Nearby Guide
America's newest national park is surrounded by some of the best small towns, state parks, overlooks and adventure outfitters in West Virginia — all within an hour of the gorge.
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve protects more than 70,000 acres of deep canyon, whitewater and hardwood forest in southern West Virginia. But the park itself is only part of the story. The communities clustered around its rim — Fayetteville, Beckley, Oak Hill, Gauley Bridge and Lansing — put you minutes from trailheads, raft put-ins and the region's most photographed overlooks.
Distances here are short but the terrain is steep and winding, so always add a little extra time to your drive. The list below is organized roughly by how far each stop sits from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center just north of Fayetteville.
0 miles · at the visitor center
Walk the accessible boardwalk to the Canyon Rim Overlook for a straight-on view of the 3,030-foot steel arch bridge. On the third Saturday of October, thousands gather here as BASE jumpers leap from the span during Bridge Day.
About 5 minutes · 3 miles
This compact courthouse town is the unofficial capital of gorge country, full of coffee shops, gear stores, murals and a walkable historic district. It's the easiest base for rafting mornings and sunset overlook runs.
About 15 minutes and 9 miles north of the gorge, Hawks Nest State Park clings to a bluff above the New River with an aerial tram to the riverbank and a jetboat ride for those who want to get on the water. Just beyond it, the small town of Gauley Bridge marks the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers.
Don't miss Cathedral Falls, a roadside cascade right off Route 60 that tumbles roughly 60 feet down a mossy wall — an easy five-minute stop. Farther upstream, the Gauley River National Recreation Area delivers legendary fall whitewater once the Summersville Dam releases begin in September.
Roughly 25 minutes and 19 miles from the bridge, Babcock State Park is home to the Glade Creek Grist Mill — the most photographed building in West Virginia and a fall-foliage icon. The working mill sits beside a rocky creek with more than 4,000 acres of trails and a quiet campground behind it.
Come early on a weekday in October to beat the crowds, then hike to Boley Lake or one of the park's sandstone overlooks.
About 20 minutes south of Fayetteville, the Grandview section of the park offers a sweeping horseshoe bend view of the New River from the Main Overlook, plus the short Castle Rock and Turkey Spur trails. It's a quieter alternative to the bridge crowds.
The gorge is also the whitewater capital of the East. Outfitters in Fayetteville, Lansing and Oak Hill run the Lower New River (spring through fall) and the Upper Gauley (fall dam releases). The New River Gorge Bridge walk, zip lines, mountain biking at Grandview and the Arrowhead trails round out a serious adventure menu.
The southern half of the park is a 30- to 45-minute drive from the bridge. Beckley (about 20 miles) is the region's largest city and home to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia and Tamarack marketplace.
Continue south and the gorge widens around Sandstone Falls, a broad 1,500-foot-wide cascade best reached from Hinton. The Falls boardwalk makes the view easy for all ages. From there, the river town of Hinton and Bluestone Lake are close by.
Distances and drive times are approximate from the New River Gorge Bridge area.
The park itself — trails, overlooks, the bridge and river.
On site
Shops, food and outfitters minutes from the rim.
5 min · 3 mi
Glade Creek Grist Mill and mountain trails.
25 min · 19 mi
Coal mine tour, Tamarack and restaurants.
30 min · 20 mi
Guided trips on the New and Gauley rivers.
10 min
Swimming, climbing and Gauley releases.
35 min · 25 mi
Capitol, museums and the Kanawha Valley.
1 hr · 50 mi
The best rim and valley viewpoints nearby.
Varies
Two full days is a good minimum. Spend one day on the north rim (bridge, Fayetteville, rafting) and one day exploring Grandview, Beckley and the southern end of the park.
Fayetteville is closest, about 5 minutes and 3 miles from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. Beckley and Oak Hill are the next best bases.
May, June and September offer the best mix of weather and rafting flows. Mid-October brings peak fall color and Bridge Day crowds.
The national park, overlooks and trails are free. State park day-use areas are generally free or low cost, while rafting, trams and museum tours charge fees.
Discover WV Today is an independent travel guide to West Virginia's mountains, rivers, small towns and state parks. We write practical, first-hand-style guides so you can spend less time planning and more time outside. Learn more about us.
