A Visit to New River Gorge, America’s Newest National Park
America’s greatest idea has a new and wonderful entry: New River Gorge National Park! New River Gorge was our first stop on a road trip from our home in Durham, NC to Pittsburgh, PA. We had passed over New River Gorge Bridge so many times before but had never thought to stop. With it being named a national park in 2020, this was a perfect opportunity to finally see what the park had to offer while checking off another national park.
In this article, I’ll provide some history on New River Gorge to frame what makes this park special before delving into all the things we did during our two-day visit. We only saw a small bit of what New River Gorge has to offer. What we did see, though, was impressive and already has me ready for another visit!
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New River Gorge’s History
The New River Gorge has been sculpted by the New River for millennia as it makes its way from North Carolina to form the Kanawha River in southern West Virginia.
Prior to being developed by American settlers, various Cherokee Indian tribes settled here until being forced out. In 1873, the area became more easily accessible to settlers when the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway opened.
With the arrival of more settlers came the discovery of coal seams throughout the gorge. Mines quickly opened and between these mines and extensive logging, the area became industrialized in the late 19th century.
By the 1960s, all of these mines and many of their accompanying towns were abandoned. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter passed legislation making the river a federally protected national river due to its geological and cultural importance. This legislation would help to begin protecting the region from future industry.
The late 1970s were a busy time for New River Gorge as this period also saw the completion of the New River Gorge Bridge in 1977. At the time of its construction, it was the highest bridge in the world carrying a regular roadway at 876 feet. It was also the longest single-span bridge at 1,700 feet. More importantly, the New River Gorge Bridge linked the north and south parts of the gorge, vastly reducing travel time in the area.
Then, the area was made into a national park in 2020 granting it even more federal protections. Now, the park is open to tourists looking for an escape from the modern world to an area of pristine natural beauty. It has hiking, whitewater rafting, stunning overlooks and unique details from the region’s mining past.
Interested in learning more American history? Here’s my post on the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.!
Sandstone Falls at New River Gorge
Sandstone Falls was our first stop in New River Gorge National Park. It turned out to be a great introduction to the park with its peaceful walk along boardwalks in the forest that take you up close to the New River’s largest waterfall.
Sandstone Falls consists of a lower and upper portion spanning the 1,500-foot width of the New River as it transitions from the wide gorge to a narrower section through the mountains. You’ll first come across the Lower Sandstone Falls almost immediately after starting the walk. These falls are much gentler compared to the upper falls, but they do make for a pretty scene as the water tumbles over small precipices surrounded by greenery.
After walking another 0.75 miles, you arrive at Upper Sandstone Falls. While you can’t get particularly close to these falls, the panorama of them crashing through the gorge with the surrounding mountains in view is a great one.
There are also two opportunities to get off the boardwalk and do a little traipsing through the woods here, too. The one you definitely should do is right near the end of the boardwalk. Go down the steps with the river to your right and walk a couple minutes till you reach a beach littered with pebbles and shells. From here you have the best view of Upper Sandstone Falls.
The other off-trail section is just a little way up the boardwalk from its terminus. This one will keep the river to your left as you walk back up towards Lower Sandstone Falls. There’s a small, rocky stream with views of the lower falls through the trees. Be careful through here as the rocks and boulders can get slippery.
Irish Mountain Road
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this road leading away from Sandstone Falls back to I-64.
Sandstone Falls is a bit out of the way in relation to the rest of the park. If you’re coming from the south, the directions will take you down to New River Road passing a few small communities before getting to the parking lot. When you’re coming from the north or if you’re heading in that direction after visiting the falls, your GPS may suggest taking Irish Mountain Road just past the parking lot.
This road barely meets the modern definition of a road. It’s incredibly rocky, filled with potholes, muddy, windy and steep. I would not recommend it unless you have all wheel drive or at least a more rugged SUV or crossover with some type of sport mode. We have the latter which seemed to work out fairly well. Had we attempted this in my old sedan, you may have never heard from me again.
New River Gorge Overlook at Grandview
Grandview is a bit of a misnomer. It’s the name of this whole section of New River Gorge National Park where visitors have access to Main Overlook, several trails, a small visitor center, picnic tables, a playground and an amphitheater. Main Overlook is where you can get a *ahem* grand view of New River Gorge.
Bad jokes aside, the Main Overlook at Grandview is spectacular. You’re able to see several miles along the New River to either side from 1,400 feet above the river. Across the river is an active railway that winds along the riverbed through the small town of Quinnimont to your left. It’s from this town via that same railway that coal was first shipped out of this region in 1873.
