National park · West Virginia

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve

West Virginia's newest national park protects a 1,000-foot-deep gorge cut by one of the oldest rivers on the continent, spanned by the New River Gorge Bridge and famed for whitewater and rock climbing.

Entrance
No fee listed by NPS
Hours
Open 24 hours daily New River Gorge National River
Established
November 10, 1978
Region
Appalachia & the Mid-Atlantic
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain (US National Park Service)
The New River Gorge National Park & Preserve patch

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History

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve was established to conserve and interpret the outstanding natural, scenic, and historic values of the New River Gorge. It plays a crucial role in preserving a significant segment of the New River for the benefit of future generations.

Key events

  1. November 10, 1978New River Gorge National River established by Congress.
  2. December 27, 2020Redesignated as New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, becoming the 63rd U.S. national park.
  3. 1977New River Gorge Bridge opened; at 3,030 feet long it was the world's longest single-arch bridge for 26 years.

Trails

  • Endless Wall Trail 2.4 mi · Moderate
  • Long Point Trail 3.2 mi · Moderate
  • Kaymoor Miners Trail 2 mi · Hard
  • Grandview Rim Trail 3.4 mi · Moderate
  • Canyon Rim Boardwalk 1 mi · Easy

Plan your visit

Hours · New River Gorge National River

Open 24 hours, 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.

Entrance fees

NPS lists no entrance fee for this park.

Fees and hours as of May 2026. Check current details on NPS.gov

When to go

  • Fall. Peak foliage mid-October to early November, Bridge Day festival
  • Spring. Wildflowers late April, waterfalls at peak flow
  • Summer. All activities available, warm water for rafting
  • Winter. Solitude, crisp views, some trails may be icy

Wildlife

Bald eaglesPeregrine falconsWhite-tailed deerBlack bearsWild turkeysGreat blue heronsBarred owlsSalamanders

Nearby patches

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