When we started planning our trip to New River Gorge National Park, we wanted to see as much as possible without feeling rushed.
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As America’s newest national park, New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia had been on our travel wish list for a while. Between scenic overlooks, waterfalls, historic mining sites, and the famous Bridge Walk, there were plenty of things we wanted to experience.
This ended up being the perfect New River Gorge itinerary for our family. Over two days, we explored some of the park’s most popular trails, drove one of the area’s most scenic roads, visited multiple visitor centers, and checked several incredible viewpoints off our to-do list. If you’re planning a weekend trip to New River Gorge National Park, here’s exactly how we spent our time.
Getting There
Located in southern West Virginia, New River Gorge National Park received national park status in 2020 and quickly became one of our favorite national parks in the United States. Managed by the National Park Service, the park protects miles of the New River, historic coal mining sites, forested hiking trails, and world-class outdoor recreation opportunities.
Before our trip, we were surprised by just how much there was to do here. Whether you’re interested in hiking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, scenic drives, railroad towns, or historic buildings, you’ll find plenty of things to keep you busy.
New River Gorge National Park stretches across several communities, including Fayetteville, Beckley, Thurmond, and the historic town of Hinton. Because the park covers such a large area, having a plan helped us make the most of our time.
For visitors flying in, the closest airport is Raleigh County Memorial Airport near Beckley. Many travelers also use Charleston, West Virginia, which is about an hour from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center.
Best Time to Go
Spring through fall is generally considered the best time to visit, with comfortable temperatures for hiking trails and outdoor activities. Water levels on both the Upper New River and Lower New River can vary throughout the year, which is something to keep in mind if you’re planning a whitewater rafting trip. We visited in October, so the temperatures were mild, and we were able to see the fall foliage, which is a sight we don’t get at home in Houston.
Day One
Canyon Rim Visitor Center Entrance Sign
We always take a photo at the entrance sign for each park we go to. For New River Gorge, the sign wasn’t on the side of the road where we could pull over to get the photo, but it was near the visitor center parking lot. We parked as close to the sign as we could, ran over to take the photo, then moved the vehicle closer to the visitor center entrance. There are no posts or anything to put the camera on, and we couldn’t prop it up on the vehicle like we often do, so I had to find a rock to hold it up on the ground.
Stephanie, Tyler, Ryan, and Justin at the entrance sign by Canyon Rim Visitor Center
Canyon Rim Visitor Center
We always like to start our national park visits at a visitor center, and the Canyon Rim Visitor Center was the perfect introduction to New River Gorge National Park. Since this was our first time visiting America’s newest national park, we spent some time exploring the exhibits, picking up maps, and learning about the area’s history before heading out.
One of the highlights of the visitor center is the overlook area behind the building. A short boardwalk leads to several viewing platforms where we got our first look at the famous New River Gorge Bridge stretching across the canyon. It was one of those views that immediately made us excited for the rest of the trip. The visitor center also has a gift shop, restrooms, drinking water, and helpful park rangers who can answer questions about trail conditions, road closures, and current park activities.
If you’re visiting New River Gorge National Park for the first time, we highly recommend making this your first stop. It helped us better understand the layout of the park and gave us ideas for future trips.
Driving Scenic Fayette Station Road
After leaving the visitor center, we headed for Fayette Station Road, one of the most scenic drives in West Virginia. This historic road winds down from the rim of the gorge to the river below and offers a completely different perspective than you’ll get from the overlooks above.
The drive itself became one of our favorite parts of the day. The narrow road twists through the forest while revealing occasional views of the river and bridge. Along the way, we passed historic structures and several pull-offs where we could stop and take photos. The road eventually crosses beneath the New River Gorge Bridge, giving visitors a unique view of the massive structure from below.
Because the road is narrow with sharp curves, it isn’t ideal for large vehicles or RVs. For most passenger vehicles, though, it’s an enjoyable drive that helps showcase the scale of the gorge. We would absolutely include Fayette Station Road on any future visit.
New River Parking Area
At the bottom of the gorge, we arrived at the New River Parking Area, which serves as the trailhead for several hiking opportunities. While it isn’t one of the park’s largest parking lots, it provides access to some of the most interesting trails in the northern section of the park.
The area sits close to the river and offers a completely different atmosphere from the overlooks along the rim. Standing here, surrounded by steep canyon walls and towering trees, really helped us appreciate just how deep and dramatic the gorge actually is.
Looking up at the bridge from the edge of the river
Stephanie, Ryan, and Tyler with the bridge
Kaymoor Trail to Kaymoor Mine Falls
The Kaymoor Miners Trail ended up being one of the most rewarding hikes of our entire trip. We love trails that combine beautiful scenery with interesting history, and this trail delivered both.
As we followed the hiking trail through the forest, we passed remnants of the region’s coal mining past. Old structures, interpretive signs, and historic coke ovens provided glimpses into what life was like for the miners who once worked in this area. The deeper we hiked, the quieter it became, making it easy to imagine how different the gorge looked during its industrial heyday.
