The National Park System is truly America’s best idea, giving folks the chance to explore historic sites, battlefields, memorials, monuments, and 63 national parks across the nation. From the geological wonders and wildlife at Yellowstone National Park, America’s first protected park, to waterfalls and giant slabs of granite at Yosemite National Park, to colorful bands that illustrate millions of years of geologic history at Grand Canyon National Park, people from around the world have been adventuring in the most stunning landscapes this country has to offer. Now, there’s a new kid on the block, the first one in the great state of West Virginia: New River Gorge National Park.
West Virginia is home to parts of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, a foot path that stretches more than 2,100 miles between Maine and Georgia; the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, which cuts through 16 states for 4,900 miles; the Bluestone National Scenic River; and Harpers Ferry National Historic Park. Now, over 70,000 acres of land, bordering 53 miles of the gorge, has earned the government’s protection. The New River Gorge National River, established in 1978, is now, as of 2021, safeguarded as New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
Home to the New River, which drops 750 feet over 66 miles, adventuresome rafters and kayakers have long been drawn to this whitewater area for its class five rapids. The New River, which flows northward through low-cut canyons in the Appalachian Mountains, is actually one of the oldest rivers on the planet.
Rock climbing on the canyon walls, mountain biking and hiking on trails that flank the river, and wildlife viewing—bald eagles, osprey, kingfishers, great blue herons, beavers, river otters, wild turkeys, brown bats, snakes, and black bears—are all popular activities within the park.
Begin your experience with a stop at Canyon Rim Visitor Center, which is situated on the edge of the gorge, for maps, current information, and chats with a park ranger. You can learn any pertinent safety protocols and visit the bookstore.
You’ll want to see the New River Gorge Bridge, a highly photographed work of structural art. If you plan it just right, you can visit during Bridge Day, a one-day festival where you’ll watch BASE jumpers launch off the 876-foot bridge and parachute down to the New River. New River Gorge is the only national park in the U.S. that permits this extreme activity.
Long distance hikers will love taking part in the New River Gorge 100 Mile Challenge, which began as a way to honor 100 years of the National Park Service. Stop in the Sandstone or Canyon Rim Visitor Centers and pick up a logbook for tracking your miles. Once you’ve finished 100 miles, you’ll earn a coveted decal.
Bonus: dogs can hike along with you and also earn a special label. Trails can be found in the Grand View, Glade Creek, Sandstone Brooks, Fayetteville, Thurmond, and Nuttallburg areas.
An enlightening way to explore the park is through a guided ranger-led activity where you’ll see diverse ecosystems throughout the park, including at Grandview overlook, Sandstone Falls and Glade Creek.
Visit this spring and enjoy Wildflower Weekend, a free family-friendly guided hike. Plan an outing for the Hidden History Weekend, a complimentary celebration of southern West Virginia’s history. Check out the Youth Arts in the Parks programming to encourage your brood to look deeper at the world around and create art to reflect what they see and experience. And just like in all of the national parks, kids can become stewards of the environment by becoming Junior Rangers.
