Among the best methods to see New River Gorge Nationwide Park is a from a mountain climbing path. And one of many nice issues about this park is that the entire hikes are brief and candy (the longest hike on this checklist is simply 3 miles lengthy). On this information, we cowl the 6 of the most effective hikes in New River Gorge Nationwide Park.
The hikes on this checklist vary from only a fraction of a mile as much as 3 miles. These trails vary from boardwalk trails, to considerably straightforward strolls to nice viewpoints, to brief, steep trails that result in historic mining settlements.
I organized these hikes by geographical space, beginning within the northern part of the park (at Canyon Rim) and ending within the south (at Sandstone). You may see the places of the mountain climbing trailheads on the map on the finish of this information.
Greatest Hikes in New River Gorge Nationwide Park
Infinite Wall Path
Kaymoor Miners Path
Lengthy Level Path
Citadel Rock Path and Grandview Rim Path Loop
Tunnel Path
Sandstone Falls
Please observe the seven rules of Depart No Hint: plan forward, keep on the path, pack out what you carry to the mountain climbing path, correctly eliminate waste, depart areas as you discovered them, reduce campfire impacts, be thoughtful of different hikers, and don’t method or feed wildlife.
#1 Infinite Wall Path
Distance: 2.8 mile loop
Issue: Simple to reasonable
Complete Ascent: 400 ft
Lowest Elevation: 1,800 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,030 ft
Time: 1 to 2 hours
Location: Canyon Rim
Infinite Wall Path elevation profile as a loop, beginning on the Infinite Wall Trailhead.
The Infinite Wall path is likely one of the finest hikes in New River Gorge Nationwide Park. It’s a comparatively straightforward hike and the path leads out to overlooks alongside the “Infinite Wall,” a protracted line of Nuttall sandstone ridges excessive above the gorge.
There are two methods to do that hike: as a loop or out-and-back.
Infinite Wall Path as a Loop
There are two trailheads for this hike: the Infinite Wall Path trailhead and the Nuttall Parking Lot. When you do that hike as a loop, you begin and finish at certainly one of these trailheads. The mountain climbing stats above, and the elevation profile, are for the complete loop beginning and ending on the Infinite Wall Path trailhead.
When you begin on the Infinite Wall Path trailhead, you’ll first stroll via a forest of timber and massive rhododendrons. It’s very fairly. When you get out to the “wall,” you may take the brief spur trails that result in the viewpoints. Diamond Level is the principle overlook on the Infinite Wall Path. Then, it’s one other stroll via the forest and a 0.5-mile boring stroll on Lansing-Edmond Street to get again to your automobile.
When you begin on the Nuttall Car parking zone and wish to do that as a loop, you may stroll the street first to get this half over with.
Infinite Wall Path Out-and-Again
If we did it once more, that is how we might do it.
Park at both parking zone and hike out to Diamond Level and the opposite overlooks. It’s the identical distance each methods if you happen to flip round at Diamond Level.
The view from Diamond Level.
One other view from Diamond Level.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: The Infinite Wall Path parking zone was far more crowded than the Nuttall Parking Lot once we have been right here, so there is likely to be a greater likelihood getting a parking house on the Nuttall Parking Lot when the park is busy.
#2 Kaymoor Miners Path
Distance: 1.6 miles out-and-back
Issue: Strenuous
Complete Ascent: 1,000 ft
Highest Elevation (trailhead): 2,010 ft
Lowest Elevation (mining website): 1,060 ft
Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
Location: Canyon Rim
Kaymoor Miners Path Elevation Profile
This is likely one of the hardest hikes in New River Gorge Nationwide Park. It’s additionally certainly one of our favorites.
This path begins on the higher rim of the gorge and quickly descends in direction of the river. It takes you to a historic coal mine, the Kaymoor One Mining Advanced.
Park at Kaymoor High (aka “Kaymoor Parking Lot” on Google Maps). You’ll move the trailhead simply earlier than you attain the parking zone.
First, you hike down a steep, dust path to the highest of the mining website.
The steps are the place the actual enjoyable begins. To get to the coal processing plant, you’ll stroll down 819 steps. By the point we bought to the underside, our legs have been shaky and we have been left questioning how we’d climb again up all of these steps.
