National parks in West Virginia offer visitors spectacular natural beauty and unforgettable outdoor experiences in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. The crown jewel, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, features breathtaking cliffs, scenic river views, and world-class rock climbing and whitewater rafting opportunities. Visitors can hike miles of trails, explore historic towns, and enjoy stunning overlooks that showcase the rugged landscape. Additionally, sites like Harpers Ferry National Historical Park combine rich history with picturesque surroundings, providing a unique blend of cultural and natural attractions. Whether you’re seeking adventure, history, or peaceful nature escapes, West Virginia’s national parks deliver memorable experiences for every traveler.
GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — Visitors to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve will lose access to several riverside recreation areas beginning in November as the National Park Service closes portions of two roads for winter construction and maintenance. Cunard Road will close Nov. 9, followed by Glade Creek Road on Nov. 10, according to … Read more
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Autumn doesn’t simply change the color of the New River Gorge. It changes how visitors experience one of America’s newest national parks. Cooler weather makes hiking more comfortable. Falling leaves begin to reveal pieces of the gorge’s industrial past that summer foliage can conceal. Whitewater season reaches a crescendo on the nearby … Read more
BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia’s New River Gorge has joined some of the continent’s best-known landscapes among the 20 most-visited national parks in North America. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve ranked No. 17 in a new Visual Capitalist comparison of U.S. and Canadian national parks, based on 2025 visitation. The West Virginia park … Read more
THURMOND, W.Va. — A nearly abandoned railroad town preserved within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is preparing for a legal fight with the federal agency that owns much of it as the National Park Service moves toward demolishing historic buildings there. Bailey & Glasser LLP has agreed to represent the Thurmond town council … Read more
GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — National Park Week begins Saturday, spotlighting hundreds of America’s most celebrated landscapes. But in West Virginia, the national park experience is a little different. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve isn’t simply wilderness set aside from the modern world. Railroads still rumble along the New River, and communities and privately … Read more
GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — Torrential rainfall has washed out roads, triggered slides, and toppled trees in the northern New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, closing several routes into the gorge and cutting off access to popular river and camping areas. The park service reported Sunday evening that the road to Nuttallburg was impassable, and … Read more
GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — Hidden beneath the forests of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is one of the easiest ways to experience one of America’s newest national parks. Unlike many of the gorge’s steep, rugged trails, the Rend Trail follows the nearly level grade of a former railroad line. Families, cyclists, older hikers, … Read more
THURMOND, W.Va. — As the National Park Service moves forward with plans to demolish more than a dozen deteriorating historic buildings in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, a new proposal argues that Washington and West Virginia need not choose between preserving unsafe structures and tearing them down. Instead, advocates say the park … Read more
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Travelers arrive from Washington, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, and other metropolitan areas, expecting to spend a day at the New River Gorge before continuing their vacation. Many leave wondering why they hadn’t planned for several more days. It’s a reaction Tabitha Stover hears repeatedly. “One of the things I hear most from visitors, especially … Read more
HINTON, W.Va. — Millions of visitors have now discovered New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, but many leave having experienced only a small portion of one of America’s newest national parks. For countless first-time visitors, the trip follows a familiar pattern. They photograph the New River Gorge Bridge from Canyon Rim Visitor Center, hike … Read more
