New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Scenic mountains and breathtaking gorge views await at on of the nation’s newest national parks. The New River Gorge National Park & Preserve is steeped in rich history and outdoor recreation — making it the heavenly escape you’ve been longing for.

Welcome to America’s 63rd national park — the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. Home to more than 70,000 acres of public lands, this park has been a hallowed spot for locals for centuries. The recent designation as on of the nation’s newest national parks invites travelers, like you, to visit, explore and discover your own slice of heaven.

Easily accessible by Route 19 and I-64, the New River Gorge is one of West Virginia’s most photographed areas. The iconic steel arch bridge was once the longest in the world and welcomes travelers to this cherished region. Widely known as the second oldest river in the world, the New River cuts through extensive geological formations that make way for diverse flora and fauna. Bald eagles and peregrine falcons call this park home, and you’ll often spot a few along your travels. Hiking trails here take you to spectacular overlooks and through remnants of old coal mining towns.

World-Class Whitewater Rafting

West Virginia has been selected as one of National Geographic’s “Best of the World” Top 20 Travel Experiences for 2024 because of world-class whitewater rafting at the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Whether travelers are looking for heart-pounding, high-adrenaline rafting or a family-friendly float, the New River Gorge National Park provides one of the world’s best experiences.

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Must See Stops in New River Gorge National Park

Canyon Rim

When first immersing themselves in the magic of the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, many visitors begin at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. This scenic wonder is a must-see stop for any first-timer, providing historical and educational information to over 300,000 visitors each year.

At the Canyon Rim Visitors Center, soak up breathtaking views at what many consider the most perfect overlook of the New River Gorge Bridge. Take your visit up a notch by stopping by for an early morning sunrise or late evening sunset, placing yourself in a true state of Almost Heaven.

Canyon Rim is a primary visitor contact center

Sandstone Falls

As you head back upriver you just might notice the wide cascading waters of Sandstone Falls. Stop for a quick visit to enjoy the stunning views and inspiring landscapes surrounding the largest waterfall on the New River.

Serving as a starting point for the iconic rushing waters that make the New River a rafter’s paradise, Sandstone Falls is a true beauty. Continue on your journey down the river, only after soaking up every view of these serene yet powerful falls, spanning a total of 1500 feet wide.

Grandview

Yet another fan-favorite overlook, Grandview provides the perfect balance of the peaceful trail adventures and awe-inspiring views that set the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve apart. Enjoy an added layer of beauty at this stop by visiting in spring, as the official state flower, the Rhododendron, begins to bloom along the gorge.

Explore a wide variety of hiking trails with adventures ranging from strenuous treks to leisurely strolls. Pick and choose the segments of trails you wish to complete to find your perfect path.

Bluestone

After several adventurous stops along on your New River Gorge National Park & Preserve road trip, it is time for a peaceful retreat. Refresh and refuel along the banks of the enchanted Bluestone River. Within the park, explore a 10.5-mile section of this rushing river as it carves its way through a rugged mountain-scape.

Take some time to experience this area, rich with a diverse collection of flora and fauna.

Fayette Station

Along the winding turns of the mountain route to Fayette Station, a special bridge view is sure to stop you in your tracks. Though this beautiful destination might have you counting down the miles, don’t forget to take in the beauty of the journey as you head downhill.

Turn back time as you take on the route that locals traveled for nearly 100 years before the modern New River Gorge Bridge took shape as a structural wonder. Have your camera on the ready as you make this passage to ensure you don’t miss a scenic capture.

Fayette Station below New River Gorge Bridge

The New River Gorge in the News

“West Virginia, Mountain Mama,” indeed. It is the only state located fully within the Appalachian Mountain range, which can be enjoyed by visiting one of 36 state parks, more than 1,500 miles of hiking trails, and some 4,000 rock-climbing routes.

There are few better ways to kick off summer than by communing with like-minded revelerss at the four-day Waynestock Outdoor Adventure and Music Festival, held just outside Fayetteville.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve was established in 1978, but only officially designated in December 2020, making it the country’s 63rd national park.

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.

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.

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.