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Creek Day Use Area along Brown Mountain Beach Road will remain closed until March 31, 2026, or until the order is rescinded, the Caldwell County government said in a news release.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.
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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 to storm debris removal and road reconstruction,†the release said.
Violators of the U.S. Forest Service order are punishable by a fine of no more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations. Trespassers could also face six months in prison or be sentenced to prison and ordered to pay the fine, the release said.
This order only applies to the National Forest System lands, the release said.
Sarah Johnson is the courts and breaking news reporter for Â鶹´«Ã½.
