As a ferocious winter storm blasts much of the eastern and southeastern United States, National Park Service sites around the country are dealing with iced-over roads, downed trees, and heavy snow. From the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee to Ellis Island in New York City, dozens of NPS sites remain partially or fully closed due to severe weather.
As of Monday, January 26, the impacts of Winter Storm Fern were still being felt across a 2,000-mile corridor from Texas to New England. Power outages left hundreds of thousands without electricity, and temperatures in many states remain below zero degrees. At least a dozen people died.
With roads iced over and power grids failing, the NPS is urging would-be visitors to avoid the following parks until further notice. Notices are current as of this publication.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Renowned for its biodiversity, Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina is the most-visited national park in the country. As of this writing, all of the park’s visitor centers are shut down due to the storm. While the park is technically open, travel is severely restricted, as many key roads are also closed.
Check the current conditions page for the most recent information on road closures in the area. Below are some prominent NPS sites that remain closed as crews tend to the aftermath of the storm.
Blue Ridge Parkway
This scenic highway connects the Shenandoah Valley to the Great Smoky Mountains in Virginia and North Carolina. Currently, its entire 469-mile stretch is closed due to the storm. The NPS says visitors should expect to find locked gates and barricades, and it has not offered a clear timeline for reopening.
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky preserves the world’s longest known cave system and the scenic Green River valley. It is currently closed to visitors due to winter storm-related snow and ice. According to the Mammoth’s website, all cave tours, the visitor center, and park offices remain closed.
Shenandoah National Park
Famous for its cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, and fields of wildflowers, Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park remains open, but the entire 105-mile length of Skyline Drive, the only public road through the park, is currently closed.
George Washington Memorial Parkway
This scenic drive runs along the Potomac River through Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. It connects several historic sites, including Mount Vernon in Virginia and the Great Falls NPS site. Many portions of the parkway are closed at least through January 26.
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
Encompassing some 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau in Kentucky and Tennessee, this park protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its scenic gorges. The Bandy Creek Visitor Center and the road to Blue Heron are both currently closed.
Russell Cave National Monument
Alabama’s cavernous archaeological site contains an exceptionally complete record of human habitation dating back more than 10,000 years, and is entirely closed to the public as a result of the winter storm.
Vicksburg National Military Park, Louisiana and Mississippi
This park commemorates the campaign, siege, and defense of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1863, a pivotal moment in the Civil War. It is closed due to the storm and will remain so until the NPS assesses any damage and determines that conditions are safe to reopen.
Other National Park Sites Closures
- Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty National Monument
- Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
- General Grant National Memorial
- Independence National Historical Park
- Gettysburg National Military Park
- Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
- Manhattan Project National Historical Park
- Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
- Stones River National Battlefield
- Cowpens National Battlefield
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
- Shiloh National Military Park
- Big Thicket National Preserve
- Blackwell School National Historic Site
- Antietam National Battlefield
- Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
- Hot Springs National Park
- Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
- Adams National Historical Park
For a full list of closures, see the National Park Service’s active alerts page. As of this writing, 291 parks were closed, though not all are due specifically to Winter Storm Fern.
Planning a National Park Trip? You May Want To Wait.
If you’re looking to visit a national park in the coming days, before hitting the road, be sure to check the park’s dedicated current conditions page, located under the “Plan Your Visit” tab. NPS recommends carrying a full winter emergency kit, including tire chains, a shovel, blankets, and extra food and water.
And if you’re planning on circumventing a closure, think twice. Bypassing closures doesn’t just put your own life at risk—it diverts essential emergency resources away from the storm response. With downed power lines, fallen trees, and black ice likely to persist for days, the parks aren’t going anywhere. Your best bet? Wait for the thaw.
The post Dozens of National Park Sites Closed After Winter Storm Strikes appeared first on Outside Online.
