THURMOND, W.Va.—Visiting America’s newest national park? There are countless trails to walk, rocks to climb, and streams to paddle, but there are four places every visitor should see in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in southern West Virginia.
According to park ranger Jodi French-Burr, the following four must-see destinations are worth visiting whether for an afternoon, a weekend, or a full week.
I’d say the top four hot spots to visit are Grandview, Sandstone Falls, the Thurmond Historic District, and the Canyon Rim Visitor Center,” says French-Burr.
For deeper park dives, people need to have the right vehicle to handle often smaller and thinner roads—even though I put Thurmond on that top three list with its smaller road—and be physically able to do things like hike or boat.
French-Burr emphasizes that the national park contains innumerable waterfalls, overlooks, and historic landmarks. “Know there are other easily accessible hot spots, but if I had to pick just four, these would be the four.”
Canyon Rim Visitor Center / New River Gorge Bridge
Seated at the edge of the New River Gorge, the 
The restored railroad station in the Thurmond National Historic District includes a season park visitor center.[/caption]
Now a ghost town with a population of five permanent residents, historic Thurmond lies deep within the heart of the gorge and allows park visitors to imagine more vividly what life here might have been like at the turn of the 20th century.
“The Thurmond Historic District is the ultimate history sampler for the park,” French-Burr says.
A seasonal attraction, the 
The New River courses toward its gorge below the Grandview overlook. (Photo: Rick Burgess)[/caption]
At scenic 
The New, flowing northward, drops over Sandstone Falls. Photo courtesy Ed Rehbein.[/caption]
Another must-see park destination, at scenic Sandstone Falls, the New River drops over a river-wide waterfall and through a network of small islands across which the park service he built a series of wheelchair-accessible boardwalks. A half-mile trail also accommodates a leisurely walk through the woodlands around the falls.
The falls are a favorite destination for anglers, waders, and sightseers, though visitors who plan to take a dip should know that the falls at their highest are powerful and deadly. Small brooks and minor falls near the islands are relatively safe when water is low in summer, but strong currents near the falls can quickly sweep swimmers and boaters into dangerous cataracts.
There’s far more to see and do!
If these four top attractions aren’t enough to satiate your appetite during a trip to the park, there’s plenty more to see. The Endless Wall Trail, Long Point Trail, and the Glade Creek Trail are among the best-known park highlights.
“Know that there are other easily accessible hot spots, but if I had to pick just four, then Thurmond, Grandview, and Canyon Rim would top the list,” French-Burr said.
For more information, visit the national park website or call visitor information at (304) 574-2115.
Mysterious stone face attracting curious in New River Gorge
An enigmatic stone face carved into mossy sandstone along the rim of the New River Gorge is attracting increased attention as tourism grows in the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. Though its origins are popularly regarded as a mystery, the bas-relief countenance was likely carved in the 1950s, and the son of its creator may still live in the area near Fayetteville, West Virginia. READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
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