Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of southern West Virginia, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is America’s newest national park. While it only received national park designation in December 2020, the area has long been known for its scenic overlooks, hiking trails, coal mining history, and world-class whitewater rafting.
This 3-Day New River Gorge itinerary was designed with the long weekend traveler in mind. Three days gives you enough time to experience many of the park’s highlights, explore some of the surrounding area, and still maintain a comfortable pace. Between scenic drives, waterfalls, overlooks, historic sites, and hiking trails, New River Gorge offers far more variety than many first-time visitors expect.
One of the things I like most about this itinerary is that it can easily be completed using just one day of PTO when paired with a three-day holiday weekend. If making the most of your vacation days is a priority, check out our guide on how to travel more while working a full-time job.
If you’re planning a long weekend in New River Gorge National Park, this itinerary will help you make the most of your time while highlighting the stops we found most worthwhile.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you book through our links. We only recommend tours, hotels, and products we genuinely use or would personally book ourselves.
- Things to Know Before Visiting New River Gorge National Park
- Day 1: Iconic New River Gorge Experiences
- Day 2: Scenic Views, History & Waterfalls
- Day 3: Waterfalls, State Parks & Historic Towns
- Additional Stops to Add to Your New River Gorge Itinerary
- Is New River Gorge Worth Visiting?
- What Surprised Us Most About New River Gorge
- Final Thoughts
Things to Know Before Visiting New River Gorge National Park
Getting To New River Gorge National Park
New River Gorge National Park is easily accessible by car, making it a great long weekend road trip destination. If you’re flying in, West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW) in Charleston is the closest major airport and is about an hour from Fayetteville, which is largely considered the gateway to the park.
Getting Around New River Gorge National Park
A rental car is absolutely necessary here. Public transportation and rideshare options are extremely limited, and many of the park’s hikes, overlooks, waterfalls, and historic areas are only accessible by driving.
Before visiting, I underestimated how much driving New River Gorge would involve. The park is much more spread out than many national parks, and drive times between hikes, overlooks, waterfalls, and nearby towns added up quickly throughout our trip.
The Fayetteville area is home to the bridge, Endless Wall Trail, and many of the park’s most popular overlooks and activities. Grandview is located farther south and feels quieter and more scenic, while Sandstone Falls is even farther south and takes more driving time than many visitors probably expect. Thurmond, the park’s historic coal town, is also somewhat isolated and requires additional driving to reach.
When planning your itinerary, it’s important to account for drive times between different sections of the park instead of assuming everything is located in one central area.
If you are visiting in a camper or pulling a fifth wheel, keep in mind that there are certain roads you will not be able to access, including Fayette Station Road Scenic Drive and the road into Thurmond.
Cell Service & Navigation
Cell service can be spotty throughout the park and surrounding areas, especially once you get away from Fayetteville and the main roads. I highly recommend downloading offline Google Maps (or Apple Maps) before your trip so you can still navigate between trailheads, overlooks, waterfalls, and smaller towns if you lose service.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit New River Gorge depends on what kind of trip you are looking for.
Spring brings milder temperatures, blooming trees and flowers, and the start of whitewater rafting season.
Summer is warmer and more humid, but it is also one of the best times for rafting, kayaking, and spending time on the river. Summer also brings the largest crowds due to peak travel season.
Fall is one of the most popular times to visit thanks to the cooler temperatures and beautiful fall foliage. Peak colors usually arrive toward the end of October due to the park’s lower elevation compared to other mountain destinations.
Winter brings the fewest crowds and can be a great time for a quiet cabin getaway, but you should also expect colder temperatures, bare trees, and the potential for snow or icy conditions.
Where to Stay
Beckley is the largest town near the park and gives you the most options for hotels, chain restaurants, and grocery stores. It is about a 30-minute drive to the bridge area, 20 minutes to Grandview and around an hour to Sandstone Falls.