The outdated mining buildings on the backside are surrounded by a fence however you may stroll across the this fence to see the buildings.
Notice: The buildings on the coal processing plant are situated behind a fence. Please don’t cross the fence to go to the buildings. Not solely is it harmful but it surely additionally weakens these historic buildings.
To return to your automobile, it’s time to climb again up all of these stairs. Possibly this hike ought to be renamed the Infinite Stairs Path.
To maintain ourselves entertained on the lengthy climb again up, we determined to rely the variety of steps.
Tim and I counted 819 steps. The Nationwide Park Service says its 821. Both approach, it’s a LOT of steps, however counting them one way or the other made it really feel simpler.
From the highest of the steps, it’s only a half mile to go, now on a steep dust path. And guess what, there are stairs right here, too! 121 to be actual (for a grand whole of 940).
Get pleasure from!
#3 Lengthy Level Path
Distance: 3 miles out-and-back
Issue: Simple to reasonable
Complete Ascent: 400 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,000 ft
Lowest Elevation: 1,740 ft
Time: 1 to 2 hours
Lengthy Level Path Elevation Profile
For probably the greatest views of New River Gorge Bridge, put this hike in your checklist.
To do that hike, park on the Lengthy Level Trailhead on Newton Street. It is a giant parking zone and there’s a pit bathroom.
The path ever so barely descends as you hike out to the rim. 0.2 miles from Lengthy Level, the path makes a steep descent.
At Lengthy Level, benefit from the superior view.
To complete the hike, retrace your steps. You’ll first have a brief, steep climb however past this, the path is usually flat.
Notice: That is additionally a mountain biking path, so hold a watch out for mountain bikers. Bikers should lock up there bike 0.2 miles from Lengthy Level (there’s a steel bar right here to lock your bike).
#4 Citadel Rock Path + Grandview Rim Path Loop
Distance: 1 mile loop
Issue: Reasonable
Complete Ascent: 210 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,530 ft
Lowest Elevation: 2,440 ft
Time: 1 hour
Location: Grandview
Citadel Rock Path + Grandview Path Loop Elevation Profile
Tim and I beloved this hike. It’s brief, it’s candy, and mountain climbing alongside the sandstone partitions is tons of enjoyable.
The Nationwide Park Service labels this as a strenuous hike however I feel that’s a little bit of a stretch. There are just a few steep climbs and descents however general it’s doable for most individuals.
Park on the Grandview Customer Heart. The Citadel Rock Trailhead is situated subsequent to the Grandview Overlook (aka Primary Overlook).
Observe the Citadel Path till it connects with the Grandview Rim Path. The path has a bunch of brief ups and downs, and at instances you’ll have to hike throughout rocks and tough terrain, however that’s all a part of the enjoyable.
It takes about 5 minutes to get to the sandstone partitions and that is the place the path will get actually attention-grabbing. These partitions are immense and plenty of enjoyable to {photograph} (we spent a number of time right here). I feel it’s some of the stunning locations in New River Gorge Nationwide Park. The duvet picture for this information was additionally taken on this path.
When you attain the Grandview Rim Path, flip left to finish the loop. You’ll stroll via tunnels of rhododendrons and there are just a few viewpoints over the New River Gorge.
Notice: You may hike the Grandview Rim Path to Turkey Spur Overlook (flip proper on the path intersection). We did this. It’s a really good stroll, and it’s comparatively straightforward, but it surely runs parallel with Turkey Spur Street. The views from the path are usually not a lot totally different than these you get from the street. I feel your time is best spent mountain climbing the Citadel Rock Path and Grandview Rim Path loop after which driving out to Turkey Spur, moderately than mountain climbing the complete path.
#5 Tunnel Path
Distance: 0.6 miles out-and-back
Issue: Simple
Complete Ascent: 150 ft
Time: 30 to 45 minutes
Location: Grandview
That is one other enjoyable mountain climbing path that takes you alongside large sandstone cliffs. It begins on the Primary Overlook after which winds alongside the cliffs.
From the path, search for entrances into the tunnel…a slender cave that cuts via the cliffs. The tunnel is closed for security issues, so you may’t hike the entire approach via, however you may stroll a brief distance into the tunnel.
