10 Things You Must Do In New River Gorge National Park

Located in the southern half of West Virginia is the nation’s newest national park, New River Gorge.

Centered around the New River, one of the oldest rivers flowing in North America, this park offers white water rafting, biking, hiking, climbing, and stunning scenic drives through the Appalachian Mountains.

You’ll find there’s a huge variety of things to do in New River Gorge National Park, including some unique activities not found in any other national parks.

Read on for the top things you must do in New River Gorge National Park!

Top Things To Do In New River Gorge National Park 

See The New River Gorge Bridge

The New River Gorge Bridge was constructed in the late 1970’s and is now the longest steel span bridge in the Western Hemisphere and the third tallest in the United States. It’s one of the most photographed sites in West Virginia and you’ll find its image on the West Virginia state quarter.

The bridge spans the impressive New River Gorge, which has been slowly sculpted over time by the New River.

New River Gorge Bridge Viewpoints

Below are some of the best viewpoints of the bridge:

• Canyon Rim Visitor Center – there’s an upper and lower overlook.
• Fayette Station Bridge – water level view.
• Long Point Trail – 3 mile hike with excellent viewpoint of bridge and gorge.

Walk Across The Bridge Via The Catwalk

Adventure-seekers, consider walking the bridge! Attached to a harness you’ll follow the catwalk below the bridge, which offers incredible panoramic views of the gorge and “the New” roaring below you.

This type of activity isn’t available in any other U.S. national park, so it’s definitely one of the most unique things to do in New River Gorge!

You can book the bridge walk tour here: New River Gorge Bridge Walk.

Go For A Scenic Drive Through The Gorge

One of the most popular ways to see New River Gorge National Park is to go down into the gorge, and luckily you can do it by car!

Fayette Station Road offers great views of the river, bridge, and surrounding landscape.

The road is only 8 miles, but takes about 45 minutes to cross due to steep, narrow roads and hairpin turns. Be sure to allow extra time for stops and photos, there are parking areas throughout the drive.

Note: The road is not suitable for oversized vehicles or trailers. Additionally, no matter your vehicle, please do not attempt the drive in inclement weather.

Before construction of the New River Gorge Bridge, this scenic drive was the only way to cross the gorge. I can imagine locals were quite pleased when their 45 minute gorge-crossing was cut down to less than 1 minute.

Today, the old road is enjoyed by park visitors, as it offers a special glimpse into the beauty of the gorge without requiring hiking or climbing.

Tip: The visitor centers offer an audio tour CD. This is a great way to learn about the park while exploring the sites. You can also download the transcript for free through Fayette Station Road Audio Tour.

You may also like the African American Heritage Tour.

Rock Climbing

New River Gorge houses abundant steep cliff edges made of very hard sandstone, perfect for rock climbing.

The park has nearly 1,500 established sites, varying in difficulties, but leaning towards mostly advanced climbs. This makes it one of the best rock climbing destinations in the United States. 

Climbing is open year-round, but is best roughly late-April to mid-June and mid-September to late-October.

If you’re interested in climbing lessons or guides check out New River Climbing School.

Attend The Bridge Day Festival

The third Saturday of October is known as “Bridge Day.” This is the area’s most well-loved event, not to mention West Virginia’s largest one-day festival.

Known as the largest extreme sports event in the entire world, adrenaline junkies flock here to partake in extreme sports such as BASE jumping and rappelling. Along with more mellow joys, such as music and food vendors. If you love outdoor adventure, you’ll love Bridge Day.

This is the only day of the year the bridge is open to pedestrians, so you better believe locals and visitors take full advantage and have a ball with it.

Go Whitewater Rafting

Well before its designation as a national park, New River Gorge was known for excellent whitewater rafting. 

The upper section of the New River is calmer and suitable for families with children and those looking for a relaxed ride. You can book a ride in the upper section here: Family Rafting In New River Gorge National Park.

The New’s lower section, which has class III-V rapids, is the most popular and best for adventure seekers only. Check out tours here: Lower New River Whitewater Rafting.

The New is best late-spring through early-fall.

The lower Gauley River is the most adventurous of all options in the park, and has the shortest peak season from just early-September to mid-October. For tours, check out Lower Gauley River Whitewater Rafting.

For the full list of companies licensed to raft through the national park, head over to the New River Gorge Whitewater Rafting. You don’t want to miss out on this, it’s definitely one of the best things to do in New River Gorge National Park!

Go For A Hike 

There are several sections within New River Gorge that offer fantastic hiking for people of all skill levels. Trails range from a quarter mile, up to 7 miles and many can be looped together to create longer excursions.

Whether you’re looking for an easy hike for the whole family or a trek deep into the gorge, you’re sure to have the best time!

Tip: The park is also popular for mountain biking, if that’s more your speed. Many trails are open to both hikers and mountain bikers.

Best Hikes In New River Gorge National Park

Below are some of the most popular trails in New River Gorge National Park:

• Endless Wall Trail
• Long Point Trail
• Castle Rock Trail 
• Tunnel Trail
• Grandview Rim Trail
• Sandstone Falls 

During my first visit, I hiked both Endless Wall Trail and Castle Rock Trail, both were great!

See The Historic Mining Sites

New River Gorge was once among the largest producers of coal in the United States. It’s a dangerous job, more than 20,000 West Virginia coal miners have died since record keeping began in 1883. 