(To see the view from Main Overlook, scroll up for the first picture in this article.)
After spending some time at Main Overlook, consider taking a hike along one of the trails here. For an easy walk through the woods, there’s the Grandview Rim Trail connecting Main Overlook to Turkey Spur. This trail is 1.6 miles long one way and offers several more views of the New River Gorge, including another memorable overlook at Turkey Spur.
Castle Rock Trail to Turkey Spur Overlook
| Length | 3.4 miles (out via the Castle Rock Trail and return via the Grandview Rim Trail) |
| Elevation Gain | 150 feet |
| Time | 1.5 – 2 hours |
| Difficulty | Moderate due to rocky terrain |
| Highlights | Sandstone rock cliffs, Turkey Spur Overlook |
For a more difficult hike through the woods, Castle Rock Trail to Turkey Spur is the way to go. The trailhead is near the Main Overlook.
The first 45 minutes of the trail go through some fairly dense forest foliage. I imagine it’s not too bad during colder months, but it slowed us down quite a bit in September.
In addition to that, the ground is also uneven and rocky during this first section. We also had the poor timing of hiking after some rain in the region which made things slower still. The rocks were slick and where there weren’t rocks, there was mud everywhere else.
The highlight of this section is easily the massive sandstone cliff along your left. It’s there through most of the hike but is beautifully apparent in a few different parts. In some, the cliffside meshes with the dense forest. In another section (my favorite), the trail opens up a bit from the forest to a towering cliffside and loose, sandy terrain that seems like something out of Utah’s high desert.
After only about two-thirds of a mile, the Castle Rock Trail ends and intersects with the Grandview Rim Trail. From here you can turn around, turn left to go back to the visitor center or turn right to go about another mile plus change to see Turkey Spur Overlook.
You May Also Be Interested In: The #1 Guide for Hiking Old Rag in Shenandoah
Turkey Spur Overlook
We chose to go right and continue on the Grandview Rim Trail. This portion of the hike is easy except for all the mud due to recent rains. There are a few overlooks that during colder months could be nice, but because of the summer foliage, we weren’t able to see much. All in all, it’s not the most exciting trail but it is a relaxing trip through the woods.
At the end of the trail is Turkey Spur Overlook. There’s a very short trail with 150 steps leading up to the overlook. It sounds like a lot, but it isn’t that bad because of how cool it is on the stairs. The rock formation creates a chilling effect to protect from the summer heat.
Once at the top, there are three different viewpoints. Turning right at the top of the stairs takes you to a view looking out towards the community of Quinnimont. If you turn left, you have two overlooks: one that looks south along the New River and another that looks north showing one of the New River’s hairpin turns around the mountain. Unfortunately, we arrived just in time for a brief but heavy downpour of rain, so it’s difficult to make out how the river bends in my photo below.
We returned via the road to the intersection of the Grandview Rim Trail with the Castle Rock Trail. From here, we chose to go back to the visitor center via the Grandview Rim Trail. There isn’t much to see, but it is much easier than having to navigate the mud and rocks of the Castle Rock Trail.
New River Gorge Overlook at Canyon Rim Visitor Center
Canyon Rim Visitor Center is one of two main visitor centers in the park, but more importantly, it has one of the best views of the New River Gorge Bridge you’ll see in the area. The visitor center is simple with a souvenir shop, a small museum detailing the region’s history and park rangers available to answer questions.
At the back of the Canyon Rim Visitor Center is a small balcony with a view overlooking the New River to your left and the New River Gorge Bridge to your right. This isn’t the main viewpoint, but it is a nice one.
Take a quick walk through the museum, and then head back outside following the signs for the views. There are two observation decks here. The first is just off the parking lot and is easily accessible by everyone. The second deck has the better viewpoint and is worth the 178 steps down if you’re able to do them.
From the second deck, you have some of the most iconic views of the New River Gorge Bridge. You’re just close enough to see the detail of its arch and numerous supports while still being far enough away to take in most of the bridge. It’s simply breathtaking!
For more great Appalachian viewpoints, check out my post on the best things to do in Shenandoah National Park!
Fayette Station Road Scenic Drive Through New River Gorge
Near the Canyon View Visitor Center is the starting point for the Fayette Station Road scenic drive. This 8-mile drive winds its way down to the bottom of the gorge before crossing an old rickety bridge and climbing its way back up the other side.
