New River Gorge National Park with Kids: A Guide
Exploring New River Gorge National Park is the perfect way to dive into the rivers and mountains of West Virginia!
Since becoming a national park in 2020, New River Gorge has quickly become known as an excellent destination for hiking, biking, kayaking, and rafting. It’s also an excellent place to learn about this region’s deep ties to both the railroad and coal industries, and you’ll find evidence of both in the park still today.
Yet, it is a bit of a hidden gem among the East Coast national parks, so you’ll be able to explore the gorgeous overlooks, trails, and tours without fighting crowds.
Thanks to the many things to do in the park and in the surrounding communities, you need to add New River Gorge to your list of must-do family vacations!
Below, you’ll find everything you need to know to set started on your kid-friendly visit to New River Gorge National Park from suggested activities to tips on how to make your trip safe and memorable.
This park might only be mere minutes from multiple small towns and the state capital, but the awe-inspiring overviews and landscapes will make you feel as if you’re a million miles away from everything.
The Camping Kiddos and I in front of the New River Gorge bridge
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Family Vacations at New River Gorge: An Overview
A train on the bridge near Thurmond
This park is a fascinating study in contrasts.
The river and mountains in the interior of the park feel incredibly remote, but the park borders many tiny communities and small cities.
There are river valleys to explore, and the highest overlooks to visit.
Part of the park’s focus is on the natural beauty of this part of West Virginia, but there’s also coal and rail history to explore—and several of the rail lines through the park are still active.
And, the New River is actually really, really old, and it’s likely older than the Appalachian Mountains that it flows through.
So, if you’re thinking, “I’ve already been to Shenandoah or Great Smoky Mountains, and they can’t be that different from New River Gorge National Park,” you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how this park within the same mountain chain as those 2 other parks can feel so different.
It’s also easy to dismiss New River Gorge as a family vacation destination since many of the hikes are listed as moderate to strenuous, which might not be appealing for casual hikers or those looking to relax a bit.
I’m also happy to report that there are some great easy hikes for families here: you just have to know where to look!
Additionally, the park offers some excellent learning opportunities, fun water activities, and even a couple of scenic drives.
The Camping Kiddos on the Kaymoor Mine Trail
Districts
Listed below are the major areas of the park from north to south. If you’d like to see the New River, all of these districts have river access. All also have a visitors center, though each varies wildly in what’s available.
Beyond those commonalities, each section of the park has its own unique offerings.
Canyon Rim: Located near Fayetteville, West Virginia, this is where you’ll find the park’s main visitors center and the famed New River Gorge Bridge. This is also where you’ll find the Fayette Station Scenic Route, and hikes to both the defunct Nuttalburg and Kaymoor mine sites.
Thurmond: Once a thriving railroad town, today, Thurmond is a ghost town. The railroad lines are still very active, which makes it a great destination if your kids are into trains. The historic district is a must-do for Junior Rangers and history buffs. On the other side of the New River is the uncrowded Concho Overlook.
Grandview: If you’re looking for sweeping vistas, head to Grandview. This area of the park has some of the highest peaks, so you can see for miles. If you’re interested in what old coal towns looked like, there are several nearby like Prince and Quinnimont. (Some are still inhabited.) It’s also not far from Beckley, West Virginia, if you’d like to add on a coal mining tour.
Sandstone: At the southernmost end of the park is Sandstone, which has Sandstone Falls, two historical subsistence farms, and easy access to Hinton, West Virginia.
When is the best time to visit New River Gorge National Park with kids?
Even at its peak times in July and October, the park isn’t wildly busy like Zion National Park or Glacier National Park.
And if you’re able to visit in the spring or late fall, you’ll be able to quickly find a quiet corner for your family on the trails, roads, and river.
July is when the park reaches its peak of hot weather visitors, and this is when you’re going to see many other families in New River Gorge.
You may have to wait to get your Junior Ranger materials reviewed if you’re at a visitors center in the afternoon, and there may be some difficulty in nabbing parking spots at the most popular overlooks and trailheads.
October is when the leaf peepers arrive, so if you’re planning to visit during your kids’ fall break, plan to get up early and have alternative plans if one area or another is very busy.
The 3rd weekend in October is also when the area around Canyon Rim gets many visitors, thanks to the annual Bridge Day celebrating the completion of the New River Gorge bridge.
