ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Nearly five months after Hurricane Helene devastated a portion of the Appalachian Trail in Western North Carolina, hikers can once again tackle the trail. The U.S. Forest Service said they cleared out nearly 140 miles of trails along the Appalachian Ranger District, according to our partners at WLOS.

The U.S. Forest Service has reopened several trails and roads in the Appalachian Ranger District. The U.S. Forest Service has cleared 137 miles of trails, including over 114 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Crews have also surveyed and reopened about 240 miles of roads across the district.

Some recovery work in the North Carolina mountains since Hurricane Helene has happened off the beaten path as volunteers and government crews repair damage on the Appalachian Trail and Mountains-to-Sea Trail.