Sarah Johnson

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service says Wilson Creek will be closed until spring of 2026 due to hurricane damage. Trespassers could pay up to $5,000 and face prison.

The Wilson Ridge Trailhead and Wilson Creek Day Use Area along Brown Mountain Beach Road will remain closed until March 31, 2026, or until the order is rescinded, the Caldwell County government said in a news release.

The Wilson Creek area was heavily damaged during Hurricane Helene near the end of September 2024.

According to the U.S. Forest Service order, day use area and trailhead visitors are forbidden from entering the area. The closure is “intended to mitigate risks to public health and safety and to provide for disaster and safety operations, and to protect the resources while responding

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