This seven-mile stretch from Cunard to Thurmond runs alongside the New River and provides endless ephemeral wonders.
One of our favorite trails in this area is the Southside Trail. Six trails that take you along the New River and/or provide beautiful views of the once-bustling railroad town of Thurmond. The headhouse, conveyor, tipple and coke ovens are still standing in this long-abandoned area that is slowly but surely being reclaimed by nature. Remnants of the Nuttallburg community have been preserved by the National Park Service with markers, maps, and walking trails. Seven trails that allow you to explore the remains of a historic coal-mining complex. A few are even accessible from Fayetteville Town Park, including our go-to mushroom viewing trail, Park Loop Trail. Trailheads for all 12 are within minutes of downtown Fayetteville. Twelve trails including the most iconic in the New River Gorge: Long Point Trail and Endless Wall Trail. Each offers unique ways to explore the natural, cultural and historical components of this area. The New River Gorge contains seven defined hiking areas.
NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK HOW TO
When we explore, we use Bryan Simon’s “ Hiking and Biking in the New River Gorge: A Trail Users Guide.” It contains so much great information about all the trails in this beautiful part of West Virginia including how to find the trailheads and important points of interest. Our favorite way to experience nature is by hiking and the New River Gorge offers over 100 miles of well-maintained trails. The currents well above the rapids are very strong and can pull you into the whitewater. But please take note: even the small rapids along the New and Gauley Rivers can be dangerous. Or find a calm stretch of the river where you can cool your feet on a hot day. Enjoy a dip in a secluded swimming hole like the one below Glade Creek Falls. You can snorkel in crystal-clear Summersville Lake (sometimes called “The Little Bahamas of the East” by SCUBA enthusiasts). There are many opportunities to enjoy the fresh water in the New River Gorge.
You can put your toes in the river and watch rafters, kayakers and even standup paddleboarders come through Fayette Station rapids. Once you reach the bottom of the Gorge park and get out. This 45-minute trip offers breathtaking views of the forest from every elevation, and you can stop at several different trailheads along the way.
NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK DOWNLOAD
Download the National Park Service’s Fayette Station Road Audio Tour for an extra special experience. This 100-year-old road is still in service today and we highly recommend driving it. Fayette Station Roadīefore the New River Gorge Bridge was completed in 1977, the only way to the other side of the river was to drive down windy Fayette Station Road to the bottom of the Gorge and then back up again. To see the most highly recommended running trails in this area visit. But moderate trails are also available for those seeking a less strenuous workout. The New River Gorge provides a challenging terrain for serious trail runners. Check out the book Shinrin Yoku: The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing. But you don’t need us to reap the emotional and physical benefits of forest bathing. In fact, we lead a Shinrin-Yoku experience each summer during Fayetteville’s Wild Weekend. The New River Gorge National Park has many quiet, beautiful trails where you can practice Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of using all your senses to connect with nature during slow contemplative walks in the woods. The Fayetteville Visitors Center offers several foraging events every year at Arrowhead Bike Farm and a pick-it-yourself blueberry farm is open seasonally in Mount Hope. While the National Park Service expects visitors to obey the “leave no trace – take nothing and leave nothing” creed while visiting the New River Gorge National River, there are other locations in the area where foraging is welcome. The best wildlife viewing is possible right after dawn and right before dusk in the more remote areas of the New River Gorge like Glade Creek and Nuttallburg. The Town Loop Trail at Fayetteville Town Park also has a surprising amount of mushroom varieties.
The Fern Creek area of Endless Wall Trail boasts many unusual species of fungus. Mushrooms are plentiful throughout the New River Gorge but can be found in abundance during late summer after a good rain. In September and October, Longpoint Trail has a great show of fall wildflowers including fields of goldenrod. Wildflower, Mushroom, and Wildlife ViewingĪpril and May are the best months to view spring wildflowers, and Southside Trail is known for its amazing variety.
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