Despite its name, the New River is one of the oldest rivers in the world. Visiting New River Gorge National Park with that in mind makes the views all the more impressive.
There may be taller mountains and deeper gorges to see, but there aren’t many quite as ancient as the New River Gorge! The park does a great job of maintaining not only the natural beauty, but also the deep history of the area.
So, read on for a guide on how to plan the perfect day in New River Gorge National Park. In this post, we’ll be covering…
- Practical Info for Your Day in New River Gorge National Park
- The Best Things to do in a Day at New River Gorge National Park
- A Sample 1 Day in New River Gorge National Park Itinerary
- Additional Tips for Spending a Day at New River Gorge
Practical Info for Your Day in New River Gorge National Park
The best time to visit New River Gorge National Park is from April to October. The summer is the park’s busiest period and when water sports are most popular.
Visiting during the offseason can still be done, though it can get pretty cold and snowy during the winter. Luckily, these are great conditions for skiing and snowboarding at the nearby Winterplace Ski Resort.
New River Gorge National Park doesn’t have any lodging options except for its 9 free, primitive campsites. Most people will stay in a hotel in Fayetteville when visiting the park.
The ACE Adventure Resort is another popular lodging option, particularly for families. ACE offers comfortable cabins and a water park, and they make it easy to book white water rafting tours, ziplining adventures, and other New River Gorge activities!
The Best Things to do in a Day at New River Gorge National Park
To truly see all of New River Gorge National Park, you’ll need a couple days. Luckily, there are still plenty of ways to experience the park in just a day!
Scenic Driving
West Virginia is full of scenic drives, especially in New River Gorge National Park. The New River Gorge scenic drive weaves around the park, encircling an 83-mile route.
This drive takes roughly 3 and a half hours without stopping. Though, you’ll definitely want to make a few stops!
This drive cuts through most of the popular areas of the park, like Canyon Rim and Sandstone. The drive also diverges from the park, headed to other known destinations like Babcock State Park and Tamarack.
It is an excellent way to experience rural, mountainous West Virginia!
Another popular drive is Fayette Station Road. Fayette Station Road is a hundred year old road that will take you back in time.
Behind the frequent hairpin turns and corners are the remnants of old towns that were built up during the region’s coal mining history. Many of these company towns are hidden in the lush vegetation.
On this drive, you’ll also have a chance to view the river and the New River Gorge bridge.
Fayette Station Road takes about 40 minutes to drive from the visitor center without stopping. It is a smaller road not suitable for large vehicles.
Camping
The NPS offers free New River Gorge camping at a first come, first serve basis at its 9 different campsites throughout the park. These campsites are primitive sites and offer no amenities, though many of them have pit restrooms and picnic tables.
Hiking and Sight Seeing
The park is full of unparalleled views, and going for a hike is one of the best things to do in New River Gorge. Some of these views reveal themselves after a long hike, while others can be seen right off of the New River Gorge scenic drive!
The Canyon Rim Boardwalk Trail is a very short walk down a wooden boardwalk and stairway. It is just next to the Canyon Rim visitor center, and it offers some of the most accessible views in the park.
There are several viewpoints along the way, and at the end of the boardwalk is an incredible view of the river and the Fayette Station bridge.
The Endless Wall Trail is another popular hike in Canyon Rim, yet a much longer one. At 5-miles, this hike zig-zags along the cliff-edge, passing by countless viewpoints and vistas of the canyon below.
In Grandview, one of the best hikes to pursue is the Grandview Rim Trail. At 3-miles, this trail is generally flat and begins at the Grandview main overlook.
This trail shows off some of the most dramatic scenery in the park.
The Grandview main overlook is beautiful in of itself, and many people take the time here to relax and enjoy the scenery.
Finally, Sandstone offers a different perspective of the New River. The Sandstone Falls Boardwalk is a great way to get up close to the largest waterfall in the New River.
This boardwalk also passes through an Appalachian riverside flat rock community. These communities hold rare plants that don’t grow anywhere else in the New River Gorge.
Visitor Centers
The Canyon Rim and Sandstone visitor centers are the two primary visitor centers in the park and are worth checking out if you are interested in learning about the nature, geology, or history of the New River Gorge.
The Canyon Rim visitor center offers historical exhibits about the area’s mining history and the Fayette Station bridge, as well as a short movie.
The Sandstone Visitor Center offers exhibits on the history of the New River and its watershed.