Unfortunately, New River was home to three major coal mining catastrophes: Red Ash, Rush Run, and Layland. You can learn about these throughout the park. 

Nuttallburg and Thurmond are some of the best spots for those interested in seeing historic mining sites and ghost towns.

See The Horseshoe Bend Of The East

Ever heard of the famous Horseshoe Bend near the Grand Canyon? While the Colorado River’s dramatic bend in northern Arizona may get all the fame, New River has one that’s extremely similar.

Swap Arizona’s harsh, red rocks for lush, green trees and you’ve got yourself the Horseshoe Bend of the East.

Grandview Overlook and Grandview Rim Trail offer the best vantage points of the picturesque bend. 

Whether or not you care about the horseshoe-shaped curve in the river, this overlook is excellent and well worth a stop while exploring New River Gorge National Park.

Stop By The Visitor Center

No matter how you plan to spend your time in New River Gorge National Park, start your visit at one of the park’s four visitor centers. Here you can find maps, park information, interactive displays, and unique gifts.

Park Rangers are on site during business hours and offer a wealth of park information. If you have questions regarding the park, or how best to map out your day, they can help!

New River Gorge National Park Visitor Centers:

• Canyon Rim Visitor Center
• Sandstone Visitor Center (seasonal)
• Grandview Visitor Center (seasonal)
• Thurmond Depot (seasonal)

Things To Do Near New River Gorge National Park

Looking for additional things to do near New River Gorge National Park? These are some of the top attractions in the area: 

• Zipline Adventure in Lansing (which you can book here: Zipline Tour near New River Gorge National Park).
• Grab a coffee and a snack at Cathedral Cafe in Fayetteville. 
• Spend a day on gorgeous Summersville Lake.
• Go camping.
• Grab a lunch and a local brew in Fayetteville. 
• Visit Hawks Nest State Park, Babcock State Park, or one of the many other state parks in the area.
• Go for an ATV adventure tour (which you can book here: ATV Adventure Tour)

New River Gorge National Park Cost

New River Gorge National Park is free to all visitors.

Getting To New River Gorge National Park 

Located in the Appalachians of southern West Virginia, America’s newest national park is easily reached from Interstates 64, 77, and 79, and from U.S. Route 60 (Midland Trail Scenic Highway).

The closest major city is West Virginia’s capital, Charleston. Charleston is located 1 hour and 10 minutes (60 miles) away.

The closest major airport is West Virginia International Yeager Airport, in the previously mentioned city of Charleston.

Getting Around The Park

There is no shuttle within the park, so you’ll need a car to see New River Gorge National Park.

Weather & When To Visit New River Gorge National Park

Spring through fall is the most popular time to visit New River Gorge National Park. 

Summer can be very hot and humid as well as rainy. 

During fall, changing leaves put on a spectacular display, especially during mid and late-October. Plus, the weather is lovely this time of year. 

Spring is rainy but sees abundant wildflowers and bright green leaves. 

Winter is the park’s quietest time of year. Many of the area’s ample trees are bare, so it’s not as picturesque as usual. However, if you seek quiet and solitude, you’ll love winter in New River Gorge National Park. We visited in November and had a great time exploring the park.

Average monthly temperatures in New River Gorge National Park: 

• January – 42° / 23° (High / Low F°)
• February – 46° / 25°
• March – 56° / 32°
• April – 68° / 41°
• May – 75° / 51°
• June – 81° / 59°
• July – 83° / 62°
• August – 84° / 62°
• September – 78° / 56°
• October – 67° / 44°
• November – 57° / 34°
• December – 46° / 27°

How Much Time Do You Need In New River Gorge National Park?

Since the park is large and spread out, you’ll need at least 2 days to see the highlights. Plan for an additional day or two if you wish to participate in activities such as whitewater rafting or rock climbing. 

Lodging Near New River Gorge National Park

Fayetteville is the closest town, located just outside the park, but has limited lodging options.

Beckley is just 35 minutes (25 miles) away and has a wider variety of places to stay.

• Tru by Hilton (Beckley) — this is where we stayed.
• Country Inn & Suites by Radisson (Beckley)
• Courtyard by Marriott (Beckley)
• Hampton Inn (Beckley)
• Comfort Inn New River (Fayetteville)
• Quality Inn New River (Fayetteville)

Camping Near New River Gorge National Park 

There are 9 camping areas, plus backcountry sites, within New River Gorge National Park. All are first come, first serve and do not accept reservations. All campsites are free.

Check out New River Gorge National Park Camping for more information regarding camping in the park.

Additionally, there are ample camping areas surrounding the park. Below are a few popular options but know there are many in addition to these:

• Babcock State Park
• Little Beaver State Park
• American Alpine Club
• The Outpost
• Hawks Nest State Park

As you can see, New River Gorge is a very unique national park with a huge variety of things to do! It’s a wonderful addition to the national park system.

Any questions? Please leave a comment below or reach out on social media!

Looking for more ideas? Check out my additional West Virginia guides below or head on over to New River Gorge NPS.

Many thanks to my family, Debbie, Umesh, and Maureen, for providing some of the photos in this post.

More Information For Your Trip To New River Gorge National Park: 

• New River Gorge National Park: One Day Itinerary

Additional West Virginia Guides:

• Charleston, West Virginia Guides