Fayetteville is the more traditional New River Gorge base and puts you closest to many of the park’s most popular hikes, overlooks, and activities. The tradeoff is that it is a smaller town, so there are fewer hotel and restaurant options compared to Beckley. From Fayetteville, you are only about 5 minutes from the bridge area, 40 minutes from Grandview and around 1 hour and 15 minutes from Sandstone Falls.
For most first-time visitors, I would recommend staying near Beckley to minimize driving time throughout your trip.
How Many Days You Should Spend
After spending 3 full days exploring New River Gorge and the surrounding areas, I think 3 days is the ideal amount of time for most visitors. This gives you enough time to do several hikes, visit overlooks and waterfalls, explore nearby towns and state parks, and still have a more relaxed pace.
If you only have 2 days, you can still see many of the major highlights, but your itinerary will feel much more packed and you will need to prioritize what interests you most.
If you are mainly interested in scenic drives and overlooks and do not plan on hiking much, you could see many of the park’s highlights in a single day.
Day 1: Iconic New River Gorge Experiences
Day 1 will focus on the Canyon Rim and bridge area.
Endless Wall Trail
I recommend starting the day early with the Endless Wall Trail. Parking at the Fern Creek Trailhead is very limited and tends to fill up quickly. If the lot is full, do not park along the road or you risk being towed.
The Endless Wall Trail can be done as a 2.1-mile out-and-back hike to Diamond Point, which is what we chose to do. It can also be completed as a 3-mile loop, but I personally would not recommend it since the final portion requires walking alongside the road.
The trail winds through Appalachian forest before eventually opening up along the edge of the gorge. Along the way, there are several small side paths leading to overlooks that give you different perspectives of the gorge and river below.
I would recommend hiking directly to Diamond Point first and then exploring the overlook side trails on the return hike. The side trails are easy to follow and worth exploring since each overlook gives you a slightly different view into the gorge.
The National Park Service rates this trail as moderate, but we personally found it fairly easy overall. Just use caution near the overlooks since many of them sit directly along the cliff’s edge.
We started the trail around 8 AM on a rainy morning and only saw a couple other cars in the parking lot. By the time we finished, the lot was nearly full despite the weather.
As our first activity in New River Gorge National Park, Endless Wall Trail was a great introduction to the area and gave us some incredible first views into the gorge. While it did not end up being my favorite hike of the entire trip, I still think it is worth doing, especially for first-time visitors.
Fayette Station Scenic Drive
Now that you’ve gotten a few hiking miles in and seen the New River Gorge Bridge from above, it’s time for a scenic drive that gives you a completely different perspective of the gorge. We almost skipped the Fayette Station Scenic Drive after seeing mixed opinions online, but it ended up being a great part of the day. The drive takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on how often you stop, and I think it deserves a spot on every first-time New River Gorge itinerary.
When you leave the Endless Wall Trail parking lot, make a left and continue about a mile until you see the brown sign for Fayette Station Road. From there, Fayette Station Road winds downhill into the gorge before eventually becoming a one-way road near the river.
The National Park Service also has an audio tour available on the NPS app that adds additional history and context throughout the drive.
The road winds down into the gorge with several pull-offs that give you incredible views of the bridge from below.
Once you reach the bottom of the gorge, you’ll cross the Tunney Hunsaker Bridge, which was the only way across the river before the construction of the New River Gorge Bridge. The bridge was later dismantled and reconstructed in 1998 using almost all of the original pieces, which adds another cool layer of history to the drive.
Immediately after crossing the Tunney Hunsaker Bridge, there is a parking area that I highly recommend stopping at. From here, you can walk back onto the bridge or head down to the river’s edge for another angle of the gorge below.
There is also a small creek area near the parking lot that feels incredibly peaceful. We ended up spending a few extra minutes here just listening to the water and relaxing before continuing the drive.
Once you leave this area, the road begins climbing back out of the gorge. Before finishing the drive, make sure to stop at the Wolf Creek Trailhead on the Kaymoor Trail.
