Southern West Virginia’s National Park

Here, exploring is never boring.

As warmer temperatures settle in at the New River Gorge, it bestows breathtaking beauty that must be explored first-hand. Scenic overviews, scenic hiking trails and flowing waterfalls will certainly leave a lasting impression.

Amidst this retreat, you’ll also find Fayetteville, a charming small town offering the coziest of stays to complement the most thrilling adventures – making for memories to last a lifetime.

• The New River Gorge is the country’s 63^rd national park. West Virginia became a state in 1863, so some now say 63 is the state’s lucky number!

• The New River is one of the oldest rivers in the world, some claim it to be the second oldest, aging between 10 and 360 million years old.

• The New River Gorge bridge is the 2^nd highest steel arch in the United States and the 2^nd longest single arch bridge in the world! 

• The New River is approximately 320 miles long, traveling through North Carolina, Virginia and ending in West Virginia. 

• The New River National Park & Preserve is home to more than 70,000 acres of public lands.

• The New River flows south to north, unlike most North American rivers.  

• The ghost town of Thurmond was once one of the richest towns in West Virginia.

• TIME designated the New River Gorge as one of the World’s Greatest Places.

• The Kaymoor mine, a former coal mine nestled in the bank of the New River, produced more than 16 million tons of coal during its lifetime.  

• Bridge Day, West Virginia’s largest single-day festival where BASE jumpers leap off the bridge, is one of the largest extreme sports events in the world.

Visit Southern West Virginia CVB

Southern West Virginia is an expansive region home to the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. From exhilarating outdoor recreation opportunities to historic railroad towns, this area offers peak excitement and the experience of a lifetime. This corner of Almost Heaven certainly has something to offer every adventurer.