might like mountain biking . All of the hiking trails in the New River Gorge are also open to mountain biking . None of them are open to motorized vehicles . Some trails , like the Arrowhead Trails , were actually designed and built specifically for mountain biking .
Beginning mountain bikers can get all of the information and equipment they need from the Arrowhead Bike Farm , a niche destination resort campground that caters to the mountain biking community . There you can rent bikes , learn proper techniques in a clinic , get information from knowledgeable guides or get a meal at their on-location bar / grill , The Handlebar . They even offer clinics that are specific for women .
CLIMBING
Climbing in the New River Gorge has been a location destination in the climbing community since the 1970s when many of the climbs were first established .
“ I think that climbing in the park has increased so much in the past five years ,” said Fayetteville resident and avid climber , Kevin Umbell . “ But climbing is seeing a surge like it ’ s never seen before in the past five years .”
Umbell believes the popularity of of climbing gyms in large metro areas shares some of the credit .
“ Because of the collegiate climbing gym that ’ s changed climbing forever ,” Umbrell said .
People can learn the moves in a controlled environment before coming out into the wilderness . In comparison he describes his learning experience , “ when I started climbing in 2001 , climbing was like a band of misfits .”
Brian Ausberger and Andrea Wilhelm are climbers who work remotely and have had the opportunity to spend more than a month camping and climbing in
Near the New River Gorge , Babcock State Park is known for the run at Grist Mill Falls .
the gorge . Last fall was Brian ’ s first trip to the New River Gorge . He found out about it from his friends who stay at the American Alpine Club , a campground located just north of the New River Gorge Bridge . Brian likes the climbing in the gorge because there are myriad types of climbing like trad , or traditional climbing , as well as sport climbing .
Sport climbing routes have metal pieces bolted into the rock with an eyelet that the rope can be clipped into . Climbers can ascend the routes much faster with simpler pieces of gear , known as “ quick draws ,” two carabiners with a piece of webbing holding them together .
Trad climbing is more technical and involved because you need to place an extensive variety of protection into rocks and cracks . The climbing rope clips into these pieces and that ’ s what will hold you , should you fall . It requires more analytical thinking
Photo by Chad Foreman during the climb which is time spent while hanging on to rocks and can be more fatiguing .
This doesn ’ t mean a beginner can ’ t learn to climb in the New River Gorge . Both Adventures on the Gorge , and ACE whitewater rafting outfitters offer classes in climbing . Another outfitter , the New River Mountain Guides , is based in the outfitter shop Water Stone Outdoors in Fayetteville .
WHITEWATER
One of the top thrills in the New River Gorge can be found riding the wet and wild whitewater on the river for which the gorge is named . Whitewater rafting on the New River began in 1968 when Jon , Tom , Chris and Melanie Dragan began taking people down the river during their summer break from college . Since those days , there have been many commercial outfitters to open and close , with as many as 25 at one point . Now there are eight commercial outfitters licensed to run the New .
Adventures on the Gorge CEO , Roger Wilson , talks about some of the biggest draws of the New .
“ We are in a temperate rain forest . That gives us scenery and vegetation that very few places in North America can experience . When you add the best quality whitewater in the world , those two things are the magic sauce .”
The magic sauce seems to keep bringing people back , year after year , Wilson says .
“ It has some of the warmest water rafted in America because it starts as a wide , shallow river in North Carolina and flows into West Virginia .” This makes a huge difference because people like to relax and swim in the pools between the rapids . As if the whitewater wasn ’ t enough , Roger also points out that “ we ’ re lucky to have this beautiful canyon and the best , and easiest way to see it is from the river .”
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