I visited New River Gorge for the first time in 2020. Just a few months after I left this beautiful area got an upgrade to National Park status when Donald Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act in December 2020.
This area has been protected since 1978 and is a mecca for all kinds of outdoor activities. From biking to rafting, from hiking to climbing, anything you want to do outdoors can be found in this 53-mile stretch of river lined by steep canyon-like walls.
I returned to this new National Park earlier this month. Last week I covered the Glade Creek Grist Mill at Babcock State Park, a West Virginia state park that butts up against the National Park. I spent two and a half days in this area, though, and visited everything I could.
The biggest attraction to the park beside the river is the bridge on Hwy 19 crossing the Gorge. This bridge is the longest single-arch bridge in the western hemisphere and the 3rd tallest vehicular bridge in the US. It was the highest bridge in the world until 2001 and since has fallen to 34th, mostly behind bridges that have been constructed in China. There are many trails to view this bridge, but in my opinion, the best view comes from the Long Point Trail. This moderate 1.2-mile trail takes you to a spectacular view of the bridge from down the gorge. Fall color was just taking off when I visited.
You can also take Fayette Station road and take in views from directly underneath the bridge, which are very cool.
The best hike in the region is probably the Endless Wall Trail. This is a 3-mile loop that takes you to the top of steep cliffs. Unlike many gorges on the east coast, the rims of this one are fairly flat. This makes the hiking relatively easy compared to other locations, but you can wind up in some pretty gnarly hiking if you decide to go down the rim. There are rewards to be had for your effort, though, like this relatively unknown small waterfall tucked between two massive cliff faces. Slot canyons are very, very rare in the southeast. Matteus Falls lies at the top of a small, but very impressive one.
The views from the rim can’t be beat, however. Another spot located just down the gorge is a place called “Beauty Mountain”. This is a phenomenal sunset spot, especially during the fall through early spring when the sun is setting up the gorge from the location. This is another relatively unknown spot compared to other locations in the gorge and is a very quick hike. Be advised that this spot is private property adjacent to the park itself. Fortunately, the landowners allow people to visit, so treat it with respect.
Located on the other side of the gorge very close to the bridge is Wolf Creek. Wolf Creek is home to a series of cascades and waterfalls. The largest waterfall, the aptly named Wolf Creek Falls, is very difficult to access down a VERY steep drop with limited handholds and a lot of slip-sliding. Much easier to access are the cascades near the footbridge at the bottom of the Kaymoore connector trail. I was fortunate to catch colors at peak here, which was nice with limited room for parking.
Located about 20 minutes away is the Concho Rim Overlook. Like Beauty Mountain, this overlook is located on private property, this time on the ACE Adventures campus. They graciously allow access to this spot. It is located directly across the river from Thurmond, WV, an old mining town that has been well preserved as a testament to the once common mining towns that dotted the entire gorge. You get a great view of the railroad tracks from this overlook as well so keep an eye out for the many coal trains running the river below.
These are just a handful of places you can visit in America’s newest national park, and one day I will likely share some more with you.
Have a great week! I’ll see you on the road….
