During our most recent visit, we camped at Rifrafters in Fayetteville. This full-service resort offers a wide range of activities, along with lodging and dining. In addition, participants will also get one year of free recreational activities like white water rafting, hiking, biking and more. As the railroad grew westward in the 1800s, workers labored through hot summers and cold winters to cut trees and lay rails. All the activities and camp resorts are open and running, and it's the time of year when you're likely to find more crowded trails and less lodging options (especially if you're planning to visit on the weekend). Trails in the Fayetteville area provide access to some of the most spectacular overlooks in the park. This was a great spot to wind down after some outdoor adventure. Weve done zip lines and aerial adventures in various places over the years. Dont worry, if rafting isnt your thing, there are also plenty of things to do on land! Along with more mellow joys, such as music and food vendors. FairBridge Inn Express Barrington. Crissy K / Tripadvisor. Most of the trail is relatively easy, though there are a few short steep sections. Sandstone Falls. If youve never toured a mining town, it would be a great learning opportunity. New River Gorge was first a national river. For New River Gorge National Park, it really just depends on how active you want to be. Here, the river is wider and the banks are less steep. On this tour, you walk on a catwalk under the New River Gorge Bridge the entire length of the bridge. Prior to 1977, if you wanted to cross the New River Gorge, you had to drive all the way down into the canyon, cross a railroad bridge, and then drive all the way back up again on the other side. It doesnt matter what kind: plane, train, boat or our trusty truck and camper. New River Gorge was, at one time, among the largest producers of coal in the United States. Still, we always recommend talking to a park ranger to get up-to-date information regarding current conditions. Our Wander-Filled Life is a participant in several affiliate programs. Take in scenic views of the New River Gorge Bridge, the most photographed attraction in West Virginia. Here, the Thurmond Depot acts as a visitor center during the summer months, depicting life in this one-time coal boomtown. Find info on campsites and camping rules here. On December 27, 2020, it was officially designated as a national park. Summer can be very hot and humid as well as rainy. The New River is known as one of the nation's top destinations for . With extra time, you can also walk the Island Loop Trail. The rich farmlands found here date to before the railroad when families had to be completely self-sufficient. My family just got home last night from a road trip that included three nights in Fayetteville and this post was super helpful. OTHER THINGS TO DO AT NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE. Within New River Gorge National Park, there are about 100 miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy to challenging. In addition to the waterfall, this is a great place to see the New River upstream of the gorge. Good writeup. Personally, we are perfectly ok with that there is no need to spend money to replace something that doesnt need replacing! October is the best month for spotting fall colors in the New River Gorge, though some activities (like whitewater rafting) start slowing down this month. Did the Bridge Walk (a little expensive at $72 a person, but the thrill on being under the bridge at 850 ft made it worth it) and then the Long Point Trail. I haven't tried rock climbing here so I can't speak from experience, but companies offering tours suitable for beginners include ACE Adventure Resort (who we went rafting with) and the New River Climbing School. Fayetteville is closest to the main visitor center and is a cute little town. To understand travel before the bridge was built and enjoy close-up views of the gorge and river, be sure to drive Fayette Station Road. The New River Gorge is located in southern West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains. The John Henry statue stands at the entrance to the Great Bend Tunnel, which is no longer in service, just east of the town of Hinton. The forests here don't change all at once like in some other parts of the country, but that just means there's a longer display of fall foliage here. Those who are looking for adventure will certainly find it. Places To Go - New River Gorge National Park & Preserve (U.S. National This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The trail runs through a forest and along the cliff edge until it ends at Diamond Point Overlook. Again, most of the trail is relatively easy, with just a few minor rolling hills. New River Gorge Bridge Walk Photo Credit: JaGa, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons The steel arch New River Gorge bridge is the longest in the western hemisphere. The park has nearly 1,500 established sites, varying in difficulties, but leaning towards mostly advanced climbs. We recommend the first part of the Grandview Rim Trail, out to North Overlook (roughly 1/2 mile one way). You should definitely start your visit at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center in Fayetteville. Many thanks to my family, Debbie, Umesh, and Maureen, for providing some of the photos in this post. Arrowhead offers clinics and tours, or you can just rent one of their Trek mountain bikes and hit the 15 miles of trails on your own. But this just meant that each new discovery of an amazing view or adorable town or interesting tidbit of history was both surprising and exciting. Trails range from a quarter mile, up to 7 miles and many can be looped together to create longer excursions. Being able to do it for free, you know, youre gonna get hooked on it and even the hiking and the biking and all the trails and stuff.. I think parking is a little high for minor league basketball, and the concessions are too high as well. Whether youre looking for an easy hike for the whole family or a trek deep into the gorge, youre sure to have the best time! Located in the Appalachians of southern West Virginia, Americas newest national park is easily reached from Interstates 64, 77, and 79, and from U.S. Route 60 (Midland Trail Scenic Highway). For us, thats what makes a great park a variety of experiences so that everyone can enjoy it. This publication includes descriptions of each trail, along with length and directions to the trailhead. Adventures on the Gorge also offers a couple of different zip line and other aerial adventures. When we visited, there was no signage. Summer is also when things get a bit hot and sticky in this part of West Virginia (the humidity is no joke! More Information For Your West Virginia Vacation: download the transcript for free through the NPS website, Family Rafting In New River Gorge National Park, Zipline Tour near New River Gorge National Park, The Best Things To Do In Charleston, West