New River Gorge National Park: The Essential Guide

In December 2020 New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Officially became the newest U.S. national park.

The West Virginia destination, formerly known as New River Gorge National River is spread over 70,000 acres. It’s home to the Appalachian Mountains’ longest and deepest river canyon. The 876-foot high New River Gorge BridgeThe, which also crosses the eponymous canyon, is hailed as one of longest single-span steel arch bridges In the Western Hemisphere. 

The bridge is one of the most photographed places in the state. While it’s not a pedestrian-only bridge, you can book a guided walk You can also walk along the catwalk that is used for maintenance under the bridge. You can also visit on the third Saturday of October, which is known as “Bridge Day.” This is the only time of year that the bridge is available to both base jumpers and pedestrians. The park is also filled with a range of other can’t-miss outdoor activities—most notably, whitewater rafting and hiking.

The park is truly a beautiful and wonderful place. As more and more travel takes place outdoors, patience becomes a necessity. “Everything here is worth the wait,” said ERay Haynie. The adventure operations director of Ace Adventure Resort.

What you should know about New River Gorge National Park & Preserve based on his advice.

Before you go, know what to expect

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve remains open throughout the year and entry is free. It is important to plan ahead for a trip.

Rocky Mountain is not the Smokies [National Park]”Yellowstone or Yosemite is similar in that there are multiple entrances and private property within the park’s boundaries.” Eve West, the park’s chief of education and interpretation.

Review of the park’s map The park is 53 miles in length and follows the New River. You can use Google Maps to find the park using GPS. National Park Service recommends You can choose from a variety of visitor centers to reach your destination.

Two of four visitor centers are open. Thurmond Depot Visitor Center The following are some examples of how to get started: Grandview Visitor Center, are only open seasonally—from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The other visitor centres, Canyon Rim Visitor Center The following are some examples of how to get started: Sandstone Visitor CenterThey are open everyday, except on certain holidays. West suggests using the NPS App, which is available for both Android and iOS, to get a map, ask questions, or pick up information. Google Play You can also read about the App Store. “It has loads of information as well as self-guided walks available,” she says. 

Two other important points should be kept in mind if you plan to camp inside the park. Some roads are too narrow for big campers. West warns that if you are traveling with a large camper it is best to check in at one of our two visitor centres before venturing down the road. Reservations are not necessary for campsites outside of the group sites. 

When is the best time to visit?

West says that the best season to visit New River Gorge National Park is “dependent on what you want to do.” However, like most national parks, it’s summer when the park tends to get the most visitors. Haynie says that if you don’t want to deal with the heat and crowds, you should plan your trip for spring or fall. If you are looking to see wildflowers in abundance then late spring is the time to go. The rhododendron is a perennial favorite. “They grow so densely here and are gorgeous when in flower,” he says. 

September is “Gauley Season.” It is the time when the Summersville Dam releases its water into the Gauley. This river is one of the most popular whitewater rivers around the world. It runs until the third week in October and is the fan favorite. Gauley Fest occurs in mid-to-late September—this year, the dates are September 18 through 21. The Gauley River is located just north of the Gauley Park, so you can do a double-trip. This part of West Virginia is also a popular destination for leafpeepers. in the autumn. According to West Virginia TourismThis year, the peak of the fall foliage is expected to be between late October and the beginning of November.

How to get there

New River Gorge National Park Preserve can be found just outside Fayetteville. You’ll want to fly into West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia. Serviced by Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Breeze Airways, it’s the closest major airport—with direct flights to and from Atlanta; Orlando, Florida; Tampa, Florida; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Newark, New Jersey; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, and Washington, D.C.—but it’s still about 70 miles away. You can enter the park either via U.S. Route 19 (from Atlanta) or I-64 (from Washington, D.C.).

The Best Things to do

Book a guided rafting tour.

Haynie recommends rafting the Upper and Lower New Rivers while visiting New River Gorge National Park. Several outfitters—including Ace Adventure Resort The following are some examples of how to get started: Adventures on the Gorge—bring guests on guided raft trips, navigating them down the river from April through October. The length of the trips varies, ranging from shorter half-day trips to multiday adventure. 

