New River Gorge in West Virginia was solely lately designated a nationwide park. As a brand new park, you may anticipate it to nonetheless be creating and discovering its id as a park, and to make certain, there’s nonetheless some rising the realm is bound to do.
However New River Gorge was all the time properly outfitted with issues to do, and only some years after it grew to become a park, you’ll now discover infinite enjoyable issues to do in New River Gorge Nationwide Park. Whether or not you’re into mountain climbing, journey actions, or historic sightseeing, it’s all right here.
You’re positive to seek out not less than considered one of these 18 issues to do in New River Gorge good on your sort of journey.
18 of the Greatest Issues to Do in New River Gorge
1. Take a Scenic Drive
New River Gorge is about among the many mountains of West Virginia, and you understand what meaning? It’s good for a highway journey. Throughout your time within the gorge, you’ll spend a while navigating from vacation spot to vacation spot, however you’ll want to put aside a while to go wherever the highway leads you.
There are just a few nice scenic drives, together with the 3-hour New River Gorge Scenic Drive, encircling all areas of the park. However for those who’re in search of one thing a little bit shorter, then driving Fayette Station Highway packs a punch.
It was once that this was the one highway throughout the gorge earlier than the New River Gorge Bridge was constructed. However now the Fayette Station Highway scenic drive is a good way to see the gorge, the bridge, and most of the greatest views multi functional route.
2. Watch a Sundown within the Gorge
Sundown in New River Gorge is spectacular, so don’t put it in your itinerary as an afterthought, simply in case you could have sufficient vitality on the finish of the day to remain out for sundown.
Nope, experiencing this can be a should, and there are many spots for it. Sit again and benefit from the views from the rim of the gorge, watching the golden rays disappear over the ridge. Among the greatest spots for sundown within the gorge are on the park’s most iconic hikes, and wherever you could see the bridge.
In order that’s why taking a hike is subsequent up on the checklist!
3. Hike the Lengthy Level or Infinite Wall Trails
New River Gorge is a hiker’s vacation spot, with loads of simple and difficult hikes for all ranges.
Infinite Wall Path could also be the most well-liked hike in New River Gorge. It’s a 2.4-mile path, with trailheads at each ends. An effective way to hike it’s to choose one of many trailheads, hike out to concerning the midway level the place the perfect views on the path are discovered, after which return to the parking space.
The path is known as for the views it gives of the infinite wall of rock that extends across the rim of the gorge. It’s a well-liked spot for rock climbers who get pleasure from descending the cliffs. However for many, it’s a charming view with an easy-to-moderate hike out and again.
Second solely to Infinite Wall, Lengthy Level Path is one other hike you’ll hear practically everybody suggest. Whereas it will likely be well-liked, it’s properly value it. This hike will take you out to probably the most panoramic view of the New River Gorge bridge.
It’s an attractive bridge, and standing on Lengthy Level you’ll get to admire it surrounded by the fantastic thing about nature throughout.
4. Zipline By means of the Treetops
New River Gorge has fairly a fame as an journey vacation spot. Whilst you’re right here within the park you’ve obtained to expertise not less than one exercise that will get your coronary heart racing. Ziplining in New River Gorge is a type of bucket checklist actions to test off whilst you’re right here.
There are a number of locations to zipline in New River Gorge, together with a number of journey retreats with their very own programs set as much as provide you with a tour of the treetops, together with wonderful views of the gorge and surroundings down under.
It’s not only one zipline and also you’re completed. These teams will take you thru a number of zips, bridges, and platforms to finish a whole course. Even for those who’ve by no means ziplined earlier than, they’ll educate you the whole lot you could know to be outfitted for the journey.
5. Discover the Trails at Grandview
The whole thing of New River Gorge Nationwide Park stretches 53 miles down the gorge, preserving so many acres of West Virginia wilderness. So whilst you could hear most frequently concerning the well-liked trails talked about above, there are complete different areas of the park most individuals depart unexplored!
The Grandview space of the park is additional south from the primary customer areas however continues to be house to its personal customer heart and path community. The most important draw for this space is the grand view – a viewpoint overlooking the gorge and the river under.
Fortress Rock, Tunnel Path, and the Grandview Rim Path all begin from the overlook space, they usually every provide distinctive options of New River Gorge.
6. Stroll the New River Gorge Bridge Stroll
You’ll be able to’t go far in New River Gorge Nationwide Park with out seeing or listening to concerning the bridge. This unbelievable feat of structure is the longest single-span bridge within the US, at over 3,000 toes lengthy.
However one of many coolest issues about it’s you could stroll underneath the bridge. There’s a catwalk within the rafters of the bridge the place a walkway takes you all the way in which throughout. And New River Gorge Bridge Stroll leads group excursions throughout this stroll.
Severely probably the most distinctive issues to do in New River Gorge, it’s an exercise to not be missed. With views so far as the attention can see down the gorge and above the river, strolling the New River Gorge bridge catwalk is one thing most guests speak about because the spotlight of their journey.