Eventually, we reached Kaymoor Mine Falls, a beautiful waterfall tucked into the forest. The combination of the waterfall, historic mining features, and peaceful surroundings made this one of our favorite spots in New River Gorge National Park. While there are certainly more famous trails in the park, we thought this hike was absolutely worth visiting.
Concho Overlook
After our hike, we were ready for a relaxing stop, and Concho Overlook was exactly what we needed. This lesser-known overlook offers incredible views of the New River winding through the canyon below without the crowds often found at the more popular viewpoints.
The short walk from the parking area made it easy to access, and we spent quite a bit of time simply enjoying the scenery. Sometimes the quieter locations become your favorite spots, and that’s exactly how we felt about Concho Overlook.
Holiday Inn & Suites Beckley
Rather than staying near Fayetteville, we chose Beckley as our base for the trip because it provided convenient access to both the northern and southern sections of the park. After a full day of hiking, driving, and exploring, it was nice to return to a comfortable hotel where we could relax and prepare for another busy day.
The location worked especially well because our second day’s itinerary included destinations spread across the southern portion of New River Gorge National Park.
Day One Map
Day Two
Breakfast at the Hotel
Before heading out for another day of adventure, we enjoyed a relaxed breakfast at the hotel. Since we had a busy schedule planned, it was nice to start the morning without having to search for a restaurant first thing.
One thing we learned during this trip is that New River Gorge National Park covers a much larger area than many visitors expect. Having a full breakfast before hitting the road helped us maximize our time exploring instead of constantly stopping for food.
Bridge Walk
The Bridge Walk was easily one of the most unique experiences we’ve ever had in a national park. Before the trip, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect, but it quickly became one of the highlights of our visit.
Participants are fitted with safety harnesses before walking along a catwalk suspended beneath the New River Gorge Bridge. Throughout the experience, guides share information about the bridge’s construction, history, and engineering while leading the group across the span.
Even though we were hundreds of feet above the river, we always felt safe thanks to the professional guides and safety systems. The views were absolutely incredible, and seeing the gorge from this perspective gave us a completely new appreciation for the landscape. If you’re comfortable with heights, we think the Bridge Walk belongs on every New River Gorge itinerary.
Lunch at Elliott's Whitewater Bar & Grill
After finishing the Bridge Walk, we headed to Elliott’s Whitewater Bar & Grill for lunch. The restaurant is popular with both locals and visitors and provides a nice opportunity to relax before continuing our day.
Grandview Day Use Area
After lunch, we made the approximately 30-minute drive to the Grandview area. Many visitors consider this one of the most beautiful sections of New River Gorge National Park, and we quickly understood why.
The area includes picnic facilities, scenic overlooks, hiking trails, and some of the park’s most dramatic canyon views. It’s easy to spend several hours here, especially if you enjoy photography or hiking.
Grandview Overlook
The main overlook at Grandview was one of the most impressive viewpoints we visited during our trip. From the observation area, we could see the New River making a dramatic horseshoe bend through the canyon far below.
The view is expansive, colorful, and incredibly photogenic. We visited on a clear day and could see for miles in every direction. If someone asked us for the single overlook they shouldn’t miss in New River Gorge National Park, this would be near the top of our list.
Tunnel Trail
Since we had plenty of time, we decided to add the Tunnel Trail to our itinerary. This short hike provided a nice change of pace from the overlooks and allowed us to spend more time immersed in the forest.
The trail passes through wooded terrain and unique rock formations while providing additional opportunities to enjoy the scenery. It isn’t one of the park’s most famous trails, but we enjoyed having another excuse to get out and stretch our legs.
Sandstone Visitor Center
Continuing south, we stopped at the Sandstone Visitor Center before exploring the falls area. The exhibits helped us learn more about the river ecosystem, local wildlife, and geology of the southern section of the park.
Because many visitors focus their time around Fayetteville and the bridge area, the Sandstone region often feels quieter and less crowded. We appreciated the chance to learn more about this part of the park before heading out to explore.
Sandstone Falls Overlook
The Sandstone Falls Overlook provides visitors with their first glimpse of the largest waterfall on the New River. Even from a distance, the falls are impressive.
Unlike the tall waterfalls found in many national parks, Sandstone Falls stretches across the width of the river, creating a wide series of cascades that flow around small islands and rock formations. It immediately became one of our favorite waterfall views in West Virginia.
Brooks Island Overlook
Just a short distance away, Brooks Island Overlook offered another beautiful perspective of the river and surrounding landscape. The walk from the parking area was quick and easy, making this a simple addition to the itinerary.
We found that combining multiple overlooks helped us appreciate how different the New River can look depending on where you’re standing.
Sandstone Falls Boardwalk Trail
The Sandstone Falls Boardwalk Trail was one of the easiest and most rewarding walks of our trip. The boardwalk and viewing platforms bring visitors much closer to the falls and provide excellent opportunities for photos.
This trail is a great option for families, visitors with limited time, or anyone looking for impressive scenery without a strenuous hike. We spent quite a while here simply enjoying the sound of the rushing water.