There’s also a bookstore and gift shop at both centers.
The Thurmond Depot and visitor center preserves the steel and coal history of the region and many regions across America. In the early 1900s, Thurmond was a large railroad town along the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.
The visitor center has many exhibits, and the entire area has been historically designed to make visitors feel like they are walking back in time. Trains still pass through Thurman’s Depot today!
Other New River Gorge Activities
Fishing in the New River is popular, and many of the campsites offer river access. Be sure to receive your fishing license from the NPS before your trip.
The New River is a very popular spot for kayakers, canoeists, and whitewater rafters. There are several companies that offer white water rafting tours or guided standup paddle boarding.
A Sample One Day in New River Gorge Itinerary
This is the New River Gorge itinerary you need if you want to pack as much as you can into your day at the park!
Fayetteville
Begin your day in Fayetteville, the gateway to the New River Gorge. Fayetteville has been voted one of America’s coolest small towns and is full of delicious breakfast spots.
For breakfast, check out the Cathedral Cafe, which has got to be the most unique cafe with delicious, locally sourced food and fresh coffee that is “made with love.”
For me, stopping here for a bite is a must when visiting Fayetteville! Also, the cafe is in a beautiful former church, and they also have an in-restaurant book store.
You could spend hours exploring Fayetteville and all of its eclectic shops, but we only have one day to explore the New River Gorge! When you’re ready, hop in your car and make the short drive to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center.
Canyon Rim
First, make a quick visit to the visitor center if you are in need of a park map, or if you are interested in learning more about the history or things to do in New River Gorge.
The back deck is the best part of the visitor center. Here you will receive effortless and incredible views of the New River.
Outside of the visitor center is a short wooden boardwalk that will take you further into the gorge. There are two different observation decks that provide you with impressive views of the New River Gorge Bridge.
After seeing what the visitor center has to offer, get ready to go hiking! One of the most scenic hikes in the park is the Endless Wall trail, which has many cliff-side viewpoints.
The overlook at Diamond Point is a great place to turn around, making the hike only 2.4-miles out and back. This way, you will get to see most of the viewpoints and also have more time in your day.
Park at the Fern Creek Trailhead to hike the Endless Wall trail. It is about a mile or 1.5 kilometers north from the Canyon Rim visitor center.
Grandview
After your hike, hop onto highway 19/the New River Gorge scenic drive and head towards Grandview. Grandview is roughly 45-minutes from Canyon Rim.
On your way, you’ll stop by a few small towns with restaurants. You’ll have many different choices, from fast food to sit down restaurants.
When I travel, I try to eat like a local and enjoy the lowkey, authentic spots that everybody in town loves. That place has got to be Khans Fried Chicken and Gyros in Beckley- just trust me on this one!
After lunch, take some time in Grandview to enjoy the view from the highest point in the park. The Grandview Main Overlook is the perfect spot to take a breather (and digest that delicious food you just ate).
When you’re ready, the Grandview Rim Trail begins at the overlook. This 1.6-mile trail is one of the best New River Gorge activities, and it offers breathtaking views of the gorge below.
This trail ends at the Turkey Spur Overlook, which requires a short walk along the road back to your vehicle if you do not want to hike the trail back.
Sandstone
Finally, from Grandview, make the 20-minute drive to Sandstone.
Walk the Sandstone Falls Boardwalk and admire the largest waterfall in the New River. You could also walk the Island Loop Trail; a short, relaxing walk through the unique landscape of the New River’s biggest island.
On a hot day, you can even go for a swim in the calmer parts of the river!
There aren’t any hotels or restaurants in Sandstone, though the primitive Meadow Creek Campground is a mile north of the Sandstone visitor center.
If you’re looking for dinner and a comfy room, your closest options are back in Grandview. There’s a number of highly rated hotels and motels in Beckley.
On your way, stop by Grandview diner for a hearty dinner. Save room for dessert, as their baked goods are always fresh and delicious!
Additional Tips for Spending a Day at New River Gorge
New River Gorge National Park and its surrounding area are best explored by car, since the park is very large and has many different regions.
You won’t find any gas stations outside of the main highways. Be sure to fuel up before you head into the park.
There are a few general stores in or just outside of the park for any last minute needs or quick snacks. There are stores located in Prince, Grandview, Sandstone, and there are plenty along the highways.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to spending a day at New River Gorge National Park!
Let us know in the comments if there are any more New River Gorge National Park recommendations we should add to our guide!