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New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

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Overview

Established in 1978, New River Gorge National River is home to the spectacular landscape carved by the New River which is among the oldest rivers in the world. The park, which spans over 70,000 acres, stretches 53 miles along the New River from Bluestone Dam to Hawk's Nest Lake. A rugged, whitewater river, the New River has carved and continues to carve the longest and deepest river gorge in the Appalachian Mountains. The park is home to a varied and beautiful woodland surrounding the river that is rich in natural history and offers a variety of scenic and recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy.

To learn more about New River Gorge National River, visit www.nps.gov.

Local Info

Mountain biking is permitted on designated trails within New River Gorge which is one of the most popular mountain biking destinations in the eastern U.S. Please stay on trails designated for mountain bike use. For more information on mountain biking in the park, click here.

Visiting Tips

New River Gorge National River is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The weather in the Appalachian Mountains can be unpredictable, and visitors are advised to be prepared for the possibility of sudden storms. The mountains are typically wetter and cooler than the surrounding area.

Fees & Passes:
There is no entrance fee for New River Gorge National River.

Camping & Lodging

Camping:
The park offers a choice of seven primitive campgrounds, most of which are located near the river. All sites are filled on a first-come, first-served basis and reservations are not accepted. There are no fees for camping and stays are limited to 14 days in the same campground. For more information on camping in the park, click here.

  • Stone Cliff Beach: Six walk-in and one vehicle site.
  • Army Camp: Eleven drive-in tent and RV sites.
  • Grandview Sandbar: Ten sites for tents and small-medium sized RVs, six walk-in tents sites, and two accessible sites (with handicapped permit displayed).
  • Glade Creek: Six walk-in tent sites and five drive-in sites for tents or small-medium RVs. One accessible site (with handicapped permit displayed).
  • War Ridge/Backus Mountain: Eight drive-in sites for tents or small RVs.
  • Brooklyn: Four walk-in sites and one drive-in site for tents only.
  • Thayer: Tent sites only.

Backcountry Camping:
Backcountry camping is permitted in areas adjacent to trails such as Glade Creek, Brooklyn-Southside Junction, and Stone Cliff trails. Other sites are along the river, accessible by boat. Camping is prohibited within 100 feet of developed trails and at Grandview, Brookside Island, day-use areas, and within Bluestone National Scenic River.

Lodging:
There is no lodging within the park, but visitors looking to extend their stay nearby have their choice of cabins, motels, and bed and breakfasts in the nearby towns of Hawk's Nest, Pipestem Resort State Parks, Babcock, and Bluestone. For a listing of accommodations, call the West Virginia Division of Tourism at 1-800-CALLWVA, the Southern West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-VISITWV, or the New River CVB at 1-800-927-0263.

Food & Drink

There are no restaurants or food vendors located within the park. Visitors should come prepared with the necessary food and drink for their stay. A variety of dining options can be found in the nearby towns outside of the park.

Other Activities

New River Gorge National River is renowned for its excellent variety of recreational opportunities. Whether you are interested in hiking, biking, fishing, whitewater rafting, canoeing, rock climbing, mountain biking, hunting, bird watching, camping, picnicking, or just taking in the stunning scenery, the park has something for everyone to enjoy. Commercial outfitters conduct trips down the river from April through October. The upper part of the river offers somewhat less challenging Class I to Class III rapids for whitewater canoeing. The Lower Gorge of the New River is a premier whitewater rafting location with rugged rapids ranging in difficulty from Class III to Class V. Also be sure to check out the great opportunities for rock climbing and mountain biking in the area.

Recommended Routes in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve - 2

MTB Project is built by riders like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

Favorite Rooty singletrack on Laurel Creek Trail.
Difficult Difficult

Le Tour de Beaver

10.0 mi 16.0 km 738' Up 224.85 m Up 769' Down 234.41 m Down

Daniels, WV
Explore in 3D
Favorite Riding through Kaymoor Mine
Difficult Difficult

New River Coal Country

31.5 mi 50.8 km 3,086' Up 940.73 m Up 3,086' Down 940.55 m Down

Fayette…, WV
Explore in 3D

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Biking

  • 53 Miles 86 Kilometers of Trail
  • 2 Recommended Routes
  • 8 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 23 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 10 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
MTB Project is built by riders like you. Share what you know about this area!

Areas Within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Weather Averages


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J F M A M J J A S O N D

Trails in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve - 39

MTB Project is built by riders like you. Add Your Trails

2.9 mi 4.6 km #1Adena
Intermediate Intermediate
Fayetteville, WV
Intermediate Intermediate
Fayetteville, WV 23 
7.0 mi 11.3 km #2Dalton
Intermediate Intermediate
Fayetteville, WV
Intermediate Intermediate
Fayetteville, WV 26 
1.0 mi 1.7 km #3Clovis
Easy Easy
Fayetteville, WV
Easy Easy
Fayetteville, WV 21 
1.8 mi 2.8 km #4LeCroy Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Fayetteville, WV
Intermediate Intermediate
Fayetteville, WV 11 
2.4 mi 3.9 km #5Rhododendron Run
Difficult Difficult
Daniels, WV
Difficult Difficult
Daniels, WV
6.2 mi 10.0 km #6Brooklyn - Southside Junction Trail
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Oak Hill, WV
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Oak Hill, WV
0.6 mi 0.9 km #7Toppler's Ridge Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Daniels, WV
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Daniels, WV
2.7 mi 4.3 km #8Laurel Creek Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Daniels, WV
Intermediate Intermediate
Daniels, WV
1.5 mi 2.3 km #9Weaver Way Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Daniels, WV
Intermediate Intermediate
Daniels, WV
0.7 mi 1.2 km #10Beaver Creek
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Daniels, WV
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Daniels, WV

Photos of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve - 21

MTB Project is built by riders like you. Add Your Photos

View of the New River Gorge Bridge from Fayette Station Road. If you head east (river right) from this point and climb up the road (against traffic) the trail will be on your left off of a gravel road.
Dec 3, 2015 near Fayette…, WV
Remnants of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad on the Southside Junction Trail. Railroad ties and track are exposed throughout the trail.
Jun 5, 2017 near Oak Hill, WV
Riding through Kaymoor Mine
May 2, 2018 near Fayette…, WV
Long Point Overlook.
Jul 17, 2019 near Fayette…, WV
Feels like you are in another country!
Jun 28, 2020 near Fayette…, WV
Small falls on Wolf Creek, close to the trail. The faint bridge in the background is part of the trail.
Dec 17, 2021 near Fayette…, WV
Surprised by how steep it was on the other side of this turn.
Jun 21, 2022 near Fayette…, WV
On the bridge.
Jul 3, 2023 near Oak Hill, WV

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