Although the majority of them are best for intermediate climbers (the difficulty grade ranges between 5.10–5.12), there are a few easier options ideal for beginners. The New River Gorge is popular among avid climbers, thanks to the over 1,400 established routes throughout the area.
Take your time and make plenty of stops to enjoy the forest, river, and views of the iconic bridge along the way.
New river gorge national park full#
Full of hairpin turns and vista points, the road winds down to the bottom of the gorge, across a narrow bridge, and back up to the top.
Bridge Trail: Beginning at a trailhead on Fayette Station Road, this 1.72-mile out-and-back trail is strenuous at times, as it meanders through shady forest, past some small waterfalls, and ends under the New River Bridge, offering a different perspective of the landmark.īefore the New River Bridge was completed in 1977, Fayette Station Road was the area’s main two-way road but is now a scenic drive popular among visitors. For a longer hike, this trail overlaps with the 8.6-mile Kaymoor Trail. Kaymoor Miners Trail: Brace yourself for a strenuous 2-mile out-and-back route that heads down into the gorge to see remains of a former mine and mining town. Long Point Trail (bikes allowed): This moderate, 3.2-mile-long out-and-back trail ends at the edge of a cliff overlooking the New River Gorge and the New River Bridge, on the opposite side of the canyon from Diamond Point. To get a good sampling of what the park has to offer, don’t miss out on a sunrise hike on the Endless Wall Trail, a half-day white-water rafting trip on the New River (also known as “the New”), and a sunset drive on Fayette Station Road. Itinerary: If you only have one or two days. Though just a few blocks long, you’ll find outfitters for the most popular sports (rafting, rock climbing, fishing, and mountain biking), as well as a solid selection of accommodations, shops, and eateries, in or within a few miles of town. It’s also a quick, five-minute drive from the visitor center to the charming small town of Fayetteville. It has several different access points, but it can take up to an hour on meandering backroads and byways to get between them.įirst-time visitors are best off focusing on the area around the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, where many of the park’s most popular trails and attractions are accessible by a short drive, including the iconic New River Bridge-which, with a span of 1,700 feet, is the longest single-arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere. New River Gorge National Park is 53 miles long and follows the course of the New River. For those venturing here for the first time, use this guide to discover what to do, where to eat and drink, and where to stay in the New River Gorge National Park. It now offers a wide range of activities, including white-water rafting, climbing, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, climbing, kayaking, SUP, and even base jumping (at least for one day of the year, Bridge Day). In the 1970s, the area began gaining popularity among outdoor enthusiasts and was first named a protected area in 1978 when it became a national river. Remains of these coal mines and the nearby towns can still be found throughout the park. More recently, between the late 1800s and the 1950s, the area was home to a large number of coal mines. 
Archaeologists have found human artifacts in the area believed to be at least 12,750 years old. Humans too have an ancient and storied presence here. The forest around it is home to over 1,500 different plant species, one of the most biodiverse in the Appalachian region. Despite its name, the New River is estimated to be between 10 million and 360 million years old, making it the second oldest in the world. Given the unique ecosystems here, that designation, and the additional protections it now receives, is well deserved. But many people first learned about the New River Gorge in 2020 when it became the nation’s 63rd, and newest, national park. Yes, locals have long known about this incredible natural playground-it’s been popular among white-water rafting enthusiasts for decades, and Appalachian families have lived symbiotically with the land for generations. Tucked away in the mountains of West Virginia, the New River Gorge has largely been an underrated travel destination.
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