new river gorge national park
New River Gorge National Park is located in southern West Virginia. It is known for its rugged canyon formed by the New River. It also boasts the New River Gorge Bridge which is one of the world’s longest single-span arch bridges. This national park offers incredible whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking which is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.
getting to New River Gorge
If you are flying to the area, the most flight availability will likely be to the capital city of Charleston at the Yeager Airport (CRW). Some closer options to where we went include Raleigh County Airport in Beaver, WV (BKW) or the Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB) in Lewisburg, WV. You can also opt to fly to cities in nearby states and drive. The drive from Baltimore is 5.5 hours, Washington D.C is 5 hours, Lexington, KY and Columbus, OH are both about 3 hours 45 minutes away and Pittsburg, PA is approximately 3 hours 20 minutes drive.
getting around
The best way to visit this national park is in your own private vehicle. You can drive through most of the park on paved roads. If you are flying to the area, you should rent a car. You could also consider renting an RV and camping in the area.
where to stay
There are several small towns around the park which offer accommodations for the park. Fayetteville is the closest to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center which is about a 7 minute drive. You can also stay in Oak Hill which is about 15 minutes away. You can also stay in Summersville which is about 25 minutes north of the park. The New River Gorge NP is long and there are two other visitor centers more south. Hinton is the town closest to the Sandstone Visitor Center but that is about 1 hour 20 minutes to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center.
Within the park, you can stay at one of the campgrounds. There are 8 privative campgrounds that are all first-come, first-served without any advanced reservation options. The campgrounds are all on gravel or dirt roads. There are also 2 campgrounds available for group camping that require reservations in advance if you are traveling with a larger group.
when to visit
New River Gorge can be visited year round. Summer is one of the busiest times as it is the best time for whitewater rafting and outdoor activities. Autumn and Spring also attract a lot of visitors for milder temperatures. Bridge Day occurs around the third weekend of October and brings a large crowd for adrenaline junkies as they can jump from the bridge and the bridge is closed for pedestrians to walk across.
fees
There is no fee to go to the New River Gorge National Park.
If you would like to whitewater raft on the New River or the Gauley River, you can check out a number of commercial operators to get quotes for your adventure. The New River rafting is generally open from April through October while rafting on the Gauley River is typically in September and October.
If you would like to do the Bridge Walk where you get to walk the catwalk beneath the bridge you can do this experience for $75 per person. For more information check out Bridge Walk.
America the Beautiful Annual Pass: $80 interagency pass good for one year from month purchased- I highly recommend this if visiting more than 3 parks in a year.
top things to do
New River Gorge National Park is known for its incredible vistas and hiking.
Visit the visitor centers
New River Gorge National Park has several amazing visitor centers. The main one is the Canyon Rim Visitor Center in the northern aspect of the park. There you can go down stairs to viewpoints of the bridge. The Sandstone Visitor Center is located in the southern aspect and its nearby Sandstone Falls. There is also a small visitor center at the Grandview location which is open 12-5 PM. Seasonally, there is a visitor center at Thurmond.
Drive the scenic Fayette Station Road
The Fayette Station Road is a 7.5 mile one way road that brings you down the gorge to the Tunney Hunsaker Bridge. You can walk on the bridge for epic views of the New River Gorge Bridge. A downloadable audio guide provides information and history during the drive.
Hiking
There are over 100 different trails. Some of the most iconic include the Endless Wall and Long Point Trail. There are also several trails to various waterfalls and old coal mining points of interest.
Explore historic Thurmond
Thurmond was a once thriving coal mining and railroad town. Now essentially a ghost town visitors can explore the historic buildings, railroad depot and lean about the history. There is a seasonal visitor center and guided walks.
Mountain Biking
There are numerous amazing trains with diverse terrain for bikers to enjoy in the park and surrounding areas.
Rock Climbing
There are several amazing places to partake in world-class rock climbing on the sandstone cliffs in both New River Gorge and nearby Summersville.
Whitewater rafting
Whitewater rafting on the New River or the Gauley River is one of the biggest draws for adventure seekers. There are several commercial operators to get quotes for your adventure. The New River rafting is generally open from April through October while rafting on the Gauley River is typically in September and October.
Bridge Walk
Experience the thrill of the Bridge Walk where you get to walk the catwalk beneath the bridge you can do this experience for $75 per person. For more information check out Bridge Walk.
camping
New River Gorge has 8 primitive camping sites that are first-come, first-served but there are also several RV and camping sites outside of the park.
