Best trails in New River Gorge National River

Note: This trail is only a loop if you return to your car by walking along the road for the last quarter mile. If you prefer to stay along the trail, follow the route shown on the map and hike it as an out and back. This trail starts in a dense forest full of moss small streams. As you continue upwards towards the ridge of the gorge, the forest turns into deep groves of laurel. Once you reach the top, there are endless rocks you can climb on to view the river below. Be careful, as there are some holes near the rocks that have been covered with leaves and are easy to slip into. Do not park along the side of the road as cars commonly get towed from here.Show more

A steep hike down to the old kaymore mine. Then once at the mines you will follow an old mine rail trail through various views, waterfalls and cliffs. Be prepared for the walk back!Show more

An easy to moderate hike with stunning river views. The most challenging part of the hike will be stairs bringing you up to the overlook.Show more

This boardwalk offers scenic views of the gorge and New River Gorge Bridge. An easy walk on a fully assessable ramp leads to the first viewing point, while 178 steps descend to the lower overlook. The trail starts at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center parking lot off U.S. Route 19 in Lansing. For the Boardwalk Trail, park in the visitor center parking area and follow the paved sidewalk that leads west (away from the Visitor Center). Drop down a long flight of wooden stairs to a dramatic overlook of the Gorge and the Bridge. Accessibility: To the overlook of the bridge before the staircase the trail is wheelchair/mobility equipment and stroller friendly with an estimated mostly gentle grade of 4% or less. The surface is paved concrete and typically at least four feet wide. Users have reported that the viewpoint to the right is the wheelchair and stroller friendly one but to the left there are stairs.Show more

This trail is well-maintained and the grade is steady. Please remember to remove all valuables from your vehicle. There have been some vehicles broken into. Show more

Start out at the parking lot that is gravel by the train station then head on the pavement towards the Thurmond-Mindon trail head. From then on it is a slight railroad grade climb. There are several wooden bridges that you will come across. You will first come to an overlook that you can see the train depot. Next there was a rock slide but the park service made some stairs that you can easily get across, but be careful because the bridges and these stairs are VERY SLICK if they are wet. At the End of the trail there is a gate. You can either choose to go back or continue onward. Make a right on the Pavement, then at the next intersection you will again make a right by the ACE sign. From there you will see a trail on the right hand side of the road you will take. Continue on that until you see the Eskin trail. Go up that and follow the ridge around. That is basically as high as you will climb upwards. At the end of Eskin you will make a right on a bus road that one of the rafting companies use for access to the New River. Be careful because it is steep and there are vehicles that travel on it. Then you will come to a white pillar on the left close to the bottom which is another trail that shoots back downstream. Do not take this for this will lead you to Cunard, but look ahead and take the trail that you will see on the right hand side of the road ahead of you. From then on it is a straight shot back towards the road and parking lot. You will first go across you last wooden bridge and eventually finish up on the pavement. Show more