The highlight of the drive is early in the drive. There’s no signage, so keep an eye out for some pull-offs to your left. From the parking area, you get great views from just below the New River Gorge Bridge. You can even get directly below the bridge for a unique view.
After driving a bit farther you’ll make the crossing over the Tunny Hunsaker Bridge. Keep your eyes peeled here for another unique view of the New River Gorge Bridge spanning the gorge hundreds of feet above you. You’re not supposed to stop on the bridge, so be ready to take any photos. There is a small parking area about 100 yards up the road if you want to park and walk back to the bridge for more time with this view.
Besides the two spots detailed above, there are a few other places to pull over for viewpoints and historic locations.
Expect the drive to take at least 30 minutes, but it can take up to 45 minutes if you stop at all the pull-offs. There is also an audio tour available to download.
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Long Point Trail to Another New River Gorge Overlook
| Length | 3.2 miles out and back |
| Elevation Gain | 426 feet |
| Time | 1 – 1.5 hours |
| Difficulty | Easy but with a brief steep incline on the return trip |
| Highlights | Peaceful walk through the forest, New River Bridge overlook |
Long Point Trail is another great way to see a different perspective of the New River Gorge Bridge. The trail itself is pretty easy with the exception of one steep incline on the way back from the overlook at the end of the trail. It’s only about a quarter mile uphill, so don’t let that deter you from one of the best overlooks in the park!
The leadup to the overlook is somewhat unremarkable. It’s a walk through the woods with some nice forest scenery but not much else. During spring, there should be some wildflowers and definitely lots of rhododendrons blooming. There are also several signposts discussing the area’s history and geology.
You’re coming here for the overlook, though, and what an overlook it is! From a large rocky outcropping, you have amazing views looking northwards at the New River Gorge Bridge and the New River flowing hundreds of feet below. It was my favorite viewpoint of many great ones we saw during our two days at New River Gorge National Park.
In addition to this view, take time to look at the view along the right side of the overlook. You can see a bit of the New River (again, you should be able to see much more during colder months) and, if you look closely, the Fern Creek Falls across the gorge.
Cathedral Falls
On the northern edge of New River Gorge National Park is Cathedral Falls. Cathedral Falls is formed from Cane Creek spilling over a 60-foot drop as it makes its way towards the New River.
This waterfall, one of the highest in West Virginia, is exceedingly easy to visit as long as you don’t mind a bit of a drive to just outside of the park. The waterfall sits just off Highway 60 near the town of Gauley Bridge.
You’re able to see the Cathedral Falls easily from the parking lot, but it’s worth getting out of the car to get closer. Cross the small bridge and walk up to the waterfall for better views. I was able to clamber over the rocky creek bed till I was almost touching the waterfall.
Kanawha Falls
When you’re done with Cathedral Falls, drive a couple miles farther up Highway 60 to the town of Gauley Bridge to see Kanawha Falls. Like Cathedral Falls, this isn’t part of the national park but well worth a visit. In fact, the river here is no longer even the New River. The New River joins with the Gauley River just before this waterfall to form the Kanawha River.
The Kanawha Falls span the width of the river with a small island in the middle. To the left of the waterfalls is the small community of Gauley Bridge. Kanawha Falls isn’t the most impressive waterfall, but it is a lovely setting with the idyllic town and mountain scenery.
Just past the town’s hydroelectric plant is a small parking lot where you can view Kanawha Falls from. It also has a convenient boat launch if you’d like to take a kayak or paddleboard up to the waterfalls.
Places to Eat Near New River Gorge
Chetty’s Pub
We headed to Chetty’s Pub after our hike along the Castle Rock Trail to Turkey Spur. It was a great stop for some beer and appetizers after a long day of driving and sightseeing through New River Gorge National Park.
The pub is part of a larger complex called Adventures on the Gorge which offers whitewater rafting excursions, other adventure sports, lodging and two other restaurants besides Chetty’s Pub.
Chetty’s Pub has a decent beer menu and a food menu with various bar food. We had their pretzel bites and fries, both of which were delightfully salty, greasy and yummy. The perfect combination at the end of an exhausting day.
Chetty’s Pub also shows videos on their TVs of different groups’ trips whitewater rafting from the day. It’s fun to watch while also listening to the groups relive their adventure.
Before leaving Adventures on the Gorge, take a quick walk to the swimming pool. Head to the back of the pool where short trail takes you to a good view of the New River Gorge Bridge.