#6 Sandstone Falls
Distance: 1 mile spherical journey
Issue: Simple
Complete Ascent: 50 ft
Time: 1 hour
Sandstone Falls is the most important waterfall on the New River. From a sequence of boardwalk trails and bridges, you get views of each the higher and decrease falls. If you need a more in-depth view, you may hike the community of trails to different viewpoints of the falls.
From the parking zone, comply with the boardwalk path to the very finish. There are a number of viewpoints from the boardwalk which are very good.
Decrease Falls from Boardwalk
View of the principle falls from the top of the boardwalk.
Simply earlier than you attain the top of the boardwalk, there can be steps that lead off of the boardwalk to the appropriate. This connects you to the paths.
The path splits nearly instantly. Taking the cut up to the appropriate takes you out to the decrease falls. Right here is the view.
When you take the cut up to the left, you get nearer to the principle falls (the higher falls). Here’s a view from the “seashore:”
From the seashore, you may scramble up onto the rocks for a fair higher view of the principle falls. Simply watch out right here. There are quite a few warnings about drownings, must you fall in.
There may be one other path on this space, the Island Loop Path, which we didn’t hike, because it leads away from the falls and appears prefer it simply winds via a forest.
Bonus: The Cliff Aspect Path
The Cliff Aspect Path just isn’t situated in New River Gorge Nationwide Park. It’s situated in Hawks Nest State Park, which sits simply to the north of the nationwide park. With views of the New River Gorge, this enjoyable hike is value including to your to do checklist if you happen to plan to spend a number of days within the space.
This hike takes you alongside sandstone cliffs, much like the Citadel Rock Path, and provides views over the New River and Hawks Nest Dam.
Distance: 1.8 mile loop
Issue: Reasonable
Complete Ascent: 430 ft
Highest Elevation: 1,315 ft
Lowest Elevation: 1,040 ft
Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
Cliff Aspect Path Elevation Profile as a loop
Park within the Hawks Nest State Park parking zone simply off of Freeway 60. The path begins on the Midland Path Shelter which is subsequent to the parking zone.
Observe the white blazes on the timber. It’s a steep descent on the primary a part of the path. On the path cut up, flip proper and proceed to comply with the white blazes. Now, you may be mountain climbing alongside the sandstone partitions. That is the most effective a part of the hike.
Past the sandstone partitions, the path climbs again up and also you attain the parking zone for the Hawks Nest Overlook. Take within the view. Then, return to your automobile by strolling on the shoulder of Freeway 60, which is boring and harmful.
Alternatively, begin on the Midland Shelter, hike out to the top of the sandstone partitions, flip round, and hike again to your automobile. Drive to the Hawks Nest Overlook. This makes the hike shorter and saves you a harmful stroll alongside the street.
Previous to this hike, we learn critiques that stated we ought to be ready for harmful cliff edges and rock scrambling. There have been just a few edges however nothing that felt harmful and we by no means encountered any rock scrambling.
Greatest Hikes in New River Gorge Nationwide Park: On a Map
Tips on how to Use This Map: Click on the icons on the map to get extra details about every mountain climbing path. Click on the star subsequent to the title of the map so as to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it in your telephone or laptop, open Google Maps, click on the menu button, go to “Your Locations,” click on Maps, and you will note this map in your checklist.
Greatest Hikes in New River Gorge Nationwide Park: Our Suggestions
The hottest hikes within the park are the Lengthy Level Path and the Infinite Wall Path.
Our favourite hikes are the Citadel Path and Grandview Path Loop (tons of enjoyable and mountain climbing alongside the sandstone partitions was superior), the Kaymoor Miners Path (we beloved the problem of mountain climbing up all of these stairs), and Sandstone Falls.
For the most effective view of New River Gorge, hike the Infinite Wall Path and/or the Lengthy Level Path.
When you solely have time or the power for one or two hikes, we advocate the Citadel Rock and Grandview Path loop and selecting between the Infinite Wall Path and the Lengthy Level Path.
As you intend your journey and simply earlier than your go to, get updates on the Nationwide Park Service web site.