If you can manage it, mid- to late May is going to give you the best weather without the crowds. The weather is warm, but not stifling. The visitors center are open but there are few lines.
I also know that this time of year is tough for many families as its right at the end of the school year! As an alternative, June is a pretty month without as many of the crowds of July, but the weather can get too warm for comfortable hiking.
New River Gorge, Season by Season
The New River Gorge Bridge in the fall
The winter is the quietest season at the park, but it’s still worth a visit if you’re looking for excellent hiking without any crowds. Expect snow and ice, and watch the weather reports in the time leading up to your visit.
Winterplace is just south of the park if you’d like to add in some skiing or snow tubing during your winter visit.
The spring is also fairly quiet for the park, but visitor numbers do start to pick up around April or early May. If you’re planning to hike with your family in the park, this is a great time to do so thanks to the mild weather.
You’ll also have your pick of campsites both in and outside of the park since this isn’t prime tourism season yet. So, perhaps add New River Gorge to your upcoming spring break plans?
The summer is when the park has the most activity options, as visitors are busy sightseeing, hiking, river rafting, and ziplining. Everything is open for business in and around the park, and you will encounter many other visitors as you drive and explore in New River Gorge.
The fall is when the park is at its most vibrant, and the foliage here in late September and early October rivals anything you’ll find up in New England.
Because of this colorful display, this is the park’s second busy season. It can be difficult to nab a hotel room or campsite during October, both because of the leaf peepers in town and everyone visiting for Bridge Day.
Plan ahead for your fall visits, and know that you might need to get up early to grab a spot at popular trailheads.
Do I need a reservation for visiting New River Gorge?
No, you do not need a reservation for New River Gorge National Park.
Unlike parks such as Arches in Utah and Glacier in Montana, New River Gorge has not put a reservation system or other crowd management plan in place—and probably won’t.
Because of the park’s long layout on either side of the New River, there’s plenty of space for visitors, and no one place in the park usually feels overcrowded.
The layout between all of those little towns and big highways also means that there’s no traditional entrance station that can block traffic.
How long should my family plan to stay here?
PIN ME!
You could easily spend a week exploring the park’s many hikes, rafting tours, waterfalls, and ranger tours.
With only a day or two, you’ll feel rushed if you want to see the entire park and will not be able to do all of the highlights.
If you have just 1-2 days, I would pick one or two of the districts mentioned above and focus my time there.
If you have 3-5 days, you can get a much better grasp on the entire park, and have time for some added tours and attractions in the nearby towns.
This park feels much larger than it is at 72,000 acres (for comparison, Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is 200,000 acres and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee comes in at a whopping 500,000 acres).
The park is long and skinny as it meanders along on either side of the New River, so you’ll have to cover some ground to see all of it. That orientation means that it’s not an easy drive through in the way that Shenandoah National Park or Arches National Park is.
What Can You Do in New River Gorge National Park with Kids?
Visitors Centers
There are 4 visitors centers in New River Gorge National Park: Canyon Rim, Thurmond, Grandview, and Sandstone.
Of these 4, Canyon Rim and Sandstone are the most robust with regular hours throughout the week, gift shops, and interpretive materials in their small museums.
Canyon Rim Visitors Center has a short, wheelchair accessible viewpoint to the right of the visitors center which has an excellent view of the arch bridge, which is the longest arch bridge in North America!
You’ll also find a small but well done museum focusing on different areas of the park, including the coal history, wildlife, and geology.
There’s ample parking here, including RV friendly spots.
Sandstone Visitors Center is conveniently located off of I-64, and has parking for regular vehicles and RVs.
You’ll find a gorgeous inlaid floor map of the New River and its many tributaries, which is a highlight of visiting here. In the small museum, you’ll learn about the relationship between people in this area and the environment, as well as conservation efforts in the park.
Thurmond Visitors Center is more like a desk at the back of the small gift shop at the Thurmond Train Depot rather than a complete visitors center.
You won’t find a separate museum or interpretive materials here, though the ranger led town tour is excellent. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, though you can walk through the historic village at any time.
There’s a large gravel parking area that would fit smaller RVs as well as regular passenger vehicles, but I would not bring a travel trailer or larger RV down here. The road here is tiny and very winding, and there’s not enough room in the parking lot even for our truck and 22’ travel trailer.
Grandview has the smallest visitors center, and, in the words of one of the rangers we met, it’s “basically a shack.” (Ha!) You will find restrooms here and a ranger on duty most days of the week.