7. Uncover a Historic Mine Operation
One thing it’s possible you’ll not learn about New River Gorge is that there’s a lot of historical past right here. The New River Gorge was as soon as house to a number of booming coal mines. The mine websites had been all named after the businesses that ran them, and these days while you go to New River Gorge, you’ll come throughout traces of those operations.
Mountain climbing to or stopping in at these mine websites is usually a fascinating peek at historical past. The Kaymoor and Kaymoor Miners Trails take hikers down into the gorge to the doorway of the coal mine.
Relics of the coal mining days, equivalent to a security board displaying a strategy to observe accidents on the mine are what stay right this moment. These trails are fairly steep to get you to the bottom of the mine, so these hikes are thought-about among the extra strenuous within the park.
8. Search Out the Greatest Views
Finally, the perfect factor to do in New River Gorge is to indicate off the gorge. Its lovely views are what carry individuals right here and yow will discover them all around the park. In lots of locations alongside the backroads of West Virginia, you’ll discover overlooks that divulge heart’s contents to gorgeous views of the gorge and the forest overlaying it.
We’ve already mentioned views at Lengthy Level and Grandview, however another overlooks to go to are the Turkey Spur Overlook and Concho Rim Overlook. These are nice locations to seek out on a scenic drive between the primary areas of New River Gorge Nationwide Park.
Merely standing on the overlooks and looking offers you an appreciation for why this place grew to become a nationwide park.
9. Go Whitewater Rafting
A whitewater rafting vacation spot, New River Gorge is house to a number of rivers with each the Gauley and New Rivers making their means by the realm. These are massive, highly effective, whitewater areas that may give an journey to anybody who’s up for the experience.
You’ll be able to select from quite a lot of ranges of rapids, with areas appropriate for learners, and even households who wish to carry the children on a water journey. However for these severe whitewater lovers, the Gauley River is called a world-class vacation spot, particularly within the fall when the dam is launched, bringing swift waters throughout the technical rapids.
10. Attempt Out Rock Climbing and Rappelling
One other technical journey in New River Gorge is mountaineering and rappelling. Each mountaineering and rappelling contain navigating the cliff rock faces and both climbing or descending utilizing rope and different gear.
Don’t fear, there are skilled guides who will assist level you to the precise spots and hold you having fun with your self on a guided tour.
And New River Gorge is a good spot for mountaineering. Simply take into consideration that infinite wall of rock face that surrounds the canyon rim. The climbing neighborhood is robust right here and has arrange many routes with ladders and anchors to clip into.
Among the best locations to rock climb in New River Gorge is at Bridge Buttress, an enormous tough rock face good for climbing straight up. Wherever you find yourself, going with an clothes shop will allow you to discover a route and take a look at your climbing limits.
11. Search Out Waterfalls
For those who search for them, there are waterfalls in New River Gorge Nationwide Park. In actual fact, the state of West Virginia has arrange a West Virginia waterfall path, permitting you to test off the falls you go to on a highway journey by West Virginia.
A number of of them are positioned in or close to New River Gorge. Whereas New River Gorge isn’t primarily a waterfall vacation spot, with that a lot water working by the valley, you’ll be able to definitely discover some streams and creeks giving properties to magnificent waterfalls.
Sandstone Falls is the biggest of all of them, proper on the river, with rocky areas bringing many brief falls all collectively in a single place. It’s simply accessible with a brief path on a boardwalk taking you to see the waterfall.
One other enjoyable one to see is Cathedral Falls which is a roadside falls, simple to leap out and see on a drive to or from New River Gorge. And for those who drive Fayette Station Highway, Wolf Creek Falls is positioned a brief stroll from the Kaymoor Trailhead alongside the drive.
Loads of waterfalls in New River Gorge for those who’re a waterfall seeker!
12. Go to Canyon Rim and the Customer Middle
Canyon Rim Customer Middle is the primary customer heart of New River Gorge and is considered one of two customer facilities that stay open year-round. As it’d sound, this customer heart is positioned proper on the rim of the canyon, making it an excellent spot to cease for views of the gorge.
And bonus – that is the place you’ll be able to rise up shut views overlooking the New River Gorge bridge. A brief stroll to a boardwalk behind the customer heart will take you to the Higher Viewpoint, and some stairs will take you right down to the Decrease View. Each really feel like you’ll be able to virtually attain out and contact the bridge, with nice views by the timber.
Plus contained in the customer heart is sort of as lovely, and there are just a few displays to help you study concerning the gorge and its historical past.
13. Try Babcock State Park
There’s a lot wild and fantastic West Virginia to go round that there are a number of nice state parks close to New River Gorge. Extra mountain climbing, outside actions, and nice issues to do are all positioned inside the close by Babcock State Park.
The largest draw of Babcock State Park is the Glade Creek Grist Mill, a large stone and wood construction set in a serene nature setting. It makes an attractive scene and guests journey from throughout simply to expertise and {photograph} the mill.
Nonetheless, don’t simply sweep out and in and solely see a fraction of what the state park has to supply. Spend just a few nights in a campground or cabin to hike and revel in Babcock.