The Kaymoor Trail itself is an 8.6-mile one-way trail that passes old coal mining ruins deep within the gorge, but that’s actually not the reason I’m recommending this stop. Just 0.1 miles from the trailhead, you can walk directly into Wolf Creek Falls. The unique rock formations, moss-covered boulders, and the experience of standing directly in the middle of the falls make this a fun addition to the scenic drive.
Once you leave Wolf Creek Falls, you can continue the remainder of the scenic drive back toward Fayetteville.
Option 1: Kaymoor Miners Trail
The Kaymoor Miners Trail (not to be confused with the Kaymoor Trail) is a 1.6-mile out-and-back hike that descends nearly 950 feet into the gorge to the ruins of the Kaymoor coal mine and processing plant. The National Park Service rates this trail as strenuous, and we can personally confirm that is absolutely accurate. But if you are physically up for it, this was one of the most unique experiences of our entire trip.
The trail immediately descends steeply through lush Appalachian forest with several switchbacks and long sections of stone steps. Along the way, you’ll pass remnants of the mining operation including the blocked-off mine entrance, the lamp house, powder house, and historic safety signs.
Once you reach the main mine area, that’s when the real “fun” begins. Here you’ll find the infamous wooden staircase with 821 steps leading even farther down into the gorge. (We counted 819, but who’s counting?)
Looking across the gorge from the top of the staircase, you can actually see Diamond Point Overlook where you were standing just a few hours earlier on the Endless Wall Trail. Seeing the gorge from an entirely different angle after hiking there earlier in the day was a really cool perspective shift.
We originally thought going down the staircase would be the easy part, but by the halfway point our legs were already shaking. We did this hike in the rain, which made some of the wooden steps pretty slick, so definitely take your time if conditions are wet.
As you descend, you’ll also pass the haulage rails once used to transport men and materials up and down the mountain, along with additional ruins including a water tank and powder house remnants.
Once you finally reach the bottom, you are immediately surrounded by the ruins of the old coal processing plant and power house. Trees, vines, and moss have taken over the structures, giving the entire area an eerie but fascinating atmosphere.
If you decide to do this hike, spend some time exploring the ruins before heading back up the stairs. And yes, the climb back out really is as brutal as everyone says. Our legs definitely paid the price afterward.
Option 2: Long Point Trail
If you read the Kaymoor section and thought… that is absolutely not for me… then Long Point Trail may be more your speed. If you are looking for a less strenuous alternative to the Kaymoor Miners Trail, Long Point Trail is one of the most popular hikes in New River Gorge National Park.
This 3-mile round-trip hike leads to one of the most iconic viewpoints in the park, with a rock outcropping overlooking the New River Gorge Bridge. The trail is generally considered moderate and makes a great alternative if you still want incredible gorge views without the brutal stair climb at Kaymoor.
We ultimately chose to do Kaymoor instead for the unique mining history experience, but Long Point is probably the better choice if you want another scenic overlook hike without completely exhausting your legs before the Bridge Walk later in the day.
New River Gorge Bridge Walk
The New River Gorge Bridge is easily the most iconic feature of the national park. It’s everywhere: t-shirts, stickers, mugs, postcards. And if you’ve followed this itinerary so far, you’ve probably already driven across it at least once.
But what if I told you that you could actually walk underneath it?
That’s exactly what the New River Gorge Bridge Walk allows you to do. The guided tour takes you onto the catwalk directly beneath the bridge, suspended 851 feet above the New River below.
The Bridge Walk begins directly across from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, so if you still have not gotten enough bridge views yet, make sure to also walk out to the Canyon Rim Overlook beforehand.
There is only one official Bridge Walk company operating in the park, so I would recommend booking directly through them in advance, especially during busier travel weekends.
The experience itself absolutely lived up to the hype for us. Before starting the walk, you are fitted with a harness and securely attached to a safety line for the entire tour, so even if heights normally make you nervous, the setup feels very safe and controlled. Our guide was fantastic and shared a lot of history about the bridge, the construction process and the surrounding area throughout the walk.