If you’re completing the Junior Ranger program or need an official national parks cancellation for your NPS passport, you’ll find a Grandview stamp at Sandstone, too. This is helpful if the Grandview station is closed during your visit.
Junior Ranger program
One of our kids’ favorite things to do in any national park is the Junior Ranger program.
(New to the national parks and don’t know what a Junior Ranger is? Check out my national parks for beginners guide to learn all of that and more!)
Grab one of the free booklets at any of the visitors centers. These booklets are large and colorful, and my kids really enjoyed working it during our times in the park.
Two of their favorite activities in the New River Gorge Junior Ranger booklet was the interview with a ranger and the visitors centers tour.
I love that the booklets encourage the kids to interact with one of the rangers in the park, which, in my opinion, helps them learn about the hardworking people who run New River Gorge.
When your child has completed the correct number of activities for his or her age group, turn in the booklet to one of the rangers at the visitors center. If everything has been completed according to the directions, your child will be sworn in as an official park Junior Ranger and will receive a badge with the park’s logo on it.
These are great souvenirs, and we love to keep them at home on a Junior Ranger themed canvas to remember our times in each park!
Fayette Station Scenic Drive
This scenic drive has some of the BEST views of the New River Gorge bridge!
If you and your family are short on time, but still want to get a quick overview of the park, this drive is a great option.
You’ll cover 8 miles on this drive, starting just north of the visitors center and traveling down into the gorge to pass underneath the bridge, and then ending up just outside of Fayetteville, West Virginia.
Along the way, you’ll have multiple viewpoints of the bridge, you’ll cross a railroad track and Tunney Hunsaker Bridge, as well as have the option to park at the trailheads for the Kaymoor Trail, Fayetteville Trail, and Bridge Trail.
(I’ll speak more to the kid-friendly hiking in the park below, but of these 3, I’d only recommend the Kaymoor Trail unless your family is experienced in hiking trails with difficult elevation gain.)
There is a free auto tour available via the NPS site, but I highly recommend the GuideAlong tour of New River Gorge National Park, which has commentary for the Fayette Station Scenic Drive, too.
The GuideAlong tour helps you avoid the difficult turn (called “Stupid’s Corner” by locals) and plays automatically as you approach each area of interest. It goes far more in depth than the free NPS tour, too, for even more learning opportunities.
Thurmond Ghost Town
My kids in Thurmond, West Virginia
While there are many small towns scattered around (and sometimes in) New River Gorge National Park, none are as well preserved as the Thurmond Ghost Town.
At its heyday around 1910, Thurmond was a bustling railroad town, bringing than $5 million dollars worth of freight through this depot and moving more then 70,000 passengers through. In comparison,
It’s still an active train depot, and Amtrak does make 6 stops here a week. You might see a coal or freight train come through while you’re visiting, too.
Be sure to stop by the ranger desk at the back of the visitors center to ask questions and see when the next historic tour is leaving. During peak season, there’s usually one tour a day (Wednesday-Sunday) at 11 AM, but check with the rangers for the most up-to-date information.
You can wander through the town on your own if your family is visiting when the ranger desk and gift shop are closed. You can peek into the old shops on Commerical Row and read the interpretive signs about each one to learn more.
The train tracks are really close to the buildings, which is an exciting experience if you’re there when a train comes by. If your kids are sensitive to loud noises, I’d move off of Commercial Row onto Beury Mountain Road if at all possible.
Otherwise, seeing the trains come by so close is quite a cool moment! You can also look for chunks of coal that have fallen off of the trains to show your kids what it looks and feels like. Just be aware that the coal easily rubs off on your fingers, so bring some wet wipes.
River Rafting
If you have older children who are thrill seekers, a white water rafting tour on the New River might be a good way to spend half a day in this area.
These guided raft trips take visitors by Thurmond and the New River Gorge bridge along a stretch of the river that offers up a little bit of everything from intense rapids to easy paddling.
One of the most popular—and longest running—outfitters is ACE Adventure Resort, which handles everything from shuttling rafters to and from the entrance and exits of the river, providing safety equipment and paddling information, and includes knowledgeable guides to ensure a fun adventure for everyone.
This tour is only available for kids 12 and up, but it can be an unforgettable experience if your kids want to see the park from a new perspective.
Must Have New River Gorge Audio Tour!