Fayette station road is one of the most scenic roads in North Carolina.

Choose to drive eight miles for a more relaxed experience. Fayette Station Road. You’ll pass pullouts along the way where you can enjoy the view of the New River Gorge Bridge and the gorge. The journey takes between 30 and 45 minutes. You can also download the NPS app to get more information about the history of the region and the coal mining towns which used to line New River Gorge. 

Self-guided tours are also available. African American Heritage TourThe tour covers 17 historic sites and the history and culture of Black people in the region, including railroaders and coal miners. 

Rock climbing is a great way to get fit.

Haynie makes another suggestion. rock climbingThis is a great activity for those who are more adventurous. The sandstone rocks in the park can reach heights of up to 120 feet. over 1,400 “established rock climbs.” You may feel more comfortable booking a trip that includes climbing and rappelling with a guide. Ace Adventure Resort.

Best Hikes

Southside Trail 

Hiking is another great way to discover the park.Southside Trail West says that the trail is perfect for one that runs parallel to the river. The trail is easy but long. The trail spans seven miles one way, and it passes through Rush Run, Red Ash, and Brooklyn—all of which were once thriving, but now abandoned, New River Gorge mining towns.

Grandview Rim Trail 

“Grandview Rim Trail West calls it an “easy-to-moderate” route. The trail begins and ends at Main Overlook. The round-trip distance is 3.2 miles.

Kaymoor Miners Trail

“Kaymoor Miners Trail Haynie says that the trail is not for those who are weak of heart. Labeled by the NPS as “strenuous,” the trail descends 900 feet in elevation—expect rocky stairs, wooden steps, and switchbacks over the mile-long trail. Keep in mind that certain days, the upper part of the trail will be under maintenance. 

Where to Stay in the Best Hotels

Adventures on the Gorge

Adventures on the Gorge You can learn more about this by clicking here. “hotel-style” cabins That are comfortable, clean and relatively large. The location of the cabin is another plus. The Canyon Rim Visitor Center is only a 4-minute drive from your cabin. Guests can enjoy the 3,000 square foot pool and disc golf course while on the roperty. 

Ace Adventure Resort

Ace Adventure Resort has a range of accommodation types—everything from cozy cabins to glamping tents and bunkhouses. Premium cabins come equipped with kitchens so you can prepare your meals at home. If you’re not feeling like cooking, what can you do? There are three dining options at the resort: The Lost Paddle American Bar and Grill, Woody’s Grill. The Slushie Stand.

Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals

If camping isn’t quite your style, check out Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals Fayetteville. The collection includes one-bedroom apartments with WiFi, kitchens, board games, coffee makers, clawfoot tubs, and other amenities. 

Campings

West shares that “the park has primitive campgrounds Most don’t even require reservations. Campers who prefer sites with amenities—like drinking water The following are some examples of how to get started: expanded bathroom facilities—should consider nearby Arrowhead Bike Farm and Babcock State Park.

Restaurants

Wood Iron Eatery

Haynie says that Fayetteville has a lot to offer in terms of dining, shopping, coffee shops and small-town culture. One of Haynie’s favorites is Wood Iron EateryHe says it’s great for breakfast and coffee. Before hiking or rafting, fill up on Belgian waffles and breakfast burritos. 

Cathedral Cafe

Haynie’s second suggestion. Cathedral Cafe Every day, except Wednesdays, is open for lunch and breakfast. The Fayetteville eatery serves up hearty breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, and paninis—and, as its name suggests, it’s housed in a former church. 

Pies & Pints 

Haynie suggests the Fayetteville branch of for lunch or dinner. Pies & Pints. There’s nothing more satisfying than a homemade, hand-tossed pizza after completing a strenuous hike in the park. Try the Black Bean Pizza or the Cuban Pork Pizza if you are looking for something new. Margherita Pizza is a good alternative.