National Parks

Tucked away in the mountains of West Virginia about an hour from Charleston, WV, the New River Gorge has largely been an underrated travel destination.

West Virginia also offers a puppy paradise: New River Gorge National Park—home to one of the oldest rivers in North America.

Every fall, southern West Virginia becomes home to one of the top stretches of whitewater in the country.

Though New River Gorge is perhaps best known for its rock climbing and whitewater rafting, I thoroughly enjoyed hiking its many forested trails when I visited in 2021.

Hundreds of people will BASE jump off of the New River Gorge Bridge and thousands more will watch them, safely installed on the river’s edge, cookouts going in full force.

Since 1980 BASE jumpers have gathered at ‘the New’ to legally launch themselves off the park’s 876-foot-tall bridge—the world’s second-longest arch bridge—hopefully parachuting to dry land.

The New River Gorge National Park & Preserve in southern West Virginia offers more than 70,000 acres of public lands that burst into shades of red, orange and yellow during its peak autumn foliage, between mid-October and early November.

West Virginia’s Blue Ridge peaks, dramatic gorges, and rushing rivers put it on the map for hikers, rafters, and rock climbers.

Our collective obsession with the outdoors this past year turned out to be fortuitous timing for West Virginia.

Nicknamed “The Mountain State” and “Almost Heaven” (thanks to John Denver’s classic song), West Virginia is the home of America’s newest national park, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

On top of having 70,000 acres to enjoy, West Virginia’s gem has included water stations at every visitor center so you and your doggo can stay hydrated while marveling at the views of the New River.

If you ask the National Park Service (NPS), parks across the US had a really good year in 2023. So much so that some of them even broke visitation records.

Whitewater swirls through breathtaking scenery on this dam-controlled river for just a few weeks per year, creating class IV and V rapids to challenge your inner adventurer

With five participating communities, Ascend West Virginia is a public-private initiative with an impressive pedigree: Its founders are West Virginia native Brad D. Smith, former CEO of software company Intuit, and his wife Alys.

West Virginia lives up to its “Wild and Wonderful” slogan, and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve—voted the best park in the state in our annual South’s Best Awards—perhaps epitomizes this catchphrase most of all.

One of West Virginia’s best treasures is New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, a 70,000-acre park where the world’s second-oldest river cuts through a vast valley of geological formations and ecological wonders.

America’s newest national park is one of the world’s finest river-rafting destinations. The site protects a slice of the New River, one of the oldest in the world, as well as the 876ft-tall New River Gorge Bridge.

A lot of places claim to have something for everybody, but New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia delivers.

One of West Virginia’s best treasures is New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, a 70,000-acre park where the world’s second-oldest river cuts through a vast valley of geological formations and ecological wonders.

Of the free, primitive campgrounds offered at New River Gorge National Park, we like Grandview Sandbar best for its easy river access, shady picnic tables, and designated fire rings.

New River Gorge, in West Virginia, became America’s newest national park in December 2020.

This former mining town has been reborn as an adventure hub with quick access to world-class rock climbing and whitewater rafting inside the New River Gorge.

When it comes to our national parks, there’s definitely something of a hierarchy not too unlike Hollywood.

Finally, families are encouraged to get into nature with the New River Gorge Epic Family Camping Getaway.

Situated in the scenic mountains of West Virginia, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is home to more than 70,000 acres of public lands.

Despite the name, the river is not new: It’s estimated to be between 260 million and 325 million years old, making it one of the oldest rivers in North America.

Not only is this new national park a hub for world-class rafting and rock climbing (visit in September or October for your shot at descending the notorious Gauley River), but it’s also home to some surprisingly beautiful trails for hiking and mountain biking.

The New River is well known for its rugged class IV-V whitewater stretches, but this trip offers intermediate-level paddling and stunning scenery in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

The Cardinal train is an Amtrak line linking New York with Chicago, and it offers not just one but three stations within New River Gorge National Park.

