Monday, April 4, 2022

Grandview - New River Gorge National Park and Preserve


Continuing our late October 2021 visit to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, we made our way to Grandview, West Virginia for an impressive view of the river. To reach the overlook from Interstate-64, leave I-64 at exit 129 for westbound travelers or exit 129B for eastbound travelers and drive north on Grandview Road (Raleigh County Route 9) for about five miles. Turn right and drive another 0.3 miles nearly circling the Grandview Visitor Center before parking in the large paved lot. This visitor center is open seasonally typically from Memorial Day to Labor Day. However, the surrounding trails are open all year.

A five-hundred-foot flagstone path leads to the Main Overlook which provides a view of a large horseshoe bend in the New River 1400 feet below the canyon rim. This is one of the highest elevations in the park and one of the deepest parts of the gorge. Unfortunately, the fog and clouds obscured our view to the extent that we decided not to hike out to Turkey Spur Overlook and a possible view of the community of Quinnimont where coal was first shipped out of the gorge.

Trailhead kiosk

Flagstone path with benches

Approaching Main Overlook

Fog is readily apparent at Main Overlook

View from the overlook

View upstream

Closeup view of upstream rapids and railroad

View downstream

Closeup view of downstream rapids and railroad

Horseshoe bend at Grandview

There is no entrance fee at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve website is https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm.

No comments:

Post a Comment