Heavy traffic and safety concerns necessitate closure of popular, but unofficial, sledding hill at Sandy Flat Gap.
Blue Ridge Parkway officials announced today that the area locally known as “Sled Hill,” near milepost 294.5, is closed effective immediately to all winter activities including sledding, tubing, skiing, and snowboarding. The hill is located at the intersection of Shulls Mill Road and the Blue Ridge Parkway. In addition to the hill closure, parking is prohibited along the nearby Parkway administrative access road and portions of Shulls Mill Road within park boundaries.
“The growing popularity of winter recreation activities in this area unfortunately can no longer be accommodated. The area was not designed for snow play or a high level of pedestrian use, and these activities, combined with roadside parking, have created a dangerous situation for park visitors,” said Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout. “In recent years staff have witnessed multiple near misses of adults and children with passing vehicles due to unsafe conditions, high volumes of traffic, and poor sight lines. While we know that this will be disappointing to many of our winter visitors, we must take this action in the interest of visitor safety.”
In the coming days, park staff will install closure fencing and signage in the area, and anyone found not in compliance with the closure order may be cited.
BLOWING ROCK, NC – December 13, 2023
Looking for downhill fun? Try tubing at Hawksnest Tubing or Sugar Mountain. Or see our list of sledding locations here.
–NPS–