Hawks Nest State Park

Hawks Nest is a small park — only about 276 acres — but it holds one of the finest views in West Virginia. The overlook sits nearly 600 feet above the New River, looking down on Hawks Nest Lake and the wild water of the gorge. The park began as a roadside wayside on the historic Midland Trail and grew into a full destination with a lodge and tramway.

Below the rim, the New River was impounded in the 1930s to create Hawks Nest Lake, which feeds a hydroelectric dam and diversion system. The lake is calm and scenic, a sharp contrast to the class III–V rapids upstream that make the New River Gorge a whitewater capital.

Hawks Nest makes an ideal pairing with the New River Gorge Bridge, Babcock State Park, and the shops and restaurants of Fayetteville.

Cliffside Trail — a roughly 1-mile path along the gorge rim from the overlook toward the lodge, with several fenced viewpoints.

Fisherman's Trail — a steep, switchbacking descent from the rim to the lake and marina; the reward is a lakeside walk and the tram ride back up.

Hawks Nest Rail Trail — a converted rail grade that runs down to the town of Ansted, popular with walkers and cyclists.

Mill Creek Trail — a short spur near the lodge, often used by anglers heading for the water.

Hawks Nest Lodge is a mid-century-style hotel perched on the gorge rim, with around 31 rooms, many facing the river. It includes a restaurant and lounge with picture-window views, a gift shop, and meeting space. Because the lodge is small, book well ahead for fall weekends.

There is no park campground, but several private campgrounds and cabin rentals operate nearby along US-60 and the New River. Many visitors stay in Fayetteville or at Babcock State Park and visit Hawks Nest as a day trip.

Hawks Nest Lake supports bass, catfish, and panfish, and the marina offers seasonal boat rentals. The calm water is a good match for families and beginning paddlers.

Jet boat tours are the signature water experience here, running upstream into the deep gorge. There is no designated swimming area in the lake; the water is managed for hydroelectric use and levels can change quickly.