New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia was redesignated from a national river/preserve to national park and preserve status in December 2020. The park centers on the New River Gorge and the New River Gorge Bridge, a major engineering landmark.

The area is known for the bridge deck nearly 876 feet above the river, extensive whitewater river access, rock climbing routes on exposed sandstone cliffs, and rim trails with panoramic overlooks. Recreational offerings include rafting, climbing, hiking, and scenic drives; many popular trailheads and overlooks are near Fayetteville and other river towns.

The gorge has a long history of coal mining and transportation; 19th- and 20th-century mining infrastructure and company towns are preserved at several sites within the park. The bridge, completed in 1977, transformed travel across the gorge and later became the centerpiece for visitor access and recreational events.

Geographically the park follows a deep river gorge carved through sandstone and shale in southern West Virginia. The park lies around and downstream of Fayetteville and is reachable from Charleston to the west and Beckley to the east by regional highways.

• Designation: Congress redesignated the area as a National Park and Preserve in December 2020, raising its national profile while retaining river and recreational protections.
• Bridge Day: Bridge Day occurs each October and is the only day the bridge is open to sanctioned BASE jumpers and rappellers; access and parking are heavily controlled that day.

What to See #

• New River Gorge Bridge: A steel arch bridge completed in 1977 with a deck about 876 feet (267 meters) above the New River, providing the park's most iconic vista and the site of the annual Bridge Day event.
• Rim overlooks and Long Point: A sandstone-walled river gorge offering rim overlooks, cliff-top trails, and viewpoints such as Long Point that give panoramic views of the river bend and bridge.
• Kaymoor and mining ruins: Historic coal and company town remains with steep trails descending to the river; the site illustrates 19th and 20th century coal-mining heritage within the gorge.