Arrowhead Bike Farm
Just a short drive from the Long Point Trail parking lot, Arrowhead Bike Farm was one of my favorite parts of New River Gorge National Park. It’s a quirky spot located outside of Fayetteville near the parking lot for Long Point Trail with food, beer, camping spots, a short mountain bike track, a bicycle repair shop and – because why not? – a goat farm. It’s a bit of a hodgepodge, but somehow it all works very well.
Since we weren’t biking or camping, we only took advantage of a fraction of what Arrowhead Bike Farm offers. Nevertheless, from what I saw I would highly recommend it to anyone venturing into this part of New River Gorge.
Southside Junction Tap House
Southside Junction Tap House is a small bar and restaurant in Fayetteville serving burgers and tacos with a decent draft beer menu. The space itself has no frills, but there is a small stage for live music.
The menu has some interesting burger and taco creations. I had a basic bacon and blue cheese burger with fries. The fries were great. I wish I could say the same for the burger. Mine was pretty dry with scant blue cheese to make up for that fact. However, Michelle enjoyed her Mountain Mama burger with mushrooms, onions and brown gravy.
I can’t give Southside Junction Tap House the strongest recommendation. However, it’s worth consideration if you’re looking for a local beer, a burger and some live music right off the highway.
Pies and Pints
While we didn’t eat at Pies and Pints, I saw it recommended in several places, including almost every entry in our cabin’s guest book.
Pies and Pints is a growing chain of restaurants serving regional craft beer and pizza. Coincidentally, the location in Fayetteville happens to be the original restaurant.
I have eaten at a Pies and Pints many years ago when I was an undergrad at West Virginia University. From what I remember, I wasn’t a big fan, but take that with a grain of salt as it was at least 15 years ago.
Where to Stay in New River Gorge
We chose to stay at Fern Creek Cabins in the small community of Lookout about 15 minutes east of Fayetteville. Our cabin couldn’t have been more perfect! There are two different cabins on the property about 50 yards apart from each other for privacy. Each cabin has a queen bed, a bunk bed, a couch that can be made into a bed, a fully equipped kitchen, a gas grill, front and back porches, a fire pit, and – most importantly – a hot tub.
The hot tub was a welcome sight at the end of each day. It’s great to be able to sit and soak in the hot water with a drink while you reflect on the day. From here we could watch the stars come out or the local herd deer graze in the field about 25 yards away.
If you’re planning a trip to New River Gorge Park, don’t hesitate to book a stay at Fern Creek Cabins with VRBO!
Other Accommodations in New River Gorge
If you’re not interested in Fern Creek Cabins – but why would you not be?! – there are plenty of other options throughout the area. In the national park itself, camping is limited to primitive camping at several locations along the river. These sites are all free and are taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
Outside of the park are many options for camping, glamping or more modern hotel stays. It’s beyond the scope of this article to list everything. My only recommendation is to try and stay somewhere close to U.S. Route 19 for quick access to the various parts of the New River Gorge National Park. Check out VRBO and Expedia for some of the available options.
Frequently Asked Questions About New River Gorge
But what about whitewater rafting?
Despite everything I just wrote about, New River Gorge National Park is known for its whitewater rafting. The New River Gorge has opportunities for any level of rafter depending on which section you visit. The upper gorge (the more southern end of the river) has more leisurely rapids while the lower gorge becomes more extreme as the gorge becomes rockier.
There are no whitewater rafting services offered directly by the National Park Service, but there are several private businesses offering trips. A few of the more popular according to reviews on Google are Adventures on the Gorge, ACE Adventure Resort, and New & Gauley River Adventures.
Is there a fee to enter New River Gorge National Park?
Nope! New River Gorge National Park is free to enter and use its facilities.
What to pack for New River Gorge National Park?
Here are some of the items I recommend bringing for a trip to New River Gorge National Park.
- groceries
- hiking shoes
- hiking pants (especially if coming in summer when trails may be overgrown)
- binoculars
- rain jacket
- bug spray
- suntan lotion
- lightweight backpack
- water bottle
- walking poles (if you have difficulty on uneven terrain)
- first aid kit
Should I bring my own groceries?
There are several places south of the New River Gorge Bridge to purchase groceries.
We stopped at Swiftwater General Store on the north side of the bridge near Adventures on the Gorge. This small shop had various groceries and, most importantly, some local beer. They also had some camping provisions, wine and a selection of prepared food.
However, I recommend bringing any specific groceries you know you’ll need. It’s always hard to predict at these small stores near national parks whether they’ll have everything you need.
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Resources to Book Your Trip to New River Gorge National Park
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