New River Gorge National Park

🌲 Park Overview

Designated America’s newest national park in 2020, New River Gorge National Park & Preserve protects 70,000 acres of Appalachian forest wrapped around the New River—the planet’s second-oldest river. White-water rapids plunge through a 1,000-ft-deep sandstone gorge, while rimside cliffs lure rock climbers with over 1,400 routes. Tucked between historic coal towns and lush rhododendron thickets, the park offers year-round adventure: world-class rafting, endless hiking and biking, and October’s famous Bridge Day BASE-jump festival.

🌟 Fun Facts

The steel-arch New River Gorge Bridge (1977) was once the world’s longest single-span arch (1,700 ft) and remains the third highest bridge in the U.S.

Bridge Day each third Saturday of October draws ~80,000 spectators watching 400+ BASE jumpers leap legally.

More than 1,400 bolted routes crown the Endless Wall and Summersville Lake cliffs—making “The New” a global sport-climbing destination.

The New River flows northward, cutting through the Appalachians on a path older than the mountains themselves.

📅 Best Time to Visit

Season

Weather

Highlights

Caveats

Apr–May

50–75 °F

Wildflowers, moderate rafting flows, top-rope friendly temps

Spring rain can swell river; muddy trails

Jun–Aug

65–90 °F

Warm water for rafting & cliff jumps, summer concerts

Humidity, afternoon thunderstorms

Sep–Oct

45–75 °F

Peak fall colors, Bridge Day, prime climbing friction

Crowded lodging Bridge Day week

Nov–Mar

25–55 °F

Ice-free climbing on south-facing walls; solitude

Occasional snow/ice, some outfitters closed

🎯 Things to Do

Families

Canyon Rim Visitor Center: bridge overlook & Junior Ranger program.

Endless Wall Trail (moderate 2.4 mi) to Diamond Point — kid-friendly cliffs (stay back!).

Easy Long Point Trail (3 mi) for postcard bridge views.

Adventure-Seekers

Raft Class IV–V Lower New (April–Oct).

Climb 5.10 at Summersville’s Orange Oswald Wall (boat-in crags, summer deep-water solo).

Mountain-bike Arrowhead Trail System (12 mi IMBA-designed singletrack).

BASE-jump off bridge (Bridge Day permitted jumpers only).

Photographers

Sunrise at Grandview Main Overlook (1,400-ft bend).

Milky Way above Fayette Station Road bridge reflection (June-Aug).

Peak fall foliage from Long Point mid-October.

🥾 Top Trails & Paddles

Trail / Route

Dist. / Gain

Highlights

Endless Wall Trail

2.4 mi loop

Cliff-edge vistas, rock climbers mid-pitch.

Long Point Trail

3.0 mi RT

Iconic straight-on bridge shot.

Kaymoor Miner’s Trail

1.6 mi RT / 821 stairs

Coal ruins, waterfall, lung-busting return climb.

Glade Creek to New River Paddle

6 mi Class II

Fern-lined canyon, swimming holes, trout.

👨‍👩‍👧 Kid-Friendly Extras

Thurmond Depot ranger-led ghost town walk.

Junior Ranger touch-table on coal fossils at Canyon Rim VC.

Summersville Lake beach day & low-risk cliff jumps (ages 8+ lifejackets).

♿ Accessibility Notes

Canyon Rim boardwalk upper deck & restrooms ADA.

Sandstone Falls Boardwalk (0.5 mi) accessible with river-level cascade views.

Hawks Nest Aerial Tram (state park adjacent) accepts wheelchairs; gives gorge bottom access.

🗓️ Itinerary Ideas

1-Day “Bridge & Rapids”

Sunrise at Long Point.

Morning Lower New half-day rafting (9 a.m.).

Lunch at Fayetteville (pimento-cheese burger).

Afternoon Endless Wall hike → watch climbers.

Sunset at Canyon Rim deck.

3-Day “Climb, Ride, Paddle”

Day 1: Arrowhead MTB trails → swim Summersville Lake.

Day 2: Guided multipitch on Endless Wall, brewery evening.

Day 3: SUP flatwater Upper New → visit Nuttallburg coal town boardwalk.

🧳 Planning Tips

River Permits: Commercial outfitters run Apr–Oct; private boaters need WV launch permit + PFD for each paddler.

Weather: Summer lightning forms fast—exit cliffs by thunder.

Camping: 8 NPS primitive campgrounds (no reservations). Developed RV parks in Fayetteville & Summersville.

Bridge Day: Lodging books a year in advance; expect road closures US-19 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

🚧 Permits & Safety

Climbing: Fixed anchors allowed; follow NPS bolting policy—no new hardware in pristine zones.

Stay back 6 ft from cliff edges; sandstone can undercut.

Poison ivy & copperheads common along river trails—closed-toe shoes recommended.

🌄 Compare This Park With

Gauley River NRA (neighbor): Bigger Class V fall releases, fewer amenities.

Grand Canyon NP: Both north-flowing ancient rivers; New is lush Appalachian vs. desert chasm.

Cuyahoga Valley NP: Another newish eastern park—CVNP flat towpath vs. New’s high adventure.

🔗 Internal Links

Blog – “Choosing the Right Rafting Section: Upper vs. Lower New.”

Printable – “Bridge Day Bucket-List Bingo.”

📥 Printable Downloads (placeholder)

Climber’s Route Finder Map

Rafting Class Cheat-Sheet

Arrowhead Trail Mileage Card

🔍 SEO Keyword Targets

New River Gorge Bridge Day 2025

Endless Wall Trail best overlook

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Rock climbing routes New River Gorge

New River Gorge itinerary 3 days

Camping near Fayetteville WV

Mountain bike Arrowhead trails map

Sandstone Falls accessible boardwalk

Newest national park USA

Things to do New River Gorge National Park

New River Gorge National Park guide—class-V rapids, endless climbing crags, and Appalachian gold—is now fully drafted. Let me know if it needs tweaks, or say “next” whenever you’re ready to continue to Petrified Forest!