Our Version of the New River Gorge Outdoors

Our typical outdoor weekend adventures revolve around the trails on foot and two wheels, by water with a fishing rod and/or boat and seeking out the lifestyle and local hot spots. For this adventure, we scoped out the New River National Park & Preserve, the US’s most recently added National Park, in November. While summer activities like rafting were out of the question for our warm blood, there’s still innumerable amounts of ways to activate outside.

An open note: our visit to the park and surrounding area was during the dead of fall. This offered great views with the last of the fall leaves out, but this late in the season, the colder weather isn’t optimal for all activities. We also had our 4 week old in tow, so these recommendations are great for any active family.

Outdoor Activities in NEw River Gorge National Park

Outdoor activities in and around the New River Gorge National Park are some of the highest quality in each of their own disciplines. From river activities like rafting and fishing to the hikes, mountain biking and climbing shoreside, there’s surely an adventure for every outdoor activity junkie.

Scenic Hikes in New River Gorge

Our first hike: Endless Wall Trail was a great hike for the family: our dog, baby and both my wife and I included. There are two options to hike this trail: an out and back to the overlook and a point to point, forcing you to walk back to your car. We chose the latter and found multiple view points of the gorge and river, a few small creek crossings and great leaf peeping.

Our second hike: Canyon Rim Overlook Boardwalk is a very short paved “hike” from the New River National Park and Preserve’s visitor center. Up and down quite a few steps, the overlook offers a great vantage point of the infamous, New River Gorge Bridge.

Other hikes we heard about: Long Point Via Butcher Branch

MTB Trails of NEw River Gorge

MTB trails we rode: Arrowhead Trails are a great option for mountain biking while in the area. From beginner to experienced, there’s a trail for everyone, with nearly 13 miles of maintained dirt to choose from.

Other trails we heard about: New River Coal Country

NEw River Gorge Fishing

Fishing the New River: The New River is the second oldest river in the world, and not only does it hold recognition because of its age, but it’s also home to the state’s record smallmouth bass, musky and walleye. The New River begins in North Carolina, makes its way through Virginia, where it finally meets the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve in West Virginia, a portion of the river characterized by whitewater and steep walls made by the gorge. The section of the river in the gorge offers excellent smallmouth bass fishing, with the best times being Spring & Fall. Walleye, musky and catfish are all willing targets during these periods, but the bronzeback is definitely the most abundant.

Fishing the local creeks: Many of the New River’s tributaries hold healthy populations of both wild and stocked trout with the most notable being Glade Creek and Dunloup Creek.

Paddling and Climbing in the New River Gorge

During the late spring, summer and early fall, the New River Gorge offers world class whitewater for rafting, kayaking and other river activities. Licensed outfitters are abundant in the area and if you’re looking for a guided trip, your options are easiest to find in the basecamp of the Park, Fayetteville.

Year-round climbing opportunities lie in and around the park, but the spring – fall, with the exception of the hottest and coldest of days, are the best times to be on the wall. If the sheer number of days wasn’t enough of a catch to draw you in, the popularity and diversity of the routes will be sure to help in defining this as one of the best areas in the east to climb.

Hot spots and the lifestyle in the New River Gorge

Culture on the New River

History of the New River and the National Park: In 1978, the New River Gorge was established as a National River and in 2020 the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve was established. And if you’ve paid witness to the sight of the gorge, it’s no surprise why…

New River’s Culture: For decades, the New River Gorge has been known for its recreation opportunities. The whitewater rafting, rock climbing, fishing, hiking and cycling offer both visitors and locals an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, and it’s with no surprise that culture reflects that. The unconfirmed hub of the National Park, Fayeteville, WV caters to every available activity and some; great restaurants to fuel your adventures, retail stores and historical sights.

Where to Eat at the NEw River Gorge

Breakfast in Fayetteville: During our typical family adventures, we enjoy tasting the local fare. Breakfast is no exception. We fueled our adventures at the Wood Iron Eatery on Day 1 and on Day 2, the Cathedral Cafe & Book Store. Both were great; the Wood Iron a bit more trendy and the Cathedral being a staple (try their pancakes, you won’t regret it).

An afternoon snack near the New River: Whether you’re a mountain biker, hiker or just visiting the area, the Arrowhead Bike Farm is a great spot to grab a bite and beer. Close to trails, historical sites and the river, it’s a great place to pause for afternoon fuel.

Beer and a bite in Fayetteville: We tried out a local staple, Southside Junction Tap House on our first night and were greeted by a great list of beers and tasty bar fare. On our second night, we chose the Pies & Pints, definitely the most packed of the two, and offering a wide range of local and national craft beers and creatively topped pizzas to boot.

Before the family started, the New River was simply a hotbed for my musky and smallmouth fishing obsessions. Now the river, the National Park and the surrounding areas offer my entire family an outdoor and cultural getaway.