Naturalists share their favorite lesser-known New River Gorge hiking trails

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — On a soft summer morning in the New River Gorge, the forest comes to life with quiet mystery. Rhododendron branches arch into shadowed tunnels, salamanders dart across mossy rocks, and the distant rush of waterfalls blends with birdsong that echoes through the canyon.

For most hikers, the best-known trails in the gorge—such as Long Point or Endless Wall—are the headliners. But for Shawn Means and Amy McLaughlin, owners of New River Gorge Eco Tours, the treasures are found on the lesser-known paths.

“Through our many years of hiking and naturalist studies, we’ve been delighted, and sometimes surprised, by all that we’ve learned about our West Virginia home,” said McLaughlin. “We knew we wanted to share that wonder with others, but in a deeper way.”

For more than a decade, Means and McLaughlin have run Lafayette Flats, a boutique vacation rental in Fayetteville on the edge of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Here, guests would ask them for hiking advice, and they would provide detailed trail notes. But in 2023, they decided to take that hospitality one step further.

“We realized it was time to give people more than just a map,” McLaughlin said. “We wanted to guide them into the gorge ourselves—to share with them the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the forest, and tell the story of this place from its geology to its cultural history.

"That’s when New River Gorge Eco Tours was born. We obtained a permit to operate within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and we hit the trails.”

New River Gorge Eco Tours

Unlike large-scale guided excursions, New River Gorge Eco Tours is built on intimacy, according to Means and McLaughlin. Every group is small—often only a single couple—and their tours are tailored to fit the interests and abilities of guests.

“Having hiked every trail in the park, we can pick the perfect trail for each group,” Means said. “And as locals, we know the rhythms of the gorge—the perfect times for wildflowers, mushrooms, or when waterfalls are really flowing. That makes all the difference.”

Eco Tours are available to the public, though guests of Lafayette Flats receive a discount on private tours. “It’s a way of connecting our hospitality business with our love for sustainable tourism,” McLaughlin said.

On the tours, the pair weaves threads of science, folklore, and ecology. They might explain, for instance, how the New River, which is one of the oldest rivers in the world, carved a corridor through the Appalachians that became a sanctuary for biodiversity.

“This park ranks in the top five of all national parks in biodiversity,” McLaughlin emphasized. “That blows people away."

"And when we explain how the New River’s northerly flow created a passage for plants and animals through the Appalachian Mountains, while the steep cliffs of the gorge created microclimates, it just clicks with our guests. We can see people falling in love with the science of it.”

But perhaps the most memorable lesson, she says, comes from beneath hikers’ feet.

“We joke about the ‘Wood Wide Web,’” Means said, "the underground network of fungi and roots that allows trees to communicate and share resources. Once you understand that, a forest never looks the same again.”

Hiking New River Gorge with a purpose

The pair is quick to stress that their mission goes beyond sightseeing. Every decision they make is rooted in sustainability.

“By taking people to less-traveled trails, we also help reduce pressure on overcrowded places,” McLaughlin said. “It’s about protecting the land while still giving visitors those transformative experiences we all deserve within our national parks.”

She says she calls it a triple bottom line, emphasizing social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

“Tourism can harm a community if it’s not managed thoughtfully,” she said. “We want to model a way that serves everyone—the land, the locals, and the visitors.”

That philosophy guides their trail choices, too. While they appreciate classics like Endless Wall, their favorites are the hidden gems. McLaughlin ticked off a list of beloved hikes, each with its own personality.

Their favorite New River Gorge trails

The following are their recommended trails and the ones Means and McLaughlin visit most often with New River Gorge Eco Tours, though each tour is customized for their clients and may feature others. Directions to many of the following trails can be found here, but few know them as Means and McLaughlin do.

Glade Creek Trail

“Absolutely gorgeous—that’s what most of our guests say,” McLaughlin said. This 11.2-mile out-and-back trail winds along Glade Creek, featuring waterfalls and what many call the best swimming hole in the park. “It’s perfect for an all-day adventure, though sometimes we just do the first half. And don’t miss Kate’s Falls near the southern trailhead—it’s a stunner.”