One thing that surprised us was how much colder and windier it felt underneath the bridge compared to everywhere else in the park. If you are visiting on a cooler or rainy day, I would definitely recommend bringing a jacket.
Another important thing to know is that bags, backpacks, and purses are not allowed on the tour. You can bring your phone, but it must be attached to a lanyard. I ordered these before our trip and highly recommend them if you plan on taking photos during the walk.
After the Bridge Walk, call it a day and get some rest. Day 2 shifts focus from the bridge area to the scenic overlooks and hiking trails around Grandview.
Day 2: Scenic Views, History & Waterfalls
The second day of this itinerary focuses on the Grandview area of New River Gorge National Park, which offers a completely different perspective of the gorge than the Canyon Rim area. With multiple overlooks and hiking trails, you can easily spend several hours exploring this section of the park.
Grandview Overlook
Start the morning at Grandview Overlook. This is a short, paved walk from the parking lot to an overlook that looks out over a dramatic horseshoe bend in the New River. Of all the overlooks we visited during our trip, this one was my favorite.
Tunnel Trail
From Grandview Overlook, you can access Tunnel Trail, a short 0.6-mile hike that is fairly easy overall. There are a few small elevation changes and some rocky terrain, but nothing particularly difficult.
The trail winds through unique sandstone formations and narrow passageways that resemble tunnels, which is where the trail gets its name. Considering how short and easy this hike is, I would consider it a must-do while visiting the Grandview area.
Castle Trail
Located directly across from Tunnel Trail, Castle Trail was my favorite hike in the entire park.
The National Park Service rates this trail as strenuous, but I personally think that rating is a little aggressive. While there are some narrow sections near the cliff edge and plenty of rocks and tree roots to navigate, the hike itself never felt particularly difficult. If you are comfortable walking on uneven terrain, you should have no problem completing this trail.
What makes Castle Trail so memorable is the scenery. The forest itself is beautiful, but the real highlight is the towering sandstone cliffs that give the trail its name. The rock formations are incredibly detailed, with layers, textures, and patterns that had me stopping constantly to take photos and look around. I genuinely could not stop saying “wow” throughout the hike.
After completing the 0.6-mile Castle Trail, you can connect to the Grandview Rim Trail for an easy walk back to the overlook area. Combined, the route is less than 2 miles.
Turkey Spur Overlook
Turkey Spur Overlook is another popular viewpoint in the Grandview area. You can either hike to it from Grandview or drive directly to the overlook parking area.
We ended up skipping this one because the overlook requires climbing a staircase, and our legs were still recovering from the Kaymoor Miners Trail the day before. If you still have some energy left, it would be an easy addition to your day in the Grandview area.
Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is not located within New River Gorge National Park, but if you have any interest in the area’s history, I think it is well worth the short detour.
Here, you can tour a historic coal mine that operated from 1906 to 1953 while riding underground in a rebuilt mine tram. What makes the experience especially memorable is that the tours are led by former miners who share firsthand stories about life in the mines and how working conditions changed over the years. The guides do a great job mixing history with humor, which keeps the tour engaging from start to finish.
What we enjoyed most about the tour was how much context it gave to everything we had already been seeing throughout the park. Walking through the mine and seeing portions of an actual coal seam gave us a much better understanding of the region’s mining heritage and the role coal played in shaping the communities throughout southern West Virginia.
Beyond the mine tour itself, the exhibition also includes a recreated coal camp featuring historic buildings that were relocated from mining communities throughout West Virginia. Many of the buildings are staffed by interpreters who explain what daily life was like for miners and their families.
The property also includes a reconstructed mountain homestead showcasing what life was like in Appalachia during the 1800s. We enjoyed walking through this area and talking with the interpreters, who explained the purpose of each building and what daily life was like for early settlers in the region.
If you are visiting with children, there is also a youth museum located on the property.
Before leaving, make sure to stop by the small mining museum and gift shop. We may or may not have left with some homemade fudge.
Overall, this was one of the most interesting historical stops of our trip and gave us a much deeper understanding of the area’s mining heritage. It also ended up being one of Mark’s favorite experiences in New River Gorge.