We swear by the GuideAlong audio tours when we’re driving around the national parks, and I highly recommend that you add the New River Gorge National Park tour to your phone to maximize your time in this park.
Once the tour is downloaded, it doesn’t require Wifi, making it excellent for those remote areas. The sections of the tour start and stop automatically as you approach points of interest, and you can skip or go back to specific sections.
We love these as our kids (and us!) learn so much about the history, important figures, geology, and wildlife as we drive around. For less than the cost of admission to the park, you can get hours of audio to accompany your experience.
Scenic Overlooks
If your family is looking for some awe-inspiring views without hitting a trail, try one of these gorgeous overlooks.
The town of Thurmond to the right as seen from the Concho Overlook
Concho Overlook is located across the river from the Thurmond Ghost Town, and looks down into the town for a new perspective.
The overlook is situated so that you can see a huge U-bend in the New River, and it’s a great place to watch as rafters make their way down the river.
There’s a large gravel parking area here and porta-potties if there’s an emergency. You will not find a ranger station or information booth, so you’re on your own.
The overlook has a wooden platform with railings.
Getting here is a bit challenging as you’re driving on narrow backroads through tiny towns. Watch the speed limits and know that there are portions where an RV or travel trailer will bottom out. As you get close to the Concho Overlook, the road really narrows to the point that it felt like a single lane in our Ford F150. There are a few areas to pull over if you meet a larger vehicle.
It can be a bit difficult to find, but load “ACE Adventure Resort” into your GPS. Then, once you’re at the entrance to the resort, don’t turn into the resort but, instead, keep going straight on the road past the resort. The overlook is down on your right about 1.5 miles. There are several signs helping you find the way from ACE.
Grandview Overlook is the most well known of the overlooks in the park, and it’s much easier to access than Concho Overlook.
However, there will be more visitors here than at Concho, so it’s a toss-up on which you’ll think is better!
If you’re driving down I-64 and want a quick stop, Grandview is an easy side trip along Highway 9, while the similar views from Concho Overlook are about 40 minutes away and closer to Fayetteville.
There are restrooms here and a ranger is often on duty for questions.
Sandstone Overlook is one that I only half-heartedly recommend. The reason for that is that you can see the Sandstone Falls far below, but not very well.
Still, if you don’t have time to go to Hinton and make the turn onto River Road to see Sandstone Falls at river level, this is the next best thing.
There are bathrooms here, but no ranger on duty. The river is much easier to see from the overlook area during the winter, early spring, and late fall when the leaves are gone or are very sparse.
There is a small stone wall to keep visitors from falling (or perhaps rolling) down the incline here, but watch your kids anyway.
The parking area is paved but small, though spaces open up quickly as people cycle in and out. The short walk to the overlook is a bit steep, but still manageable.
NOTE: If you do want to see the Falls at river level instead or in addition to the overlook, see my notes below in the hiking section.
Hiking with Kids in New River Gorge
My son hiking on the Kaymoor Trail
If you’re taking a quick look at the NPS site for hiking, it’s easy to get discouraged as one hike after another includes warnings like, “This hike has 800 stairs” or “This 16 mile hike is very strenuous.” After all, one of the most popular hikes in the entire park, the Endless Wall Trail, follows the edge of a cliff that drops up to 1000 feet to the New River valley below—which isn’t very kid friendly, especially if you’ve got little ones who have no fear.
But, don’t worry! There are several great, easy hikes in New River Gorge National Park that work will for kids who want to try out hiking, families who don’t want to spend all day hiking, or those families who aren’t ready to take on a super difficult hike.
At the end of the Sandstone Falls boardwalk
Sandstone Falls boardwalk
The easiest trail on this list is Sandstone Falls boardwalk, which is a flat 0.6 mile out-and-back hike. Along the way, you’ll see different areas of Sandstone Falls, a huge waterfall that stretches all of the way across the New River.
Tipple Trail
If you’re ready to see one of the old abandoned mine sites inside New River Gorge, but don’t want to take on a moderate-to-strenuous 8-16 mile hike to get there, the Tipple Trail is going to be your ticket.
This trail is located in the Nuttallburg mining area, but unlike the many other more difficult trails here, the Tipple Trail is just 1.2 miles over a fairly flat area.
You’ll be able to see the iconic bright red Nuttallburg coal tipple as well as the coke oven where the coal was processed, and pieces of the old conveyor belt.
