 there were more than 1.6 million visitors to the parkway.The number dropped by more than half in October.

New numbers from Blue Ridge Parkway officials showed a sharp decline of visitors coming to the mountains after Hurricane Helene, ABC affiliate WLOS reported.

Unlike previous years, visitors who travel the Blue Ridge Parkway will still need to navigate some closures along the route due to devastation from Hurricane Helene.