The New River Gorge National Park in Fayetteville, West Virginia, is America’s newest National Park. And I’m going to share with you five of my family’s favorite things to do when visiting the area.
The Bridge Walk
The first thing is the Bridge Walk. Now, I’ve been visiting the Fayetteville, West Virginia, area for many years. But something that I just did recently for the very first time was the Bridge Walk.
The New River Gorge Bridge is one of the tallest and biggest arch bridges in North America. And although I’m a little scared of heights, my son and I, Tucker, had the opportunity to do the Bridge Walk on our last trip to the park.
Let me tell you, the walk was a crazy experience. It was super fun and a little intimidating. But I’m not going to give away more information because I think a lot of it is the element of surprise.
Just being suspended and walking on a plank below the bridge is something that’s really unique. The Bridge Walk gives you a different perspective of the New River Gorge. And it’s just super cool to learn more about the bridge itself.
If you do plan to do the walk, then there are two different tours that you can do. There’s the informative tour or the less informative tour where you simply just walk across under the bridge.
For us, we did an informative tour. And we learned a lot about the history, the structure, and the surrounding area of the New River Gorge. When it comes to the walk, there are height restrictions—so be sure to check out the rules and regulations before you take your family there.
Hiking
There are so many cool hikes to do in the area. And one of my favorites is the Endless Wall Trail, where you can go all the way to the Diamond Point Outlook. That trail is really cool because it gives you a beautiful view of the New River Gorge and the dramatic cliff walls.
If you’re a climber, those walls are well-known in the climbing community. But as a family, we just like to hike the trail because it’s really fun and it’s not too long. It’s about two miles out to the point and two miles back. So it’s a great distance if you have littles that you want to take along on the hike.
Another of my favorite hikes in the area is Long Point. It’s another great family-distance hike, and it has beautiful views of the New River Gorge. It’s a great place to get out, explore, and get in some physical activity with your family.
But even if you don’t make it out to the point, just being out there in the woods surrounded by the greenery is a fantastic experience that I highly recommend.
The Town of Fayetteville, West Virginia
Something I love to do when we’re visiting the New River Gorge National Park is actually spending time in the small town of Fayetteville, West Virginia itself. It’s actually self-proclaimed as one of the coolest little towns in North America—and I would have to agree.
It really does have small-town vibes. And although it’s very little, it has really good food and some great shops. There are even gear shops if you’re needing equipment for any outdoor activities.
In the town, two of my favorite restaurants are Pies and Pines and the Cathedral. So we usually do breakfast at the Cathedral and dinner at Pies and Pines. If you like artisan pizza—ones with unique toppings—you cannot miss that dinner destination. And to be honest, I’d drive all the way up to Fayetteville just for Pies and Pines pizza.
Kayaking
For those of you that aren’t whitewater kayakers, there are also flat-water kayaking opportunities, as well as recreational boating in the National Park.
If you like or are interested in white water rafting or riverboarding, for example, you should definitely check it out. The waters in the area are actually world-famous and are well-known whitewater rivers. For us, as kayakers, it’s a top destination.
Paddling down the river is such a great adrenaline rush, and obviously, some seasons will be better than others. So if you’re planning on getting out on the river, spring and summer are two great options.
Sometimes the water can be higher and lower, and different water levels can mean different levels of intensity. The rivers can change drastically depending on the water levels. So depending on where you’re at with paddling, there are definitely a lot of options for everyone.
The great thing about the New River Gorge is there are so many companies that can take you out rafting. They have a lot of information that they can provide. And they can help you feel comfortable while paddling, depending on your level.
Hang Out at the Creek
One final tip—if you’re coming to the New River Gorge National Park, is to hang out at the creek down at Fayette Stations. When we’re at the creek, we like to play with little foam boats, and the kids end up having a really fun time.
If you don’t have toy boats, then play with sticks, look for crayfish, or throw rocks. The creek is extremely beautiful, and it has a great view of the New River Bridge and the New River Gorge.
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