Note: the road leading to the Nuttallburg parking area is Keeneys Creek Road. It is very narrow and much of it is one lane. Use caution and be prepared to use the pull off areas.
Keep kids engaged in the hike with these great ideas:
Rend Trail
The Rend Trail is an easy trail with multiple options depending on how far your family wants to hike.
It is located near Thurmond on an old rail bed, so the trail itself is very flat. Your kids can even bring their mountain bikes on this trail if they’d like!
In total, the trail run 6.8 miles round trip, but you can just hike for as long as you’d like. It parallels the New River the entire time, so you’re not hiking to a specific overlook.
About 2.5 miles onto the trail, you’ll come to the main overlook, but the views all along the trail are beautiful.
Kaymoor Trail
The kids at the shockingly cold Wolf Creek Falls on the Kaymoor Trail
If you’ve looked at the NPS site for the Kaymoor Trail, you’ve probably decided that I’ve lost my mine in recommending this 17 mile trail for you and your kids.
But hear me out—you don’t have to do the entire thing to get to the good parts!
If you drive the Fayette Station Scenic Drive, you’ll come to the Kaymoor trailhead just after the New River crossing on the Tunney Hunsaker Bridge. From this point, the actual Kaymoor mine is only 2 miles each way with some (but not overly drastic) elevation gain.
If you’re looking for a doable half-day hiking experience with your kids while you’re here, this is the trail for you.
As a bonus, you’ll pass right by Wolf Creek Falls just a couple of hundred feet from the trailhead.
This waterfall is so close to the trail that you’ll be able to walk right up to the base of it, and then watch as it cascades underneath the trail.
Stone Cliff Trail
This trail is another that you can walk as much of it as you’d like. Located near Thurmond, this trail follows the New River, much like the Rend Trail (above).
If you go all of the way to the end, you’ll find a dense forest, but it’s not necessary to hike the entire 5.4 mile out-and-back trail unless you really want to.
You’ll get those pretty river views and peaceful views practically as soon as you leave the parking lot, so hike until your kids get tired.
Bridge Walk
New River Gorge National Park truly is a destination for thrill seekers, and the Bridge Walk is one way to safely let even young kids get in on that adrenaline rush.
You can walk underneath the beautiful arch bridge that goes over New River Gorge near the Canyon Rim visitors center. At its deepest point here, the bottom of the gorge will be 876 feet below you.
But don’t worry. You wear a harness and helmet, and you’re hooked into a safety rail the entire time.
The major outfitters in the area—Bridge Walk, Adventures on the Gorge and ACE Adventure Resort—who lead these walks allow kids as young as 8 to participate, as long as they are at least 48” tall.
For what it’s worth, my 11 year old quickly volunteered to go on the Bridge Walk, while my 8 year old has carefully considered it without committing. Talk with your kids before signing up, as the tours are pricey (usually between $70-90 per person).
If they’re still deciding, I’d take them to the viewpoint on the Fayette Station Scenic Road, where you can see underneath the bridge to the small walkway used during the activity. That might help provide them with perspective on exactly what they’ll be doing.
Historic Farms
Because this national park has such a strong human history element, I think it’s important to include at least one of the historic farms in addition to the coal and railroad towns.
There are 2 farms that your family can visit within the borders of New River Gorge, and both are located near Hinton and the southernmost end of the park.
Both of these farms are located off of New River Road on the way to Sandstone Falls, but neither has any signage by the road. If you’re just driving by, you’d never know they were part of the NPS.
While that’s annoying if you’re trying to find these properties, it does help keep overall visitor numbers low, and you’re likely to see few—if any—other people during your visit.
Richmond Hamilton Farm
This farm is easier to get to than Trump-Lilly Farm, but there’s less to do here.
To get to this farm, you’ll drive through Hinton on Highway 20 heading south. You’ll make the first right when you cross over the New River outside of Hinton, and then drive on New River Road for about 2 miles. You’ll see a large break in the trees on your left with a gravel road leading into the property.
Here, you can poke around in the barns and peer into the house to learn more about the subsistence farmers who once made their livlihood from this property.
Trump-Lilly Farm
A much larger farm, Trump-Lilly also requires navigating a narrow, sometimes steep, and unpaved backroad up into the mountains.
To get here, drive through Hinton on Highway 20 heading south. Make the first right when you cross over the New River outside of Hinton, and then take the second left on New River Road onto Freezeland Mountain Road. Follow this gravel road for about 3 miles until you’ll see the farm on your right.