Sandstone Falls
The last stop of the day is Sandstone Falls. Sandstone Falls is the largest waterfall on the New River and one of the most impressive sights in the park. While the falls are not particularly tall, they stretch nearly the entire width of the river, creating a powerful and unique landscape.
It does take some extra driving to reach Sandstone Falls, but in my opinion, it is well worth the effort.
When navigating here, make sure your GPS is set to Sandstone Falls Boardwalk. The Sandstone Falls Overlook and visitor center are located about 25 minutes away by car, and we almost ended up at the wrong location ourselves.
The boardwalk is only about a quarter-mile long and provides several excellent viewpoints of the falls, making this one of the easiest and most accessible stops in the park.
If you decide to venture beyond the boardwalk viewing areas, use caution. The rocks can be slippery, especially when wet, and the river current is extremely strong in places.
Day 3: Waterfalls, State Parks & Historic Towns
Day 3 slows the pace down with scenic drives, waterfalls, easy walks, and one final stop in a historic coal town.
Babcock State Park
Start the day with a 45-minute drive to Babcock State Park, home to one of the most photographed locations in West Virginia: the iconic Glade Creek Grist Mill.
Even if you only have a short amount of time, the grist mill alone is worth the stop. The mill is incredibly photogenic and, if it is open during your visit, you can step inside to learn more about its history and operation.
After exploring the mill, take some time to wander upstream along Glade Creek. Most visitors stay near the mill, but it does not take much walking to find quieter stretches of the creek surrounded by forest. Some of our favorite views in the park were found just a short distance away from the main attraction.
One of the best ways to experience Babcock State Park is simply by driving through it. The winding roads, dense forest, and creek views make the park feel especially scenic and peaceful.
If you are looking for a short hike, the Manns Creek Gorge Trail is a good option. The trail is relatively easy and leads to several small waterfalls. While the waterfalls are pretty, I would prioritize other areas of the park first if you are limited on time.
One trail I would personally skip is Island in the Sky. The overlook views were fairly limited due to the surrounding trees, and compared to many of the viewpoints elsewhere on this itinerary, I did not think the payoff justified the effort. The trail may be more impressive when the rhododendrons are in full bloom.
If you have extra time, I would also consider visiting the park’s swinging bridge. We accidentally missed it during our visit, but it is one of the places I would prioritize on a return trip.
Cathedral Falls
Located just a few minutes from Hawks Nest State Park, Cathedral Falls is one of the most impressive roadside waterfalls in West Virginia and is absolutely worth a stop.
The waterfall is fully visible from the parking area, but there is also a short trail that leads to the base of the falls if you want a closer look. Just be careful, as the trail can be slippery when wet.
Kanawha Falls
Located just a few minutes from Cathedral Falls, Kanawha Falls is another easy roadside stop. While it is not nearly as tall as Cathedral Falls, the wide cascade stretching across the river makes it worth a quick visit, especially if you are already in the area.
Thurmond
On the way back to Beckley, I highly recommend making one final detour for a stop in Thurmond.
Walking through Thurmond feels a little like stepping back in time. Many of the historic buildings still stand, and active railroad tracks continue to run through the middle of town. Strolling through what feels like a ghost town while freight trains still pass through on active tracks is a pretty unique experience.
Today, Thurmond is home to only a handful of residents and serves as one of the most unique historic areas within New River Gorge National Park. The old train depot now operates as a National Park Service visitor center, where you can pick up a map for a self-guided walking tour through town. The visitor center is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
During its peak, Thurmond was a thriving coal and railroad town that played an important role in the region’s economy. As automobiles became more common and railroads transitioned to diesel engines, the town slowly declined.
The drive into Thurmond is narrow and winding in several spots and is not suitable for large RVs or fifth wheels, so plan accordingly.
If you’re making the drive to Thurmond, I would also recommend stopping at Dunloup Falls along the way. The waterfall is located right beside the road, but it is easy to miss. We completely drove past it on the way in and had to stop on our way back out.
