Hot Topics

State Parks

Advertisement

West Virginia’s Farm-to-Table dinner series returns with scenic feasts, local flavor

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The highly anticipated Farm-to-Table Dinner Series...

Coopers Rock State Forest in W.Va. doubles number of campsites

BRUCETON MILLS, W.Va. — Twenty-five new campsites have been...

West Virginia unveils daily one-mile trail program in 32 state parks

BEAVER, W.Va. — To encourage West Virginians to walk...

Pinnacle Rock geologic marvel in West Virginia part of larger formation

BRAMWELL, W.Va. — Towering above the valley of the...

Tu-Endie-Wei in W.Va. added to Underground Railroad network

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Tu-Endie-Wei State Park has been...

Travel and Transportation

West Virginia Waterfall Trail surpasses an unexpected 125,000 check-ins

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Waterfall Trail has...

Top 10 largest West Virginia cities by population (2025)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia cities and towns vary...

Wild and Wonderful: A journey through West Virginia’s most beautiful places

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There's a reason West Virginia is...

Splash into Fun: The Six Best Waterparks in West Virginia (2025 Guide)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s natural beauty is world-famous,...

The best East Coast stargazing? Discover West Virginia dark-sky wonders

MOUNT ZION, W.Va. — If you’re searching for the...

National Parks

Park Service releases finding on demos of historic structures in New River Gorge

GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — The National Park Service has...

Sandstone Falls emerges as a must-see destination in the New River Gorge

SANDSTONE, W.Va. — Sandstone Falls, one of the most...

A hidden parkway travels beneath the New River Gorge Bridge in W.Va.

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Nearly all who cross the towering...

Organizations join forces to apprehend New River Gorge vandals

GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — Two organizations in West Virginia...

Grandview panoramas showcase New River Gorge at its widest, deepest

SHADY SPRING, W.Va. — Perched more than 1,400 feet...

Economic Development

Advertisement

McKinley Rock: The eerie stone face watching over Thurmond, West Virginia

THURMOND, W.Va. — High above the abandoned rail town...

The Bustle Flag: How Martinsburg’s Unionist women defied the Confederacy

MARTINSBURG, W.Va — The prosperous manufacturing town of Martinsburg...

National Hunting and Fishing Day returns to Stonewall resort Sept. 6

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — National Hunting and Fishing Day 2025,...

Monument to coal baron in W.Va. hidden deep within New River Gorge

QUNNIMONT, W.Va. — The New River Gorge National Park...

Embracing the rich bounty of the West Virginia fall harvest

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia fall harvest...

Hot Topics

State Parks

Advertisement

West Virginia’s Farm-to-Table dinner series returns with scenic feasts, local flavor

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The highly anticipated Farm-to-Table Dinner Series...

Coopers Rock State Forest in W.Va. doubles number of campsites

BRUCETON MILLS, W.Va. — Twenty-five new campsites have been...

West Virginia unveils daily one-mile trail program in 32 state parks

BEAVER, W.Va. — To encourage West Virginians to walk...

Pinnacle Rock geologic marvel in West Virginia part of larger formation

BRAMWELL, W.Va. — Towering above the valley of the...

Tu-Endie-Wei in W.Va. added to Underground Railroad network

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Tu-Endie-Wei State Park has been...

Travel and Transportation

West Virginia Waterfall Trail surpasses an unexpected 125,000 check-ins

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Waterfall Trail has...

Top 10 largest West Virginia cities by population (2025)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia cities and towns vary...

Wild and Wonderful: A journey through West Virginia’s most beautiful places

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There's a reason West Virginia is...

Splash into Fun: The Six Best Waterparks in West Virginia (2025 Guide)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s natural beauty is world-famous,...

The best East Coast stargazing? Discover West Virginia dark-sky wonders

MOUNT ZION, W.Va. — If you’re searching for the...

National Parks

Park Service releases finding on demos of historic structures in New River Gorge

GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — The National Park Service has...

Sandstone Falls emerges as a must-see destination in the New River Gorge

SANDSTONE, W.Va. — Sandstone Falls, one of the most...

A hidden parkway travels beneath the New River Gorge Bridge in W.Va.

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Nearly all who cross the towering...

Organizations join forces to apprehend New River Gorge vandals

GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — Two organizations in West Virginia...

Grandview panoramas showcase New River Gorge at its widest, deepest

SHADY SPRING, W.Va. — Perched more than 1,400 feet...

Economic Development

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

McKinley Rock: The eerie stone face watching over Thurmond, West Virginia

THURMOND, W.Va. — High above the abandoned rail town...

The Bustle Flag: How Martinsburg’s Unionist women defied the Confederacy

MARTINSBURG, W.Va — The prosperous manufacturing town of Martinsburg...

National Hunting and Fishing Day returns to Stonewall resort Sept. 6

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — National Hunting and Fishing Day 2025,...