Virginia, Colorado National Parks Road Trip Itinerary, Grand Canyon National Park South Rim: One Day Here, Rocky Mountain National Park: One Day Guide, Canyonlands National Park: Best Things To Do, National Park Gift Ideas: Perfect For National Park Lovers. Human waste may not be buried within 200 feet or in sight of any trail, road, parking lot, developed area, campsite, cliff or rock formation, climbing route or climbing area, water source or the high water mark of any stream, whether intermittent or not. Climbing is open year-round, but is best roughly late-April to mid-June and mid-September to late-October. Whitewater Rafting on the New River. The Bridge Walk allows you to view the river and epic views of the gorge from 861 feet above the water! If we wanted to truly experience the park, we would have missed out on a lot of seasonal activities. If youre looking to stretch your legs, there are many different hiking trails at New River Gorge National Park. Here, you can check out a few exhibits and watch one of the park films. Cabin rentals and other vacation rentals are really popular throughout the New River Gorge, and you can find a lot on sites like Airbnb and Vrbo. Read our full campground review on RV Life here. Normally, we would encourage everyone to visit as many park sites as possible. Throughout the ghost town, youll find the remains of several buildings and a few exhibits on the history of the area. Below are some of the most popular trails in New River Gorge National Park: Tip: If you only have one day for hiking, I recommend the Grandview section of the park. The park itself is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This was especially true for the work done cutting the 1.25-mile long Great Bend Tunnel at Talcott. The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and Adventures on the Gorge, are nestled between West Virginia's Appalachian Mountains.Adventures on the Gorge abuts America's newest national park, overlooking the New River. There you can get maps, information, ask questions, and plan your course through the park. Youll likely need another day if you also want to do some hiking or other activities below. New River Gorge CVB says regions addition to Ascend WV program will benefit local economy, Faith Family Health cuts ribbon on new clinic, WV DHHR to begin accepting School Clothing Allowance applications - clipped version. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Difficulty varies from flat, smooth walking to steep challenging terrain. The show is 100% community funded and free to watch. You can also download the NPS app and save the park for offline use. Between the river, mountains and various towns it is not always easy to get from one area of the park to another. Any of these would make a great base for exploring the New River Gorge, as they are only minutes away from hiking trails, the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, and more. There are several great places to learn about it: The New River Gorge was first discovered in 1671 during a fur trading expedition. This book covers 25 routes across the country. Autumn is another great time to visit this national park, especially if you love fall colors. At Gray, our journalists report, write, edit and produce the news content that informs the communities we serve. The crossing could take up to an hour on narrow, twisting mountain roads. ), As with many of the recent National Park designations, New River Gorge is not actually a new park. Thank you for a great post with lots of info! Here's a look at some of the must-dos here: This part of West Virginia is known for its exciting whitewater rafting trips; the local outfitters will tell you that the area is home to some of the best whitewater in the country and who am I to argue? With another day or two, there are a few other things to do at New River Gorge National Park that are well worth your time. Before construction of the New River Gorge Bridge, this scenic drive was the only way to cross the gorge. Comfort Inn Crystal Lake - Algonquin. Elliot and I also found some gorgeous (and secluded) sunset views on the Beauty Mountain Trail, which is less of a hiking trail and more of a faint path behind a couple of houses that overlooks the gorge at Ram's Head. On that day, the New River Gorge Bridge is closed to vehicles (yes, that means roughly a one-hour detour) and opened to pedestrians, BASE jumpers and rappellers. are for sale. This early subsistence farm offers a glimpse of what life was like for early settlers in this region. Located in the southern half of West Virginia is the nations newest national park,New River Gorge. That is the boundary for the National Scenic River and the start of the Bluestone Turnpike Trail. Along the way are broad vistas as well as small glimpses of both . The third Saturday of each October is known as Bridge Day. This is the areas most well-loved event, not to mention West Virginias largest one-day festival. If you're looking for an itinerary, here's what I would suggest: If you only have one day to dedicate to New River Gorge National Park, then I would make sure to do everything listed under Day 1 in the itinerary above: Visit the Canyon Rim Visitor Center and see the New River Gorge Bridge up close; tackle a hike like the Long Point Trail or the Endless Wall Trail (or both since they add up to just over 5 miles total); and drive the historic Fayette Station Road. If you do the Scenic Drive through the park, you'll drive right past or even through most of these anyway! Note: The road is not suitable for oversized vehicles or trailers. This is a great way to learn about the park while exploring the sites. The bridge is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a national landmark in engineering, and is celebrated on the third Saturday in October each year at Bridge Day, when the bridge is closed to vehicle traffic and people base jump off the side. Grandview Overlook and Grandview Rim Trail offer the best vantage points of the picturesque bend. After visiting nearly 300 national park sites, we know that the various designations sometimes are very arbitrary. Still, its a nice facility and the outdoor space would have been fantastic on a warm, sunny afternoon. New River Gorge Bridge & River. Peaceful forest trails, superb overlooks, and historic scenery are all found here. The most popular trails in the New River Gorge include: These are just a small selection of trails you can hike in the New River Gorge. Here, the New River forms the longest and deepest river gorge in the Appalachian Mountains, creating a landscape that begs to be explored both on and off the water. The national park covers about 70,000 acres, stretching for 53 miles along the New River between the towns of Fayetteville and Hinton. 12 Things You Must Do In New River Gorge National Park - Seen By Amy Overall, though, I think this park is fairly well equipped to handle additional visitors.
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