New River Gorge National Park

Year Established: 2020
Annual Visitors: 1.68 Million
Size: 72,808 Acres
State: West Virginia

Best Time to Visit New River Gorge National Park

April to October

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.

Best Experiences in New River Gorge National Park

• Whitewater rafting
• Rock climbing
• Endless Wall Trail
• Bike Arrowhead Trails

A Brief History

On November 10, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a law that made New River Gorge National River. The park was renamed in 2020 to a National Park. It is 53 miles long and goes from just below Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park. The park has a lot of cultural and natural history and many beautiful places to explore. Some of the best whitewater rafting in the country is in New River Gorge, especially from the Cunard put-in to the Fayette Station take-out. It is also one of the most popular places to climb on the East Coast. The New River starts in North Carolina and flows north through Virginia and the West Virginia mountains until it meets the Kanawha River. From there, it flows to the Ohio River.

New River Gorge RV Camping

If you are looking for nearby RV camping options for New River Gorge National Park or in West Virginia, consider checking out our other post:

• Best RV Parks in West Virginia
• Best RV Resorts in West Virginia

Visitor Information

Fees

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve does not charge an entrance fee.

Contacting New River Gorge National Park

Visitor Centers

Canyon Rim Visitor Center 

The main goal of the Canyon Rim Visitor Center is to be a place where people can get information about the area and learn about the New River Gorge’s natural, cultural, recreational, and historical features. The center is a nationally known facility that brings about 300,000 people to the park every year. It shows the beauty of New River Gorge to people all over the country and the world. 

Sandstone Visitor Center

The  Sandstone Visitor Center  educational displays show people how to live in a way that is good for the environment and also helps them learn more about the park, its resources and history.

The building opened in September 2003 in Sandstone, West Virginia, and shows a commitment to protecting the environment.

The design and materials of this National Park Service building will make it use less energy and need less maintenance. The building itself will use about 60% less energy than the standard in the industry right now.

Landscaping with native plants will make the yard easier to take care of in the long run and give wildlife a place to live again.