New River Gorge National Park
Official park boundary · National Park Service
A rugged, whitewater river flowing northward through deep canyons, the New River is among the oldest rivers on the continent. The park encompasses over 70,000 acres of land along the New River, is rich in cultural and natural history, and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities.
The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is a United States national park and preserve designed to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains. Established in 1978 as a national river and redesignated in 2020, the park and preserve stretches for 53 miles (85 km) from just downstream of Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted.
To reach Park Headquarters take Route 19 North from Beckley to the Glen Jean exit. Upon exiting Rt 19, make an immediate left turn. At the next intersection, turn right. Park Headquarters will be straight ahead on the right. GPS Coordinates for Headquarters: 81.15587W, 37.92775N PLEASE NOTE: Third party search and map apps may direct you to an potentially inaccessible area of the park with no amenities or rangers stations. Please refer to the Visitor Center or Park Headquarters addresses for directions.
Weather in the Appalachian Mountains can be unpredictable and can change quickly. Always be prepared for the possibility of sudden storms. Weather in the mountains is often cooler and wetter than the surrounding area. On average, the warmest month is July. The maximum average precipitation also occurs in July.
Source: National Park Service
- Trail Run Grandview Rim Trail
Trail run that is 3.1 miles. This is an out and back route that is on different compositions. It is mostly a dirt path with varying degrees of hardness. In fall, when leaves are falling, be aware that the leaves can block view of any dips in the trail terrain.
- Hunting in the Park
Hunting is permitted in any areas designated as National Preserve. Knowing your location and rules for that area are the hunter's responsibility.
- Trail run at Endless Wall
Endless Wall Trail is and excellent place for a trail run but due to the volume of other hikers, this trail runner would recommend that this be an early morning location.
- Trail Run or hike the Little Laurel Trail
The 4.0 mile roundtrip trail run or hike is strenuous. The terrain is crushed rock for most of the trail, but there are a few areas that the terrain can be a bit uneven. If you start at the trailhead in the Grandview location, it will be downhill for 2.0 miles and then uphill for 2.0 miles.
- Castle Rock Hike
Amazing hike that brings you right next to the layers of rocks that make-up the gorge. The trail is uneven and requires some scrambling over some of the rock obstacles. The steps are made up of rocks and can be super slippery when wet.
- Bicycling at New River Gorge
New River Gorge National River offers over fifty miles of mountain bike trails, varying from easy to difficult in terrain and distance.
- Stroll on the Sandstone Boardwalk
Stroll along the Sandstone Falls Boardwalk.
- Sandstone Falls Overlook
Wildlife Observation Nature Observation
Source: National Park Service
- Army Camp
- Brooklyn Campground
- Burnwood Group Campsite
- Glade Creek Campground
- Grandview Sandbar
- Meadow Creek Campground
- Stone Cliff
- Thayer Campground
- War Ridge/Backus Mountain Campground
- Canyon Rim Visitor Center
- Grandview Visitor Center
- Sandstone Visitor Center
- Thurmond Depot Visitor Center
Drive New River Gorge with Byway
Byway plans the scenic day around New River Gorge — real places, real weather, every stop verified. Zero hallucinations. Google Maps for turns. Byway for soul.