Polls Plateau Trail

Remote and wild, this 4.9-mile loop isn’t for everyone—but that’s precisely why Means loves it. “It feels like stepping back in time. You pass an old farmstead, and it’s a great trail for wildlife viewing. We’ve hiked this trail many times and only ever seen two other people.”

Gwinn Ridge Trail

Just three miles long, this quiet loop near Sandstone Falls highlights the Gorge’s biodiversity. “You get older forest mixed with former pastures that are slowly reverting back to nature,” McLaughlin said. “And we love pairing it with a visit to the Three Rivers Avian Center. If they’re available, you can see their rescued birds of prey—it’s unforgettable.”

Big Branch Trail

Short but strenuous, Big Branch is a two-mile loop of waterfalls and history. “The timing has to be right—too dry and the falls are barely trickling, too wet and the trail is slick,” McLaughlin warned. “But if you hit it just right, it’s pure magic. Plus, there are old homestead ruins along the way.”

Butcher Branch Trail

A mile-long gem through pine forest, Butcher Branch hides a secret. “There’s a spur that leads down to a waterfall in a climbing area,” McLaughlin explained. “It’s steep and rocky, but worth it. You get to see both natural beauty and human adventure.”

Park Loop Trail

For Means, convenience sometimes wins out. “The trailhead is a 10-minute walk from Lafayette Flats, right in Fayetteville Town Park,” he said. “It’s just 1.1 miles, but it’s a mushroom paradise after rain. And it connects to the larger national park trail network if you want to keep going.”

Rend Trail

History buffs love this former railroad line, now a trail that passes trestles and overlooks Thurmond. “There’s this house-sized boulder that fell onto the old track—you have to climb steps built around it. It’s surreal,” McLaughlin said. Part of the trail is currently closed, but
She still recommends the section accessible from the Thurmond trailhead.

Stone Cliff Trail

Following the New River for three miles, this trail feels steeped in legend. “Mary Draper Ingles almost certainly walked this route during her escape from Shawnee captivity in 1755,” McLaughlin said. “Imagining her journey while hiking it adds a whole new layer of
meaning.”

Southside Trail

At seven miles along the riverbank, Southside is one of the Gorge’s most scenic strolls. “It’s our favorite spring wildflower trail,” McLaughlin said. “And it passes through old mining towns, so you’re walking through history as well as nature.”

Beyond their New River Gorge favorites

For Means and McLaughlin, the trails are doorways into something larger—a conversation about connection.

“When people slow down in the gorge, they start to notice the details—the tree blossoms in the canopy, the ghost pipes on the forest floor, the huge variety of colorful mushrooms,” McLaughlin said. “Those little discoveries spark appreciation, and appreciation leads to stewardship.”

“That’s really our goal. Not just to show people pretty places, but to inspire them to care about this land.”

As the New River Gorge continues to rise in national prominence—it was redesignated a national park and preserve in 2020—visitation is booming. For McLaughlin, that makes eco-focused guiding more essential than ever.

“Whitewater rafting and climbing will always be huge draws, and that’s great,” she said. “But we also want visitors to understand the hidden layers—the biodiversity, the cultural stories, the ecology. That’s what makes this park unique, and that’s what we love to share.”

The New River Gorge: A Lasting Impression

On a recent tour along Southside Trail near Thurmond, McLaughlin watched as a guest crouched to photograph a tiny red-spotted newt on the path. “He was completely fascinated,” she recalled. “In that moment, he wasn’t thinking about cell phones or work responsibilities—just this little creature in the forest. That’s the kind of magic we hope people take home with them.”

At the end of each hike, guests emerge not just with tired legs and full camera rolls, but with a new perspective on the Appalachian landscape.

“We promise—you’ll walk out from under this lush forest canopy with a deep appreciation of all the beautiful places and tiny treasures that make this place exceptional,” McLaughlin said.

And in the New River Gorge, where the river has carved its path over millions of years, that promise feels as enduring as the rock itself, she says.

Visit the LaFayette Flats website for a full itinerary of their favorite New River Gorge hiking trails.

Map of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve