A portion Prince William Forest Park reopens after a path a wind cut through the recreational area downing trees

TRIANGLE — It was almost as if a tornado cut a path through Prince William Forest Park. 

Park Chief Chris Alford said major damage from a violent windstorm that struck the region on March 2 and 3 could be seen in a straight line from the Oak Ridge tent campground area, south over Mawavi Road in the park, and over cabin camps two and five. 

There was no tornado, however, hurricane force winds gusts of more than 60 mph during the storm caused trees to fall on cabins, and on roads and trails making them impassable. 

A portion of the park reopened Monday at 9 a.m. for the first time since the storm. Hundreds of National Park Service employees flooded the park to help with the recovery efforts. They’ve removed trees and helped to get roads passable again. 

It could take up to a week to week and a half before the park is ready to be fully reopened to the public. 

About 90% of the trees that fell in the park were pine trees with shallow roots. Alford said the ground was saturated before the windstorm making the pines more susceptible to falling.

The fallen trees were put into wood chippers and were used as mulch in the park. The park service will allow the forest to come back naturally and won’t plant any new trees, said Alford. 

The recovery effort has meant long days for Alford and all of those who have come to help restore order to the national park. 

“My day starts at 6 a.m. and I get home at about 7:30,” he said. “I’m used to working eight-hour days, 40 hours a week.” 

The majority of the park remains closed, however, the visitors center, the Pine Grove and Telegraph picnic areas, and the following trails all reopened today: 

• Piedmont Forest Trail
• Laurel Trail Loop
• Birch Bluff Trail
• Crossings Trail