CNN
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Much of the popular and winding Blue Ridge Parkway is now reopened for safe driving and scenic fall viewing following Hurricane Helene.

The parkway reopened Friday from milepost 0 to milepost 198 in Virginia, the National Park Service said in a news release. The entire park path was closed due to damage caused by Helene, which at last count had claimed 238 lives on Friday and caused enormous damage in the southeast.

The reopening includes 198 miles (319 kilometers) of scenic byway from Shenandoah National Park south to Virginia Route 685 – Skyview Drive/Turkey Ridge Road, near the town of Fancy Gap, Thursday’s news release said.

The NPS aims to reopen the rest of the parkway in Virginia within two weeks, the release said. The entire Parkway in North Carolina, which was hardest hit by Helene, remains closed.

“Thanks to the hard work of the Blue Ridge Parkway teams, we are able to open nearly 200 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, an important and scenic route that embodies both the natural beauty and cultural heritage of our region.” Tracy Swartout, superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, said in the news release.

“As we celebrate this success, we also recognize that there is still significant and, in some areas, long-term work being done in North Carolina,” Swartout said.

Are you planning to go? Here’s what to expect along the route, according to the NPS release:

If you plan to park your vehicle and go for a hike, the NPS notes that trail assessment is ongoing. So be careful and protect your legs. You may also find fewer services than normal as North Carolina has many workers helping out, the release said.