Below are listed most of the well-traveled trails in the park. The list is divided into regions and the trails in each region are listed in order of difficulty. Distances are round trip unless otherwise indicated.

Fayetteville – Lansing Area

These trails are found in the northern section of the park, just outside the town of Fayetteville. This area of the park is the most popular, and is home to the New River Gorge Bridge. Many trails in this part of the park feature views of the gorge, and of the bridge.

Fayetteville Trails – Easy

Fayetteville Trails – Moderate

Fayetteville Trails – Strenuous

Fayetteville Area Trail Map

Fayetteville – Arrowhead Detail Map

Nuttallburg Trails

Trails in the Nuttallburg area feature the old mining sites that lie strewn through the wooded landscape of the inner New River Gorge. Please note that these historic structures are old and many are quite fragile. Do not climb or walk on the walls or frames of these hazardous structures.

All distances are roundtrip unless otherwise noted.

Nuttallburg Trail Map

Thurmond Trails

Trails in this area are found deep in the New River Gorge. The first listed hikes on the list below are North of Thurmond, in the Cunard area. These historic trails provide access to a few of the area’s once-bustling, but now abandoned mining towns. All trails in this region are rated easy to moderate and follow old mining roads and railway routes. The Rend, Southside and Stone Cliff Trails allow mountain biking, while the Brooklyn Mine Trail welcomes equestrian travel.

All distances are roundtrip unless otherwise indicated. Trails are easy to moderate, although some will involve slight gradients with moderate elevation gain of a few hundred feet.

Thurmond Trail Map

Grandview Trails

The Grandview area provides some of the best scenic eye candy in the park, as the name may suggest. The There are a variety of choices here that offer easy, moderate and strenuous options for an eager hiker.

Grandview Trail Map

Glade Creek Trails

The Glade Creek trails lie somewhat separated from the New River’s main corridor. The Glades Creek Trail leads to the river along a deep, lushly forested gully which contains numerous swimming holes, while the remaining trails circle a few of the heavily wooded hills that rise to the south of the river.

Glades Creek Trail Map

Sandstone Falls Trails

Sandstone Falls is one of the more popular scenic attractions in New River Gorge National Park, and the surrounding area has a few hiking trails that add to the allure of the park’s southern region.

Sandstone Trail Map

For more general information about hiking in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, take a gander at the NPS Hiking page.

NPS – New River Gorge – Hiking

The area is no secret, and the crags can become quite crowded on weekends, so it may be wise to do a bit of research before arrival, and to have a few back up plans in the bag in case your chosen routes are occupied by a group of can kickers.

While the crags are open year round, the most enjoyable time to climb here is spring and fall, although a nice Appalachian rain may find you at any time. The summers can be hot and humid, and the winters are often frigid, so these seasons may be better suited for other activities.

There are a number of climbing guides available for the area, and you’ll probably want to have such a library of information if you’re considering a climbing trip to The New. There are a few options available, but the New River Gorge Climbing Guide Vol 1 by Mike Williams will likely set you up for success. This is the third edition, and is reported to be the most comprehensive guide book for the New River Gorge. You can order the book in the link.

For more online information about climbing in the New, check out the Mountain Project website and make a plan.

For information about route closures and general information about climbing in the New, check out the NPS Climbing page.

NPS – New River Gorge – Climbing

The headwaters of the ancient New River lie far away, in the high mountains of western North Carolina. As the river descends the mountains, it flows northward, crosses Virginia and enters West Virginia, where it soon meets the Bluestone Dam, which marks its entrance into the New River Gorge. Fifty three miles later, the New River’s course is once again inhibited by a dam, this time the Hawks Nest Dam, at which point the New River Gorge bids the water farewell.

Just past the Gorge, the New River meets the Gauley River. Just upstream of this confluence, the Gauley too holds a whitewater mecca, which boasts rapids even more fierce than the New. At this confluence, the two rivers join forces to become the Kanawha River, which flows northward through the Mountain State and eventually meets the Ohio River at Point Pleasant, West Virginia. In total, the New River runs for more than 350 miles before meeting the Gauley.

