🥾 Long Point (3.0 miles, 321 feet elev. gain): This short hike to one of the park’s best overlooks is the single most spectacular hike at New River Gorge. It’s a popular spot to watch sunset and sunrise.
🥾 Bridge Overlook (0.6 miles, 88 feet elev. gain): Easily accessed from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, this popular hike takes visitors along a boardwalk to several impressive overlooks of the New River Gorge Bridge.
🥾 Nuttallburg Mine via Headhouse Trail (4.6 miles, 1,122 feet elev. gain): The ruins of Nuttallburg Mine can be reached by driving down a steep, unpaved road. Here, you can find a short trail that navigates a collection of cool, defunct mining structures. However, the better way to reach the mine is by hiking all the way down from the canyon rim via the Headhouse Trail, which follows the remains of a massive conveyor tunnel. Reaching this trailhead can be difficult for large vehicles.
🥾 Endless Wall (2.3 miles, 288 feet elev. gain): This trail follows the top of Endless Wall, a long series of sandstone bluffs. Great views of the New River – 1,000 feet below the trail – can be found.
🥾 Kaymoor Miners Trail (1.6 miles, 869 feet elev. gain): This short (but steep) trail passes a number of mine sites with signs explaining their history.
🥾 Castle Rock (1.1 miles, 173 feet elev. gain): Leaving from Grandview’s main overlook, this trail navigates some beautiful sandstone bluffs while providing incredible views of the New River.
🥾 Sandstone Falls (1.0 miles, 22 feet elev. gain): Not only is the drive to this trail along the New River beautiful, but the short hike is worth the steps. It offers an up-close view at a cluster of tumultuous waterfalls on the New River.

🚣 Whitewater Rafting: Paddling through the famous rapids of the New River is perhaps the quintessential experience at New River Gorge. Check out the park’s list of commercial outfitters to guide you on your trip down the river.
🧗 Rock Climbing: New River Gorge’s sandstone bluffs offer some of the highest-quality climbs in the country. Thousands of established routes – sport, trad, and bouldering – exist in and around the park. Be sure to purchase a guidebook and check out Mountain Project for climbing guidance. If you’re new to the sport, the New has many local outfitters that offer guided climbing experiences.
🏛️ Thurmond Historic District: Once a prosperous mining town, Thurmond is now a well-preserved historic site with many of the town’s original buildings still standing. It’s easy to spend an hour here exploring historic structures and walking along the river.
🚗 Fayette Station Road Scenic Drive: Driving along Fayette Station Road is an immersive experience, revealing plenty about the history of the park and offering an up-close look at the nature of New River Gorge. Do NOT attempt this drive with large vehicles.
🌄 Grandview Overlook: This popular overlook resides near the southern end of the park, a 45-minute drive from the bridge. Here, you’ll find an incredible overlook nearly 1,500 feet above the New River, along with several hikes. This is a great spot for sunrise.
🎒 Backpacking: Donning an overnight back and camping in the wilderness is a great way to escape the bustle at New River Gorge National Park.
🌉 Bridge Day: This annual festival is celebrated every year in October, and it’s a spectacle to behold. On this day, the New River Gorge Bridge closes so that BASE jumpers and rappelers can jump/descend from the bridge.

🚣 Gauley River: The New River’s more adventurous neighbor features class V+ rapids, offering an exhilarating experience for those who enjoy rafting. Every fall, controlled releases of water from the Summersville Dam create the prized “Gauley Season.” The river is run by the same outfitters that run the New.
🏞️ Summersville Lake: Formed by the Summersville Dam, this lake offers a boatload (pun intended) of summer recreation activities. Boating, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and rock climbing – including deep water soloing – can all be found here.
🏞️ Babcock State Park: This state park – adjacent to the national park and preserve – offers beautiful scenery, hiking, and camping.
🏞️ Hawks Nest State Park: Sitting just north of the national park, Hawks Nest provides great views of the New River and additional hiking opportunities.
🏙️ Fayetteville, WV: This small town down the road from the bridge houses a collection of restaurants, bars, and local shops. It’s a great place to visit on a rainy day.

📅 When to Visit: New River Gorge’s peak season runs from April through October, when whitewater rafting is available and the park is warm. To avoid the heat, humidity, bugs, and poison ivy, consider visiting in the spring (April-May) or fall (October).
⌚ How Long to Visit: To explore the best of the park, budget 2 days. If you plan on whitewater rafting, plan for an extra day. If you’re enthusiastic about water activities or climbing, you can easily spend longer here.
🚗 How to Get There: A car is a necessity to reach and explore New River Gorge. The park resides in remote West Virginia, and the closest major cities are Charlotte, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh. The park’s disjointed layout makes it necessary to drive to most of the major sites within its borders.
🛏️ Where to Stay: There is no camping or lodging inside the park. Those looking to camp can check out Babcock State Park or any of the private campgrounds in the area. Lodging is available in the collection of nearby towns, most notably Fayetteville.
🧳 What to Bring: Hiking shoes or boots, bug spray, and sunscreen. Rainy days are common at New River Gorge, so bring a rain jacket and any waterproof gear you own. If you have a wetsuit, bring it for whitewater rafting.

✅ DO be aware of ticks. In the summer, ticks are common at New River Gorge and are constantly looking to latch onto unsuspecting visitors.
✅ DO be aware of the tolls on I-64 and I-77. These interstates are commonly used to reach the southern ends of the park, or by visitors approaching/leaving from the west. The sections of these roads near the park charge hefty tolls payable only by cash, so be sure to turn on the “Avoid Tolls” option if using a map app.
✅ DO familiarize yourself with poison ivy. Poison ivy is abundant in West Virginia and can cause you a painful rash if you accidentally touch it. When in doubt, DON’T TOUCH.
✅ DO download maps for the area, since service is spotty and navigation is difficult without GPS guidance.
❌ DON’T assume the weather will cooperate with you. Rain is common at New River Gorge, and the forecast can change on a whim. Be prepared for any weather condition… rain or shine, cold or hot.
❌ DON’T underestimate the drive time between destinations. Due to the park’s disjointed layout, it can take an hour (or more) to navigate to some parts of the park.