14. Journey the Mountain Bike Trails
Convey your bikes or lease some to experience by the backroads and mountain bike trails of New River Gorge. There’s an excellent community of trails, and biking is inspired for lovers to get pleasure from extra of West Virginia’s wilderness.
The paths of New River Gorge are of such nice high quality that they’re sometimes hosts to mountain biking occasions and races. However there are trails for the entire household, learners, and endurance racers. Even if you would like simply to get a style of biking within the mountains, New River Gorge may very well be an excellent day journey.
15. Fish on the New River
For positive, there’s one thing for everybody in New River Gorge. Fishing is a well-liked exercise in and across the New River. For a lot of, nothing sounds higher than a weekend fishing within the mountains.
Get the right fishing license and get on the market on the water to see what number of trout, bass, musky, and extra you’ll be able to catch. There are all the time recollections to be made on a fishing journey with buddies.
16. Stroll Round Downtown Fayetteville
Whereas New River Gorge is themed round getting outside, that doesn’t imply there isn’t one thing to be found off the paths. Better of all, the small cities of New River Gorge keep true to the backwoods really feel of this nationwide park.
Fayetteville, West Virginia is the unofficial house base of New River Gorge Nationwide Park. One of many greatest locations to remain in New River Gorge, it’s additionally an excellent place to benefit from the native aptitude. House to many charming eating places, it has a historic appeal you gained’t discover in most of the extra commercialized nationwide parks.
Vintage and classic retailers and small boutique companies are scattered down the primary road. After having fun with lunch in Fayetteville, spend a day ducking out and in of the door frames to see what’s inside.
17. Stroll the Deserted Thurmond District
Because the New River Gorge was a hub of coal, the railroad was additionally big within the gorge within the early 1900s. Wherever a prepare depot was constructed grew to become a bustling space of exercise. After the trade modified, and coal-powered locomotives had been now not the first technique of transportation, the railroads moved out, leaving cities like Thurmond frozen in time.
The Nationwide Park Service has restored the depot and several other historic buildings making this an excellent place to see what life would have been like throughout the success of small-town West Virginia.
Take a self-guided strolling tour of the Thurmond Historic District and see empty buildings and what stays of the coal loading operations.
18. Take a Ghost Tour
Talking of deserted coal mining cities, the sudden vacating of the mines has given New River Gorge vacationers one other distinctive factor to do – take a ghost tour. For those who’re you’ll be able to take a non-public guided tour beginning on the native customer heart to listen to the scary ghost tales of Fayetteville and the encompassing space.
You’ll hear tales and folklore of the New River Gorge, led by an in-costume information to go away you a little bit chilled listening to the historic happenings in these small cities.
Wager you didn’t assume ghost tales and outside recreation can be discovered aspect by aspect at probably the most intriguing nationwide parks. There’s definitely one thing for everybody in New River Gorge, and you may expertise all of it for your self.
FAQs – The Greatest Issues to Do In New River Gorge
How lengthy do you have to spend at New River Gorge Nationwide Park?
Although there are such a lot of issues to do in New River Gorge, even a brief weekend journey may be sufficient to get a superb style of the park and what you may wish to come again to see. Few of the actions in New River Gorge will take greater than half a day, so two or three days can help you see all of the issues that curiosity you within the park.
However if you’re a real journey junkie or wish to take your time exploring the backroads of West Virginia, you would prolong this highway journey just a few extra days to absorb extra of the gorge and the encompassing space.
Are there free issues to do in New River Gorge?
Sure! Spending time outside is a very free exercise, and the most effective issues about New River Gorge is that there aren’t any entrance charges. You don’t want to purchase a park go to get into New River Gorge Nationwide Park and you may spend hours exploring the paths, cities, and drives close by.
Mountain climbing is likely one of the greatest free issues to do in New River Gorge Nationwide Park, and although this information solely talked about the highest handful of trails, there are dozens extra to discover when mountain climbing New River Gorge.
Whether or not you’re waterfall searching or watching the sundown, New River Gorge couldn’t be a greater vacation spot for the funds traveler.
Is New River Gorge Nationwide Park value it?
Spend any time in New River Gorge and also you’ll surprise why it didn’t grow to be a nationwide park earlier than 2020. There are such a lot of hidden gems and thrilling journey actions in New River Gorge Nationwide Park it’s value a go to. And for sure, you’ll depart wanting to return again.
Get pleasure from The Greatest Issues to Do in New River Gorge Nationwide Park
Taking a highway journey to New River Gorge Nationwide Park offers infinite prospects for what to discover. Climbing, mountain biking, and rafting will fulfill the adventurous traveler. A cabin keep in a close-by state park whereas mountain climbing among the state’s greatest trails brings steadiness for a extra enjoyable keep. Or a scenic drive to the deserted coal cities offers historic vibes for the extra considerate traveler.
No matter you’re in search of, give New River Gorge an opportunity, and also you’ll discover among the greatest issues to do on this newer Nationwide Park.
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