Island Loop Trail
Before leaving the area, we explored the Island Loop Trail. This peaceful trail winds through wooded islands surrounded by the New River and provides a different perspective of Sandstone Falls.
The trail was relatively easy and offered a relaxing way to finish our visit. By this point, we had spent most of the day exploring overlooks, waterfalls, and visitor centers, so the quiet atmosphere felt like the perfect conclusion to our adventure.
Holiday Inn & Suites Beckley
After another full day of exploring New River Gorge National Park, we returned to the hotel feeling both tired and satisfied. Instead of immediately calling it a night, we spent some time swimming and relaxing before dinner.
Looking back, this ended up being the perfect way to end our trip. We had packed a lot into two days, but we never felt rushed. Between the scenic drives, hiking trails, overlooks, waterfalls, visitor centers, and the unforgettable Bridge Walk, this itinerary allowed us to experience many of the best things New River Gorge National Park has to offer while still leaving plenty of reasons to come back.
Day Two Map
New River Gorge National Park Visitor Centers
One thing we always try to do when visiting a national park is stop at as many visitor centers as possible. Not only do they provide maps, trail information, and passport stamps, but they also help us learn more about the area’s natural history, culture, and unique features. Since New River Gorge National Park covers more than 50 miles of southern West Virginia, each visitor center focuses on a different section of the park and offers a different experience. The National Park Service currently operates four visitor centers throughout the park, and we think each one is worth visiting if you have the time.
Canyon Rim Visitor Center
If you only have time to visit one park visitor center, we would recommend making it the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. Located near the New River Gorge Bridge, this is considered the primary visitor center for the park and is open year-round. Inside, you’ll find exhibits covering the area’s coal mining history, recreation opportunities, and natural history, along with an orientation film and gift shop. Outside, a boardwalk leads to several overlooks with incredible views of the New River Gorge Bridge, including one of the most iconic viewpoints in the park. This was our first stop during our visit, and it gave us a great introduction to everything New River Gorge National Park has to offer.
Sandstone Visitor Center
Located near Interstate 64 on the southern end of the park, the Sandstone Visitor Center is another year-round facility and serves as the gateway to the Sandstone area. We found this visitor center especially helpful before exploring Sandstone Falls Overlook and the surrounding trails. The building itself is designed with sustainability in mind, and the exhibits focus on the ecology, wildlife, and river systems that make this area unique. If you’re planning to visit Sandstone Falls, Brooks Island Overlook, or the historic town of Hinton, this is a great place to stop first.
Grandview Visitor Center
The Grandview Visitor Center is located in one of the most scenic areas of the park and overlooks the deepest section of the gorge. Unlike Canyon Rim and Sandstone, this visitor center is only open seasonally, generally from Memorial Day through October. The visitor center itself is relatively small, but the surrounding area is packed with things to do. From the parking area, you can easily access the Grandview Overlook, Grandview Rim Trail, and several other short hiking trails. Even if the visitor center is closed during your visit, the overlooks and trails are absolutely worth visiting. Some of our favorite views in the entire park came from this area.
Thurmond Depot Visitor Center
The most unique visitor center in the park is the Thurmond Depot Visitor Center. Located inside a restored railroad depot in the historic ghost town of Thurmond, this seasonal visitor center offers a completely different perspective on New River Gorge National Park. Instead of focusing primarily on outdoor recreation, the exhibits highlight the area’s railroad history and the role Thurmond played during the coal mining boom. Walking through town felt like stepping back in time, with historic buildings, train tracks, and preserved structures lining the narrow valley. Even if you’re not a railroad enthusiast, we think Thurmond is worth visiting because it’s one of the best places in the park to experience the human history of the gorge.
Which Visitor Centers Should You Visit?
If you’re following this 2-day New River Gorge itinerary, you’ll naturally visit both the Canyon Rim Visitor Center and Sandstone Visitor Center. If you have extra time, we highly recommend adding Grandview and Thurmond as well. Each visitor center tells a different part of the New River Gorge story, from the bridge and outdoor recreation opportunities to the railroad towns, coal mining history, and natural beauty that helped make this area one of the newest national parks in the United States. Since many roads in the park are narrow and winding, we found that stopping at visitor centers throughout our trip helped us better plan our routes and discover additional places that weren’t originally on our itinerary.
Itinerary Options
If we had extra time, there are several places we would add to a future visit.
The Endless Wall Trail, Long Point Trail, Castle Rock Trail, Diamond Point, and Fern Creek Trailhead are all among the park’s most popular trails and viewpoints. Many visitors also spend time exploring Thurmond, a historic ghost town where old train tracks and historic buildings tell the story of the region’s railroad past.
Another great option is taking a day trip to nearby Babcock State Park to see the famous Glade Creek Grist Mill. We didn’t fit it into this particular trip, but it’s high on our list for next time.
Whether you’re interested in hiking, scenic drives, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, railroad towns, or simply enjoying great views, we found New River Gorge National Park to be one of the best places to visit in West Virginia. This itinerary gave us the perfect trip, and we hope it helps you plan your own family adventure.