National Park & Preserve · Southeast · WV
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
A rugged, whitewater river flowing northward through deep canyons, the New River is among the oldest rivers on the continent. The park encompasses over 70,000 acres of land along the New River, is rich in cultural and natural history, and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities.
Current alerts
InformationRend Trail Closed through December 2027
The Rend Trail is closed for trail Improvements that will include a new parking area, restroom, and a small picnic area overlooking Arbuckle Creek at the Minden trailhead, structural improvements to five historic railroad trestles along the trail, and full trail surface rehabilitation. Additionally, construction of a large accessible ramp over the ‘big rock’ will replace a stairway, resulting in the only fully accessible earthen surface trail located within the park.
InformationChurch Loop Trail Closure
The Church Loop Trail in the Thurmond area of the park is temporarily closed due to downed trees.
InformationKaymoor Miners Trail Closure
From June 15 through November 19 the upper part of the Kaymoor Miners Trail (from Kaymoor Top down to the mine site at the junction with the Kaymoor Trail) will be closed Monday through Thursday due to a trail rehab project. The trail is expected to be fully open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Location
37.8688, -80.9996
Key trails & viewpoints
Trail Run Grandview Rim Trail
This trail could take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the person.
Trail run that is 3.1 miles. This is an out and back route that is on different compositions. It is mostly a dirt path with varying degrees of hardness. In fall, when leaves are falling, be aware that the leaves can block view of any dips in the trail terrain.
Trail run at Endless Wall
<p>The trail is 2.4 miles from trailhead to trailhead. It is recommended to use the trail as an out-and-back from whichever parking lot you start, which is approximately 1.0 to 1.2 miles out to Diamond Point Overlook. <br /> <br /> If you choose to run the entire trail as a one-way, there will be an additional 0.5 mile run/walk along Lansing-Edmond Road. Lansing Edmond Road is narrow and there is not much space to travel safely along the edge of the road, so it is with caution that visitors walk along this roadway. </p>
Endless Wall Trail is and excellent place for a trail run but due to the volume of other hikers, this trail runner would recommend that this be an early morning location. The trail is easy to moderate for elevation change and if you make a loop and run on the road to connect the two parking areas, the loop will be approximately 3.0 miles in all. There are a few must sees and that is a detour off the main trail and follow the sign for Diamond Point. The view is amazing.
Trail Run or hike the Little Laurel Trail
<p>Depending on your rate of travel, this trail can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. The trail is 2 miles on a rocky trail, downhill for 2 miles and then the reverse for an uphill trek for 2 miles. </p>
The 4.0 mile roundtrip trail run or hike is strenuous. The terrain is crushed rock for most of the trail, but there are a few areas that the terrain can be a bit uneven. If you start at the trailhead in the Grandview location, it will be downhill for 2.0 miles and then uphill for 2.0 miles. There will be just over 1000 foot change in elevation for this trail.
Castle Rock Hike
The Castle Rock Trail is unusual due the geology and some visitors like to really examine the rocks while on this trail. The trail is uneven and hikers should do this at their own pace.
Amazing hike that brings you right next to the layers of rocks that make-up the gorge. The trail is uneven and requires some scrambling over some of the rock obstacles. The steps are made up of rocks and can be super slippery when wet. This trail is not recommended if there is ice or snow due to potential slipping hazards.
Hike the Grandview Rim Trail
Hike the Grandview Rim Trail
Hours & fees
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
The park itself is open 24 hour a day, year round. The park's two main visitor centers at Canyon Rim and Sandstone are open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day). There are two seasonal Visitor Centers located in Thurmond and Grandview. They are typically open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
| Monday | All Day |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | All Day |
| Wednesday | All Day |
| Thursday | All Day |
| Friday | All Day |
| Saturday | All Day |
| Sunday | All Day |
No entrance fee is charged at this park.
Best time to visit
Accessible primarily in: Spring, Summer, Fall.
The park's two main visitor centers at Canyon Rim and Sandstone are open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day).
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Theater
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Climbing
- Rock Climbing
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Kayaking
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- Whitewater Rafting
- Junior Ranger Program
- Playground
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store