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.

View from the Canyon Rim Overlook - New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

A short boardwalk from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center parking area leads to a viewing platform that provides views of the New River Gorge Bridge. We visited New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in late October 2021, but the fall colors were still stunning.

Trailhead

Historic marker

Reflected sunset from the trailhead

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.

Views from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center - New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

One of the more uncommon features of the Canyon Rim Visitor Center in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is the orientation of the building to provide striking views of the gorge from both the floor-to-ceiling windows inside and the aptly referenced back porch. On the day we visited, the view was largely obscured by fog, so we made a second stop on our late October 2021 visit to the park to have a clearer view.

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.

Canyon Rim Visitor Center - New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Continuing our late October 2021 visit to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, we stopped at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center in Lansing, West Virginia. Located just east of the New River Gorge Bridge on US-19 near the north end of the park, this is the primary visitor center for the park. Information about the Bluestone National Scenic River, and the Gauley River National Recreation Area is also available. 

The visitor center houses the usual amenities, including an information desk, bookstore/gift shop, exhibits, theater, and restrooms. In addition, a large topographic model of the park is one of the focal areas of the visitor center. All facilities are handicap accessible. Due to COVID-19 protocols, the theater and many of the exhibits were closed during our visit.

The visitor center has paved parking for about 150 passenger vehicles, fourteen RVs or buses, and six handicap-placarded vehicles. A covered pavilion houses four picnic tables.

Information boards

Visitor Center from the ramp

Front of the visitor center

Covered picnic tables

Entrance Hall

Bookstore

Open exhibits

Closed exhibit hall

Visible exhibits in closed exhibit hall

Topographic map model

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.

Sandstone Falls - New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Sandstone Falls is the largest waterfall on the New River. Its two main falls span the river from bank to island to bank with a drop of ten to twenty-five feet. The crest of the river left falls is over 400 feet while the crest of the river left falls is about 800 feet. The falls are located a few miles north of Hinton, West Virginia in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. 

To reach the waterfall from the Sandstone Visitor Center at exit 139 on Interstate-64, head south on Meadow Creek Road 0.3 miles until it becomes WV-20. Continue south on WV-20 for 10.3 miles following the designated one-way Summers Street in Hinton before turning left onto 2nd Ave, driving two blocks, and turning right onto Temple Street. Once back on Temple Street, drive 0.3 miles south crossing the New River just south of the town. Once across the river, turn right onto Madams Creek Road/New River Road, also known as County Route 26. Continue north on New River Road for 8.3 miles to a parking area on the right for the Sandstone Falls day-use area. Gravel pull-in parking is provided for possibly three dozen vehicles. We visited in October 2021 and hiked the quarter-mile boardwalk, but did not hike the Island Loop Trail. 

Boardwalk trailhead

Information boards

Bridge over a man-made channel that once diverted water to a water-powered gristmill

The upstream end of the diversion

The river-left series of waterfalls

Another view

Continuing on the boardwalk

Waterfall visible through the fall foliage

Island Loop Trail trailhead

Bridge over a natural channel

A portion of the river-left falls and a natural channel

Calm water below the bridge

Access to the "beach"

Another opportunity to explore

View of part of the river-right falls from the boardwalk

Rapids just downstream from the river-right falls

Another view of the river-right falls

A closer view

A closer view of a different section of the falls

Another view of the rapids

A closer view

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.