Thurmond ended up being one of the biggest surprises of our trip and one of Mark’s two favorite experiences in New River Gorge.
Additional Stops to Add to Your New River Gorge Itinerary
Hawks Nest State Park
Even though we did not end up spending time here, Hawks Nest State Park was a place I spent a lot of time researching while planning this trip and would still be high on my list for a future visit.
The park offers several overlooks, fishing opportunities on Hawks Nest Lake and Mill Creek, and approximately 8 miles of hiking trails. Two spots that stood out while planning were Lovers Leap Overlook, a short 0.4-mile walk to a scenic viewpoint, and the Hawks Nest Rail Trail, a 3.8-mile out-and-back trail that passes waterfalls and old coal mining ruins.
One of the more unique activities at Hawks Nest State Park is the Hawks Nest Jet Boat Tour, which departs from the marina and takes visitors on a 30-minute ride through the New River. The tour provides views of Hawks Nest Dam and the New River Gorge Bridge from the water, making it a great option if you want a different perspective of the area. Jet boat tours typically operate from May through October.
White Water Rafting
For many visitors, whitewater rafting is the main reason to visit New River Gorge. The New River offers trips ranging from beginner-friendly sections to challenging Class V rapids, with several outfitters operating guided trips throughout the gorge.
We chose to skip rafting on this trip since we already had another rafting trip planned later in the summer, but it would be one of the first activities I would add on a return visit.
Summersville Lake
Another place that came up repeatedly while researching New River Gorge was Summersville Lake. Located about 30 minutes north of the park, it is often recommended as an add-on destination, especially during the summer months.
Known for its clear blue water and sandstone cliffs, Summersville Lake is popular for swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing, and other water activities. If you are visiting New River Gorge during the warmer months and want to spend some time on the water, this would be one of the first places I would look into.
We did not have enough time to fit Summersville Lake into this trip, but it is a place I would consider adding to a future visit.
Is New River Gorge Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. New River Gorge offers a unique combination of hiking, waterfalls, history, scenic drives, and outdoor adventure that makes it one of our favorite long weekend national park destinations.
Want the full breakdown? Check out our detailed guide: Is New River Gorge Worth Visiting?
What Surprised Us Most About New River Gorge
A few things stood out to us during our visit that we weren’t necessarily expecting before the trip:
- The crowds were much lower than expected. We visited over Memorial Day weekend and rarely encountered the crowds we typically associate with national parks.
- There was far more history than we anticipated. Before visiting, we mostly associated New River Gorge with hiking and bridge views. We did not expect coal mining and railroad history to be such a significant part of the experience.
- The park offers more variety than many people realize. In just three days, we experienced hiking trails, waterfalls, scenic drives, historic sites, and the Bridge Walk.
- It is an ideal long weekend destination. There was plenty to keep us busy throughout the trip, but we never felt rushed or overwhelmed trying to fit everything in.
Final Thoughts
Three days felt like the perfect amount of time to explore New River Gorge and some of the surrounding areas of southern West Virginia. We were able to see many of the park’s highlights, explore state parks and still maintain a pace that never felt rushed.
What stood out to us most was the amount of history woven throughout the entire experience. Before visiting, we expected beautiful scenery, hiking trails, and scenic overlooks. What we did not expect was how many opportunities there would be to learn about the people and industries that helped shape the region.
Some of our favorite memories from the trip came from the people we met along the way. We toured a retired coal mine with a former miner sharing stories from his career underground. We met a third-generation blacksmith at the mountain homestead who spoke about his craft and family history. During the Bridge Walk, our guide shared stories about growing up in the area before the New River Gorge Bridge was built. Many of the people we encountered had deep roots in the region, and hearing their personal stories added a level of authenticity that we did not expect.
The combination of outdoor adventure, Appalachian history, and genuine local connections made this trip far more memorable than we anticipated. If you’re looking for a national park destination that works well for a long weekend and offers much more than just hiking trails and overlooks, New River Gorge is absolutely worth a visit.