There must be something about the New River Gorge that angers the great river. The water enters the park in a peaceful manner, offering the perfect environment for a relaxing float, a few tosses of the ol fishing lure, or even an afternoon nap on the quiet river bank.

A few miles south however, the river becomes a mad beast, hell bent on destroying anything that falls in its path. Raging Class V whitewater rapids toss boaters about as if they were bobbers in a typhoon. Let’s just say there is no opportunity to cast the ol lure here.

Of course, the world is full of people who want to undertake the challenge of scraping by without the penalty of death. We affectionately refer to them as adrenaline junkies. These fine folk flock to the New River to cast their lots. They eagerly jump into rafts and kayaks, and break north with no delay toward the hazardous rocky outcrops which lie barely visible, hidden in the constant spray of water downstream.

If you find yourself in this group, you’ll probably want to give this a shot very soon. I recommend it highly. There are numerous methods by which the common traveler may acquire passage on the river. Here is a link to a guide that may provide a useful bit of technical beta.

Paddling Guide to the New River Gorge

New River Rafting Guides

Most people will opt to join one of the professional rafting companies that offer such activities. There are numerous outfits that provide a variety of adventures on the New, as well as the nearby Gauley. Trips range from the short and sweet, to all day multi-rapid affairs that will leave participants stumbling upon reintroduction to the beloved shoreline.

A number of guide services are available, and a quick internet search will present your choices. Here are a couple to get you started.

Adventures on the Gorge – Whitewater Rafting

Ace Adventures – New River Whitewater Guides

Be sure to check out the park service page on whitewater rafting for more information and current conditions.

NPS- New River Gorge – Whitewater

The park has numerous public river access points, most of which can be reached by auto. The Glade Creek Campground provides a wheel chair accessible fishing area. Spring and fall provide an angler with the best fishing conditions, as the water temperatures at these times of year facilitate an increase in fish activity, as well as feeding.

Early mornings and late evenings seem to produce the best results, although a few fish also feed at night, which means you can sit out there all night. Who knows, the lucky night angler may even bag the elusive snipe… (not a fish)

Anglers in New River Gorge must have a valid West Virginia fishing license and should be proficient in catch & release tactics. Likewise, a knowledge of species and the current regulations concerning each species will assure that the populations of each species are adequately maintained, and will ensure that the future is bright for fishing in the New.

New River Gorge Fishing Guides

For those who want a guide to take them right to the hotspots, a number of commercial fishing guides are available who may increase your likelihood of success. A quick internet search will list a few such services for you. Here are a couple to get you started.

Ace Adventures – Fishing Guides

Pro River Outfitters – Fishing Guides

Fishing License & Regulations

Visitors can purchase a fishing license online at the link below.

West Virginia Department of Natural Resources

Also, make sure to be up to date on current fishing regulations.

Current West Virginia Fishing Regulations

Check out the park service fishing page in order to stay current on conditions and regulations regarding fishing in the New River Gorge.

NPS – New River Gorge – Fishing

Much importance is given to names in the parks, and the “preserve” designation is meant to convey the message that this section of land is a park, but it is a different sort of park. Preserves allow hunting and a limited amount of mineral extractions, depending upon the individual preserve.

In the case of the New, this indicates that hunting is allowed on some 65,000 acres of forested land. The roughly 7,000 acres of the national park section is generally held within the gorge itself, and very little hunting is allowed in this area, but visitors should nevertheless be aware of the practice.

Sixty-five-thousand acres of the New River Gorge National Preserve enable the pursuit of wild game during legal seasons. Hunters must be keenly aware of their location in the preserve, as well as the local regulations, which may differ in the National Preserve from what many are accustomed to “back home”.

West Virginia Hunting License

Hunters must have a current West Virginia hunting license and have proof of passing a hunter’s safety course. See the Department of Natural Resources link below to acquire these needed documents.

