National Park and Preserve
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
- Mid-Atlantic
- 9 hikes
- 20 places to see
- 4 current alerts
Current alerts
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Closure
Cunard Road Closure
Cunard Road will be closed to vehicle traffic, starting on November 9 and will reopen in April 2027 due to road construction.
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Notice
Burnwood Campground and Restroom Closure
The Burnwood group campground will be closed from October 5 through mid November due to a construction project to replace water lines. During that time restroom facilities will be closed at the Burnwood Trailhead.
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Notice
Rend 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…
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Notice
Kaymoor 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.
From the National Park Service, as of October 31, 2026, 5:14 am. Check nps.gov before you go.
About New River Gorge
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.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- Mid-Atlantic
- State
- West Virginia
- Designation
- National Park and Preserve
- Entrance fee
- None listed
- Hikes on this page
- 9
- Places to see
- 20
- Articles
- 2
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to New River Gorge.
Entrance fees
The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.
Hours
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
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.
Weather and when to go
Weather in the Appalachian Mountains can be unpredictable and can change quickly. Always be prepared for the possibility of sudden storms. Weather in the mountains is often cooler and wetter than the surrounding area. On average, the warmest month is July. The maximum average precipitation also occurs in July.
Getting there
To reach Park Headquarters take Route 19 North from Beckley to the Glen Jean exit. Upon exiting Rt 19, make an immediate left turn. At the next intersection, turn right. Park Headquarters will be straight ahead on the right. GPS Coordinates for Headquarters: 81.15587W, 37.92775N PLEASE NOTE: Third party search and map apps may direct you to an potentially inaccessible area of the park with no amenities or rangers stations. Please refer to the Visitor Center or Park Headquarters addresses for directions.
- Gateway towns
- Fayetteville, WV · Beckley, WV
- Nearest airports
- West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW)
Contact the park
- Address
- 104 Main Street, Glen Jean, WV 25846
- Phone
- (304) 465-0508
- Official site
- nps.gov/neri
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 New River Gorge
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.
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Where to stay for New River Gorge
The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.
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Fayetteville, WV Closest
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Beckley, WV
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Guided tours and trips
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Things to do in New River Gorge
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Trail Run Grandview Rim Trail
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 f…
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Hunting in the Park
Hunting is permitted in any areas designated as National Preserve. Knowing your location and rules for that area are the hunter's responsibility. There are areas where hunting is…
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Trail run at Endless Wall
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 trai…
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Trail Run or hike the Little Laurel Trail
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 st…
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Castle Rock Hike
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…
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Bicycling at New River Gorge
New River Gorge National River offers over fifty miles of mountain bike trails, varying from easy to difficult in terrain and distance.
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Stroll on the Sandstone Boardwalk
Stroll along the Sandstone Falls Boardwalk.
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Sandstone Falls Overlook
Wildlife Observation Nature Observation
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Brooks Overlook
Brooks Overlook is a favorite viewing spot for visitors and locals. There is a pair of Bald eagles that reside, year round, on Brooks Island and catching a glimpse of them is sure…
Places to see
Viewpoints
History & culture
Campgrounds in New River Gorge
Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.
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War Ridge/Backus Mountain Campground
This is the only campground in the park that is not along the river. It is located on a ridgetop near Backus Mountain. There are 8 drive-in sites for tents, RV…
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Stone Cliff
This tent only campground located near the historic railroad town of Thurmond offers 7 walk-in sites, 5 on the sandy beach of the New River and 2 in the nearby…
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Thayer Campground
This tent only campground is located near the community of Thayer along the banks of the New River. It has 4 walk-in sites. There are no drive-in sites at this…
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Glade Creek Campground
This forested campground offers both tent and RV sites near the banks of the New River and the Glade Creek Trailhead. There are 6 walk-in tents sites and 5 dri…
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Grandview Sandbar
This campground offers shaded wooded campsites near the banks of the New River. There are 10 wooded drive-in sites for RVs, campers, car camping, and tents; 6…
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Army Camp
This campground offers both tent and RV campsites along the banks of the New River at one of its many horseshoe bends. There are 11 drive-in sites for RVs, cam…
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Brooklyn Campground
This tent only campground is located on the banks of the New River near the Cunard River Access point and Southside Trailhead. It offers 4 walk-in tents sites…
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Burnwood Group Campsite
Burnwood is located across Route 19 from Canyon Rim Visitor Center and offers group camping. This site is only for groups of 8 or more people and requires a Sp…
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Meadow Creek Campground
This primitive campground located along the New River is only one mile from the Sandstone Visitor Center. It offers 17 sites in an open field. The railroad cro…
Reading about New River Gorge
What to pack for New River Gorge
Gear & Essentials
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Traveling with kids
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On the water
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