New River Gorge, West Virginia –

New River Gorge, West Virginia

Deep in West Virginia sits a gorge that draws people from around the world. New River Gorge mixes wild rapids with world-class climbing routes, scenic trails, and an iconic bridge that spans the sky. Between the rushing water and towering cliffs, every kind of outdoor fun finds its home here.

Here are some great ways to spend your day at New River Gorge.

Visit the railroad hub which grew into a boomtown

Captain W.D. Thurmond was granted this land in 1844 for his service.

At its height, Thurmond welcomed up to 75,000 passengers a year and was the top revenue earner on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.

The town had it all: banking, shopping, entertainment, and transportation connections that company towns couldn’t match.

Just outside town was the infamous Dun Glen Hotel, known for wild gambling, endless drinks, and the world’s longest poker game (lasting 14 years).

Today, the National Park Service owns most of the town, with the depot (after the original 1899 structure burned down) now restored as a visitor center.

Check out the 3D models at Canyon Rim before hitting the trails

Start your trip at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center for detailed topographical models of the entire 70,000-acre park.

Don’t miss the 12-minute film “The New River: Ancient River, New Land” on the area’s geological formation and Native American history.

Located just off US Route 19, the center runs ranger-led programs throughout the summer, including astronomy sessions for stargazing.

Another full-time visitor center awaits in the southern part of the park at Sandstone, near Sandstone Falls, if you’re entering from that direction.

Hike the Endless Wall Trail which was rated 4.7 stars

New River Gorge’s Endless Wall Trail (3.2 miles round-trip) earned over 6,700 AllTrails reviewers, offering killer views from Diamond Point.

Hit the Glade Creek Trail, stretching 5.6 miles one-way along a beautiful creek with the gorge’s best swimming hole and access to Kate’s Falls.

For a history-meets-workout combo, try the Kaymoor Miners Trail with its 821 wooden steps descending to abandoned mine ruins.

Navigate the old bridge where travelers crossed the gorge

Fayette Station Road gives you a twisty route that was once the main access to the gorge, taking drivers down to the river, across a narrow 1889 bridge.

The National Park Service offers a dedicated auto tour map with descriptions of specific exhibits and historical markers along the way.

Wolf Creek, visible from several points along your drive, features small cascades and pools that make great spots to stretch your legs.

Test your skills on sandstone walls with fellow climbers

Scaling New River Gorge’s Nuttall sandstone cliffs for their exceptional friction is no easy feat when comparing to other climbing spots in the East.

Diamond Point area along the Endless Wall Trail offers access to some of the most popular routes, with ladders leading down to the bottom of the wall.

Most climbs here range from 30 to 120 feet, with a good mix of traditional and sport routes. Advanced climbers can test their skills on routes rated 5.10 to 5.12 on the Yosemite decimal system.

Walk the 24-inch catwalk suspended 876 feet above

Watch the rapids flow under the New River Gorge Bridge (nearly three-quarters of a mile) with your harness securely attached to a safety cable system the entire time.

Guides will reveal that this marvel required 88 million pounds of steel and concrete and took three years to build at the cost of $37 million.

The catwalk measures 24 inches wide with sturdy railings on both sides, making it accessible even if you’re not a thrill-seeker. Participants must be at least 10 years old and weigh between 90 and 310 pounds to join.

Class IV+ rapids that had National Geographic drooling in 2024

The Lower New drops 250 feet over sixteen miles, creating heart-racing Class III to IV+ rapids like Double Z, The Keeneys, and Greyhound Bus Stopper.

The Upper New offers gentler Class I-III rapids for beginners. Guides provide all your gear and transportation, plus they know every twist and turn.

Outfitters like Adventures on the Gorge run trips from April through October, with options ranging from $115 to $159 depending on when you go.

Hook trophy smallmouth bass near the river gorge

The New River’s Sandstone Falls area in the southern section transforms from a broad mountain stream into a whitewater gorge.

Beyond smallmouth bass, you’ll find rock bass, bluegill, walleye, muskie, and channel catfish swimming throughout different sections.

Local fishing guides recommend soft plastic lures in crawfish patterns if you’re targeting trophy smallmouth that hide in deep pools below rapids.

Remember to get your West Virginia fishing license before casting.

Pitch your tent at Erskine Flats to see Thurmond

Eight primitive camping areas sit within the park.

The Army Camp area on the southern end. ACE Adventure Resort’s Erskine Flats riverside campground sits across from historic Thurmond.

For a complete outdoor package, River Expeditions offers a “Riverside Overnight Package” combining rafting on both the Upper and Lower New River with camping at a private site inside the National Park.

The $249 per person rate includes all meals prepared by professional guides.

Spot rare birds passing by through each season

The Grandview area has been designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society for housing 70% of cerulean warblers.

Wetland areas near Sandstone Falls house over 40 species of waterbirds including green herons, kingfishers, and wood ducks.

During fall migration, the hawk watch platform at Grandview Rim is where spotters can identify up to 10 different raptor species in a single day.

September and October bring red-tailed hawks and occasional golden eagles as the region forms a crucial link in the north-south migratory flyway.

Order Croissant French Toast at a café for breakfast

Cathedral Café, housed in a converted church from the early 1900s, serves legendary Croissant French Toast for breakfast alongside specialty coffee drinks.

Dine amid original stained glass windows in a brewery where you can sample 20 different craft beers, including their signature Long Point Lager.

The Char Restaurant in nearby Beckley has served fine dining classics like lamb chops and bone-in ribeye continuously since 1975.

Lafayette Boutique Flats provides convenient accommodations with one-bedroom apartments featuring full kitchens, just 30 minutes from historic sites like Thurmond.

Wander through Henry Ford’s forgotten coal complex

The Nuttallburg Coal Mining Complex (owned by Henry Ford in the 1920s), features intact coke ovens, a headhouse, a conveyor system, and miner housing.

At Kaymoor Coal Mine, see the safety board once used to track accidents at a facility that produced over 16 million tons of coal.

The New River Coalfield included more than 60 individual mines, with coal towns like Erskine, Quinnimont, and Kaymoor.

The high-quality “smokeless” coal drew thousands of workers to the region which now stand as reminders of Appalachia’s industrial past.

Snag a souvenir ticket from a 1904 train station

The historic Thurmond Depot still serves as a working Amtrak station on the Cardinal Line between Chicago and New York.

The train experience connects you with how coal barons and miners once traveled through these same landscapes a century ago.

Trains run three days weekly (Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday), with the eastbound train arriving at approximately 11:52 AM and the westbound at 7:46 PM.

Disembarking passengers receive a special “Whistle Stop” souvenir ticket commemorating the historic nature of the station.

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