How to explore national park ? Take a hike
By The Register-Herald
The good news for locals is that there is too much to see and do in the New River National Park and Preserve to cover in a week let alone a day . So , yes , myriad discoveries across the map await .
Of places to go beyond the obvious stops at Sandstone Falls , the New River Bridge and the overlook at Grandview , the Canyon Rim Visitor Center just north of the bridge is a great jumping-off point . It features an exhibit room filled with photographs and exhibits on the people , towns , and industries of the gorge . Other displays focus on the recreation and natural history of the area . There is an 11-minute video to orient visitors to all that makes New River Gorge National Park and Preserve such a special and significant place .
The views are pretty spectacular , too . The back deck of the center offers a two-mile view southward into the park . Also , a boardwalk descends into the gorge to two observation decks which offer unobstructed views of the longest steel arch span in the western hemisphere .
You do not have to be an outdoor enthusiast to enjoy some of what the park offers . Yes , climbing , biking , hiking and whitewater rafting are what most often come to mind but you can also use the park to enjoy a picnic , a bit of birding or camping at any of the eight primitive campgrounds – using your own tent or drive-in campsites for RVs , campers , car camping – the only kind available in the park . Picnic tables , fire rings and grills are available at campsites .
More than 40 hiking trails range from a quarter mile to 7 miles one-way . Several can be connected to make for longer excursions . The Kaymoor Trail , for instance , is 17.2 miles roundtrip , running past a mine site of the same name . The Southside Trail , a mere 14 miles , runs through several abandoned New River Gorge mining towns .
Degree of difficulty varies , too , from flat , smooth walking to steep challenging terrain . Recommendations and maps are offered at Canyon Rim , Grandview , Sandstone and Thurmond visitor centers .
The trails are also themed – some go to historic sites and ruins , others through old-growth forests , some are easy ( six are listed ) and four are noted as long-day hikes – six-plus miles roundtrip .
Learn about it . The Canyon Rim Visitor Center , just outside Fayetteville on the north side of the bridge , is the primary visitor contact station for area information and for interpretation of the
Consider this . The New River Gorge Bridge is the longest steel span in the western hemisphere . It is also the third highest bridge in the United States – 876 feet high , 3,030 feet long .
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