Monument to coal baron in W.Va. hidden deep within New River Gorge

QUNNIMONT, W.Va. — The New River Gorge National Park...

Embracing the rich bounty of the West Virginia fall harvest

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia fall harvest...
Thursday, August 14, 2025
68.2 F
Beckley
More
  • Recreation

National Geographic names rafting New River Gorge top 2024 experience

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Whitewater rafting in the New River Gorge in West Virginia has been named one of National Geographic magazine’s “Best of the World” Top 20 Travel Experiences for 2024.

Advertisement

The internationally acclaimed publication selected whitewater rafting in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve as one of the world’s top wonders to experience this year, according to Gov. Jim Justice and the W.Va. Department of Tourism.

Rafters paddling the New River Gorge are often routed beneath the towering New River Gorge Bridge. (Photo: W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)

“If the world didn’t know before about the beautiful state we get to call home, they surely do now,” Gov. Justice said.

“I’ve been saying for years that West Virginia is a diamond in the rough. Well, now we’re shining for all to see, and it’s much deserved. We’ve worked hard to change our image and it’s made all of the difference for tourism in the state. I’m so proud and I can’t wait for new visitors to experience Almost Heaven because of honors like this one.”

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Each year, National Geographic releases its "Best of the World" list, celebrating travel experiences illuminating the world and the diversity of communities and people within it.

The list is selected and written by National Geographic global editors from around the world, collaborating with National Geographic experts and expedition leaders.

According to Amy Alipio, senior editor of travel at the magazine, rafting in West Virginia made this year’s list, along with highly acclaimed experiences such as an eclipse in Niagara Falls and glacier treks in Chile.

"West Virginia, in particular, was a fun addition for us, as we tend to look for places that combine both interesting cultures, like Appalachia, and natural wonder," Alipio said.

Advertisement

"Not many people know that New River in West Virginia is actually one of the world's oldest rivers or that it's one of the best places in the world to go white water rafting!"

This designation follows a series of recent significant announcements by Forbes Advisor, Thrillist, Condé Nast Traveler, Outside Magazine, Lonely Planet, TIME, USA Today, and Frommer’s that together rank West Virginia as a leading global destination for travel.

West Virginia Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby said her office is proud of the state's work to improve the visibility of destinations such as the New River Gorge, which became a national park in 2020.

“In my very first meeting with Gov. Justice seven years ago, he told me that we were going to show the world just how great West Virginia truly is, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” Ruby said.

Advertisement

“Since then, our goal has been to highlight the unbelievable wonders of the Mountain State each and every day, and we are thrilled to see major publications continue to recognize how incredible West Virginia really is.”

The nation’s newest national park, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve offers travelers more than 70,000 acres of scenic beauty and outdoor recreation, including whitewater rafting.

Rafters worldwide have traveled to West Virginia for years to paddle its whitewater rivers. Still, the new national park designation has brought even greater attention to the world-class recreation in the southern part of the state.

Read about National Geographic’s.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Sign up for a FREE copy of West Virginia Explorer Magazine in your email twice weekly. 

David Sibray
David Sibray
Historian, real estate agent, and proponent of inventive economic development in West Virginia, David Sibray is the founder and publisher of West Virginia Explorer Magazine. For more information, he may be reached at 304-575-7390.

LEAVE A REPLY

0 / 1500 characters
Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Hot this week

McKinley Rock: The eerie stone face watching over Thurmond, West Virginia

THURMOND, W.Va. — High above the abandoned rail town...

The Bustle Flag: How Martinsburg’s Unionist women defied the Confederacy

MARTINSBURG, W.Va — The prosperous manufacturing town of Martinsburg...

National Hunting and Fishing Day returns to Stonewall resort Sept. 6

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — National Hunting and Fishing Day 2025,...

Monument to coal baron in W.Va. hidden deep within New River Gorge

QUNNIMONT, W.Va. — The New River Gorge National Park...

Embracing the rich bounty of the West Virginia fall harvest

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia fall harvest...

Topics

McKinley Rock: The eerie stone face watching over Thurmond, West Virginia

THURMOND, W.Va. — High above the abandoned rail town...

The Bustle Flag: How Martinsburg’s Unionist women defied the Confederacy

MARTINSBURG, W.Va — The prosperous manufacturing town of Martinsburg...

National Hunting and Fishing Day returns to Stonewall resort Sept. 6

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — National Hunting and Fishing Day 2025,...

Monument to coal baron in W.Va. hidden deep within New River Gorge

QUNNIMONT, W.Va. — The New River Gorge National Park...

Embracing the rich bounty of the West Virginia fall harvest

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia fall harvest...

The captivating West Virginia legend of Kanawha Falls and her daughters

GAULEY BRIDGE, W.Va. — Though beautiful, the following tale...

The Pickens Leper: a tragic journey into isolation in the W.Va. mountains

PICKENS, W.Va. — In the remote Allegheny Mountains of...

Related Articles

Popular Categories