About Bluestone
The Bluestone River and the rugged and ancient gorge it has carved is a richly diverse and scenic area of the southern Appalachians. Bluestone National Scenic River is preserved as a living landscape that provides an unspoiled experience for visitors and a haven for a variety of plants and animals. The park protects a 10.5-mile section of the Bluestone River in southern West Virginia.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- Mid-Atlantic
- State
- West Virginia
- Designation
- National Scenic River
- Entrance fee
- None listed
- Trail data for this park is still being added.
- Places for this park are still being added.
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Bluestone.
Entrance fees
The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.
Hours
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
The park is accessible year-round at two entrance points, Bluestone State Park and the former Lilly townsite, and seasonally at Pipestem Resort State Park. The park is open 24 hours a day.
Weather and when to go
Summer: Temperatures range from low to mid 60's at night to middle to upper 80's during the daytime hours. Winter: Temperatures average from the mid 20's to the mid 40's. Snowfall amount varies, but averages 5" per month Dec. - March. Spring and Fall: temperatures and rainfall variable. Peak fall foliage is usually mid-October.
Getting there
Bluestone National Scenic River is most easily accessed via Bluestone State Park and Pipestem Resort State Park. A narrow, graveled park road provides access to the Bluestone Turnpike Trail at the former Lilly town site at the confluence of the Little Bluestone River. To reach these parks from I-64, take exit 139, then south on Rt. 20. From I-77 take exit 14 to Rt.20 north. Either direction, Bluestone State Park is 15 miles and Pipestem is 22 miles.
Contact the park
- Address
- 3405 Pipestem Drive, Pipestem, WV 25979
- Phone
- (304) 465-0508
- Official site
- nps.gov/blue
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Bluestone
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
What to pack for Bluestone
Gear & Essentials
Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:
The basics
Worth having in the car whatever the park.
For this trip
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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