RALEIGH – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will re-open South Mountains Game Land at sunrise Wednesday.

Officials had closed the game land, which encompasses more than 21,000 acres in Burke, Cleveland, McDowell and Rutherford counties, on Nov. 16 because of wildfires.  The Chestnut Knob wildfire is no longer a threat to the game land due to fire suppression efforts and rain.  However, the Upper CCC Road will remain closed to vehicular traffic past the gate near the second designated camping area until further notice. Wildfire suppression activities, along with rain, have made the road unsuitable for vehicles; however, foot traffic is permitted.

Access to Toxaway Game Land in Transylvania County remains closed, and some roads are closed on the Nantahala Game Land, which is located in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties. Updated road closures on Nantahala and other game lands on national forests can be viewed on the USFS webpage. Visitors to state-owned game lands can view opening on the agency’s game lands webpage.

A burning ban, issued by the N.C. Forest Service on Nov. 7, remains in effect until further notice for 47 counties in western and Piedmont regions of North Carolina. This ban extends to all private and public lands, including game lands. For updates on wildfires burning in North Carolina, visit http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/34/0/.

 

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