West Virginia Department of Natural Resources – Hunting License

West Virginia Department of Natural Resources – Hunter Safety Course

West Virginia Hunting Regulations

Hunters in the New River Gorge will need to be aware of the current hunting seasons and regulations in the state of West Virginia.

Current West Virginia Hunting Regulations

Be sure to check out the regulations specific to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve as well.

NPS – New River Gorge – Hunting

The trails here are not exclusive to bikers, so there will also be pedestrians to consider, and a few trails present the chance that riders will encounter those engaging in equestrian pursuits. In each of these cases, the biker must cede the right-of-way.

Arrowhead Trails

The most popular trails for biking in the park are found in the Arrowhead area, which contains a cluster of trails that are arranged in a stacked loop system, just outside of Fayetteville. These four trails are rated moderate to difficult, so if ya wanna get on it, this is your spot.

Btw: The construction of these trails calls for a shout out to the Boy Scouts in the Order of the Arrow, who donated 78,544 volunteer hours to build the trails. Nice work boys…

Fayetteville Trails

Some of these trails connect to the Arrowhead Trails. Most of the hiking trails in the area permit mountain biking, and some descent riding can be obtained. Keep a check on your downhill speed, as a few of these have abrupt turns with steep drops into the unknown.

Nuttallburg Trails

A few mountain bike friendly trails exist on the eastern side of the New River, although not many. Most of those that allow biking are found in the Nuttallburg Mine area. It should be noted however, that these trails are not biking trails, and the bike is simply a method of travel here… It may not be that enjoyable.

Thurmond Trails

There are a few mellow trails in the Thurmond area that can provide a relaxing ride. A couple these are quite popular.

Grandview Trails

There area some excellent views from this area, but only one biking trail. This one may be a bit rugged and doesn’t seem to see much bike traffic. But it is there is ya wanna get some.

For more information on mountain biking in the New River Gorge, check out the park’s mountain biking page.

NPS – New River Gorge – Mountain Biking

The most popular route involves a 3-hour circumnavigation of the gorge. Much of the drive is removed from the actual park, and focuses on the surrounding area, although its path travels along the most scenic areas in the New River Gorge that offer vehicular access.

There are a few options for travelers that offer a bit more park miles. Consider taking Route 41, known as the Quinnimont Connector to eliminate the section of this drive that involves travel on Interstate 64. Park Junkie has little patience for interstate travel on a “scenic drive”.

For those of like mindset, the four-lane highway can be avoided with a few extra minutes on West Virginia’s beautiful backroads that access points such as Grandview and Sanstone Falls. Take a close look at the NPS provided scenic drive brochure below. You’ll see that you can wind through the countryside on a number of paths. Hell, choose your own route and just see what you find. You’ll be stoked.

New River Scenic Drive

The McKendree Road

No roads offer a suitable north south route through the park, although a rugged 4×4 route may provide excellent material for a classic West Virginia white-knuckled-drive. 

The McKendree Road, an old unmaintained county road winds along the river and up into the hills, provides the only route of any significant distance in the park that parallels the river. This route once connected the mining and logging town of Thurmond with the supply-line town of Prince, some 7 or 8 miles to the south as the crow flies. 

This route is remote and completely unmaintained. Four wheel drive, and offroad driving skill is required. Travel at your own risk, and be prepared to hike a long way out if you get stuck. No one is coming to help you.

For more information about taking the scenic drives around the New River Gorge, check out the park service link below.

NPS – New River Gorge – Scenic Drive

New River Gorge offers a number of these ranger-led activities which can provide a perfect introduction to some of the park’s highlights. Numerous options exist, each of which is designed to accommodate a variety of abilities and outdoor experience.

These programs are free, unless otherwise indicated and usually provide all equipment necessary to participate in the featured activity. Check out the park website for more information about the Get Active in the Park events.

NPS – New River Gorge – Ranger-Led Activities