New River Gorge Region

The New River Gorge Region of southern West Virginia is renown as a destination for outdoor recreation. Skiing, rock climbing, mountain biking, and whitewater rafting are well known pursuits here, though golf, hiking, and ATV touring are very popular. The region takes its name from the valley of the New River and its northernmost extent, the New River Gorge. Much of the region near the river is protected by the National Park Service as part of the New River Gorge National River, while most urban development is located in the surrounding highlands. Tamarack, Glade Springs Resort, New River Gorge Bridge, and the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine are top attractions. Coal mining is a primary industry in the western region.

The New River Gorge Region includes Fayette and Raleigh counties and parts of Nicholas and Summers counties. The region corresponds to the western territory of the New River-Greenbrier Valley travel region of the West Virginia Department of Commerce.

Interstates 64 and 77 converge at Beckley in the southern part of the region. The US-19 expressway travels from southwest to northeast from Beckley northward toward its junction with I-79 near Sutton, WV. Highways US-60 and WV-3 travel east to west through the northern and southern region respectively.