Carved through southern West Virginia, New River Gorge feels both wild and welcoming. One of the world’s oldest rivers runs north through this rugged canyon, past forested rims, sandstone cliffs, and tumbling waterfalls.
Designated as a national park and preserve in 2020, New River Gorge has quickly become one of the mid-Atlantic’s top outdoor adventure destinations. Fayetteville, the park’s main gateway town, makes an easygoing home base, with outfitters, cafés, breweries, and plenty of places to refuel after a day outside.
Drive time from Dulles: About 5 hours
What to Do
Start at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center for maps, ranger advice, and a first look at the New River Gorge Bridge. Completed in 1977, the 3,030-foot-long steel arch bridge carries U.S. Route 19 across the gorge, 876 feet above the river. This engineering marvel shortened what was once a winding 45-minute mountain drive to just 45 seconds.
From the visitor center, an accessible boardwalk leads to an overlook. A lower viewing platform offers an even better angle but requires 178 steps each way. For another postcard-worthy view, hike the Long Point Trail, a 3.2-mile out-and-back route to a rocky outcrop that faces the bridge head-on. Farther south, Sandstone Falls stretches 1,500 feet across the New River, with a short boardwalk leading to river-level views.
To get on the water, rafting excursions are available through outfitters including Adventures on the Gorge and ACE Adventure Resort. The calmer Upper New is well-suited to families and first-time paddlers, while the Lower New delivers bigger rapids and more exhilaration. Rafting trips typically continue into October.
For even more thrills, try ziplining, a treetop canopy tour, or the Bridge Walk, a guided, harnessed trek along the catwalk 25 feet beneath the New River Gorge Bridge.
Where to Dine
Fayetteville is the dining heart of the gorge, with enough character to make it more than a base camp. Start the morning at Cathedral Café, set inside a former church with stained glass windows, for bagel sandwiches, cinnamon rolls, and a laid-back vibe. Across the bridge in Lansing, Swiftwater General Store is another popular stop. It serves breakfast all day, plus hot and cold grab-and-go options to toss into your backpack.
After time on the trail — most rafting trips include a riverside lunch — head to Secret Sandwich Society. This local favorite is known for gourmet, made-to-order sandwiches named for famous figures like former presidents Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy. The salads nod to first ladies. Save room for a slice of rich peanut butter pie.
For dinner, keep it casual at Southside Junction Tap House. The menu includes burgers, salads, and wings, plus easy shareables like string-cut fries and fried pickles. It also offers a rotating tap with more than a dozen local craft beers. Live music on Thursdays offers a good reason to get an early start on the weekend. Head to Pies & Pints — the original location of the now well-known West Virginia favorite — for creative pizza, craft beer, and a lively patio.
Where to Stay
If you want to stay close to the park, start by deciding whether you want to go primitive, resort-style, or cabin-cozy. Within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, camping is free but rustic. Eight small campgrounds are first-come, first-served, with no drinking water or electricity. Arrive early on busy fall weekends and bring everything you need.
For amenities, look to the area’s outdoor resorts, which pair wooded settings with easy access to rafting departures and guided activities. Adventures on the Gorge sits on the canyon rim and offers deluxe cabins, vacation homes, glamping tents, and RV and tent sites. The resort also has three restaurants, a coffee shop, a snack shack, and a grab-and-go café. Near Oak Hill, ACE Adventure Resort has cabins, rustic cabin tents, RV and tent sites, plus tent and sleeping bag rentals. Two onsite restaurants allow guests to wind down after a full day outdoors.
After Labor Day, seasonal water attractions, including ACE’s inflatables and Adventure on the Gorge’s Canyon Falls Pool, close for the year, shifting the focus from summer adrenaline to fall foliage and hiking. Airbnbs and vacation rentals are plentiful around Fayetteville, Lansing, Oak Hill, and Hico. Check driving routes carefully before booking; winding mountain roads can make “near the park” feel farther than it looks, especially after dark.
Feature image courtesy New River Gorge CVB
This story originally ran in our September issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