Once you’re here, you can do a self-guided walking tour by the house and the many out buildings that are still here.
Ziplining
One more option for the thrill seeking family is to go ziplining!
Kids as young as 8 can explore the Gorge from up above with the ACE Adventure Resort zipline tour.
There are 9 different ziplines that you’ll travel along with the highest being at about 750 feet above the gorge. It’s not quite as high as the Bridge Walk (above), but it’s still enough to get your little adventurer’s heart racing!
Plus, this zipline tour is located very close to both Thurmond and the Concho Overlook, which would make a full day’s itinerary within the park.
Tips for Visiting New River Gorge National Park with Kids
Know that different parts of the park can require up to 1 hour to get to.
If you’re staying in Fayetteville at the northern end of the park, Hinton, West Virginia, is right at an hour away on the southern end of the park.
So, there is a fair amount of driving that you’ll need to do regardless of where you choose to stay.
Beckley is the most centrally located area if you’d like to be within 30 minutes of either end of the park, but it really depends on what your family wants to do and how much time you have available to explore.
Be prepared to drive on the back roads of West Virginia.
While the national park is bordered by Interstate 64 and the divided 4-lane Highway 19, many of the roads within the park are tiny.
I’m talking hold-your-breath-and-pull-in-your-rear-view-mirrors kind of tiny.
And several of them, like the road to Nuttallburg Mine Site, and the road to Fayette Station, are one way.
We’ve driven all over the park in our Ford F150, which has made it, though there were some tight spots.
If you’re visiting in a Class B or C motorhome, please talk to a ranger about your route before you head down any backroads. (And don’t even think about hauling a travel trailer or 5th wheel down most of them.)
If you do get into a situation where your vehicle won’t fit, there’s often no option other than backing down the road for who knows how long.
Adding even more of a challenge is the fact that there are potholes, gravel sections, and no guard rails on steep areas. It’s not quite as bad as Million Dollar Highway in Colorado, but it can be unnerving if you’re not used to driving in the mountains.
People driving around the park on these tiny roads know that it’s a tough situation, and everyone we’ve encountered on the roads did their best to pull over when possible or slow down so that everyone can safely pass.
Just know that you’re not going anywhere quickly on these back roads, and always know where the most recent pull off was in case you have to back down one of the one way sections.
While it’s not 100% necessary, a vehicle with 4 wheel or all wheel drive can come in handy, and smaller vehicles will feel far more comfortable on the road than a larger truck.
Camp during your visit, if possible.
The park currently has no lodge or hotel within its borders, so you’ll need to stay in Beckley, Oak Hill, or Fayetteville if you’d like a room.
Honestly, though, I’d highly recommend camping (or at least glamping!) for an overnight stay that fits the wild, wonderful feeling of this park.
There are 8 primitive campgrounds inside New River Gorge if you’d like to rough it a little. Note that these are all first come, first served, most are on long, narrow, and winding roads, and there isn’t any water or electricity at the campgrounds.
If you’re looking for something with a few more amenities, we loved our stay at Rifrafters Campground in Fayetteville, which is less than 10 minutes from the Canyon Rim visitors center.
The Outpost in Fayetteville is even closer, as it is located on the end of Fayette Station Scenic Drive.
Both of these options have tent camping spots with water and electric, cabins, and RV sites.
Keep an adventurous spirit.
All of New River Gorge National Park in one photo: rafters, park visitors, and a train!
Since New River Gorge has only been a national park since 2020, it still feels underdeveloped when I compare it to some place like Acadia National Park, which has had its status since 1929.
Because of that newness, New River Gorge doesn’t have as much infrastructure as you might expect from a national park.
There aren’t a lot of signs directing you where to go, an issue that is further complicated by the fact that the park’s borders wander in and out of private property.
There isn’t a main lodge or a single scenic drive. There aren’t any food locations inside of the park.
There isn’t even a single main visitors center. All of this can lead you to feel as if the park is a bit fragmented or difficult to grasp.
But, that’s where the adventurous spirit comes in. You’re among the first few million visitors to explore this park in its current form!
People are starting to catch onto the wonder of New River Gorge—it had a 7% increase in visitor numbers from 2022 to 2023—but, overall, it still feels a bit hidden when compared to the other East Coast parks.
So, get your kids a Junior Ranger booklet, pack those hiking boots, and get out there!
