You Can't Leave New River Gorge National Park Without Doing These 3 Hikes
New River Gorge National Park is America’s newest national park and home to its oldest river.
This park became designated as a national park in 2020, protecting over 70,000 acres of land surrounding the New River. The area is well known for its remote location in the rugged Appalachian mountains, its class I-V rapids for whitewater rafting, and stunning views of the New River Gorge Bridge.
There’s nearly 100 miles of trails to choose from in the park, so I’ve selected three that I think are definitely worth your time and can be done all in one day.
Best Time To Visit
There are many great times to visit this national park, depending on what you prefer as a hiker.
You can expect some more foot traffic in the summer months, but the vibrant shades of blue on the mountains are incredible. The fall foliage is also a great time to visit if you wish to see the colors when the leaves change, some cooler weather, and less traffic on the trails.
Hiking Trails
1. long point trail
Looking for the best views of the New River Gorge Bridge? The overlook at the end of this trail is surely worth the 3.1 mile trek to see that iconic view of the bridge that puts into perspective how large it really is. Long point trail is an out and back trail located near the Fayetteville area of the park with some moderate hills and rocks. You can expect most of the trail to run through the shaded woods and later towards the slightly rockier areas towards the canyon’s edge. At the end, you will find a large flat rock area overlooking the beautiful gorge and the bridge. This is a rather popular trail, so expect to pass some fellow hikers along the way.
Length: 3.4mi. out & back roundtrip
Difficulty: easy-moderate
Elevation gain: 344 feet
Estimated time: 1-1.5 hours
Location: 12min drive from Canyon Rim Visitor Center
Dogs? Yes! Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash!
2. Endless Wall Trail
The endless wall trail is located on the opposite side of the river from Long Point, and it features a unique cliffside rock formation along the edge of the gorge. This is an easy to moderate trail with some light hills along the way. I passed people of all ages on the trail, so I see it as a family friendly option. Diamond Point Overlook is the highlight of the trail, where you will be able to see the entire Endless Wall, along with stunning views of the rapids flowing down at the bottom of the gorge. If you visit during the summer months, you’ll be able to spot the whitewater rafters! (they look really small from up here)
Length: 3 mi. out & back roundtrip
Difficulty: easy-moderate
Elevation gain: 508 feet
Estimated time: 1-1.5 hours
Location: 7 min drive from Canyon Rim Visitor Center
Dogs? Yes! Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash!
3. Castle Rock/Grandview Rim
Take a drive down to the Grandview section of the park to take in some quieter views. Castle Rock is a favorite trail of mine because I have never seen a rock formation that looks quite like it. The trail parallels the grandview rim trail for about .6 miles. I would recommend taking the Grandview Rim Trail out to Turkey Spur Overlook, and on the way back, take a short detour down to castle rock, which will lead you back to the visitor center parking lot. This will make for a 3.3 mile hike roundtrip. Don’t forget to take a look at the overlook at the visitor center to see a large horseshoe bend curve in the river. If you’re lucky, you may get to see a coal train along the river, so West Virginia!
Length: 3.3 mi. out & back roundtrip
Difficulty: moderate
Elevation gain: 413 feet
Estimated time: 1.5 hours
Location: Grandview Visitor Center
Dogs? Yes! Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash!
More Trail Guides
Travel tips
- When visiting in the summer, bring a rain jacket! Even if there is no rain on the forecast there is always a chance of rain. The mountain weather is very unpredictable.
- Though New River Gorge is a National Park, there are no fees at any park entrances!
- Try to catch a sunset at one of these trails. The blue colors on the mountains are just unreal.
New River Gorge is home to miles and miles of beautiful hiking trails, river views, and rolling Appalachian mountains. While you can spend days exploring the winding roads and scenery, if you are on a tight schedule or just visiting for the day, these trails are absolutely worth the trek. If you do happen to be doing a longer roadtrip, check out nearby Thurmond, an old coal mining town, Sandstone falls, and Bluestone state park!
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