Tucked away in the mountains of West Virginia about an hour from Charleston, WV, the New River Gorge has largely been an underrated travel destination.

West Virginia also offers a puppy paradise: New River Gorge National Park—home to one of the oldest rivers in North America.

Every fall, southern West Virginia becomes home to one of the top stretches of whitewater in the country.

Though New River Gorge is perhaps best known for its rock climbing and whitewater rafting, I thoroughly enjoyed hiking its many forested trails when I visited in 2021.

Hundreds of people will BASE jump off of the New River Gorge Bridge and thousands more will watch them, safely installed on the river’s edge, cookouts going in full force.

Since 1980 BASE jumpers have gathered at ‘the New’ to legally launch themselves off the park’s 876-foot-tall bridge—the world’s second-longest arch bridge—hopefully parachuting to dry land.

The New River Gorge National Park & Preserve in southern West Virginia offers more than 70,000 acres of public lands that burst into shades of red, orange and yellow during its peak autumn foliage, between mid-October and early November.

West Virginia’s Blue Ridge peaks, dramatic gorges, and rushing rivers put it on the map for hikers, rafters, and rock climbers.

Our collective obsession with the outdoors this past year turned out to be fortuitous timing for West Virginia.

Nicknamed “The Mountain State” and “Almost Heaven” (thanks to John Denver’s classic song), West Virginia is the home of America’s newest national park, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

On top of having 70,000 acres to enjoy, West Virginia’s gem has included water stations at every visitor center so you and your doggo can stay hydrated while marveling at the views of the New River.

If you ask the National Park Service (NPS), parks across the US had a really good year in 2023. So much so that some of them even broke visitation records.

Whitewater swirls through breathtaking scenery on this dam-controlled river for just a few weeks per year, creating class IV and V rapids to challenge your inner adventurer

With five participating communities, Ascend West Virginia is a public-private initiative with an impressive pedigree: Its founders are West Virginia native Brad D. Smith, former CEO of software company Intuit, and his wife Alys.

West Virginia lives up to its “Wild and Wonderful” slogan, and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve—voted the best park in the state in our annual South’s Best Awards—perhaps epitomizes this catchphrase most of all.

One of West Virginia’s best treasures is New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, a 70,000-acre park where the world’s second-oldest river cuts through a vast valley of geological formations and ecological wonders.

America’s newest national park is one of the world’s finest river-rafting destinations. The site protects a slice of the New River, one of the oldest in the world, as well as the 876ft-tall New River Gorge Bridge.

A lot of places claim to have something for everybody, but New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia delivers.

One of West Virginia’s best treasures is New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, a 70,000-acre park where the world’s second-oldest river cuts through a vast valley of geological formations and ecological wonders.

Of the free, primitive campgrounds offered at New River Gorge National Park, we like Grandview Sandbar best for its easy river access, shady picnic tables, and designated fire rings.

New River Gorge, in West Virginia, became America’s newest national park in December 2020.

This former mining town has been reborn as an adventure hub with quick access to world-class rock climbing and whitewater rafting inside the New River Gorge.

When it comes to our national parks, there’s definitely something of a hierarchy not too unlike Hollywood.

Finally, families are encouraged to get into nature with the New River Gorge Epic Family Camping Getaway.

Situated in the scenic mountains of West Virginia, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is home to more than 70,000 acres of public lands.

Despite the name, the river is not new: It’s estimated to be between 260 million and 325 million years old, making it one of the oldest rivers in North America.

Not only is this new national park a hub for world-class rafting and rock climbing (visit in September or October for your shot at descending the notorious Gauley River), but it’s also home to some surprisingly beautiful trails for hiking and mountain biking.

The New River is well known for its rugged class IV-V whitewater stretches, but this trip offers intermediate-level paddling and stunning scenery in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

The Cardinal train is an Amtrak line linking New York with Chicago, and it offers not just one but three stations within New River Gorge National Park.