Fayette Station Road - New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Before the New River Gorge Bridge was opened in 1977, US-19 was a narrow roadway with several hairpin curves at numerous switchbacks on both sides of the river. The original Fayette Station bridge was built in 1889 and connected the towns of Lansing and Fayetteville, West Virginia. Travel time between the towns was at least 45 minutes and often far longer. With a 65-mph speed limit on the bridge, it is possible to cross the 3030-foot span in just 32 seconds.

Driving the old road south from Lansing down to Fayette Station and back up to Fayetteville was an experience not easily forgotten. Trying to visualize the mostly one-way road as the major transportation link that it once was is almost impossible. We visited New River Gorge National Park & Preserve in late October 2021.

View south from upstream of the new bridge

View south from under the new bridge

View south from downstream of the new bridge

View toward the north abutment

One of the bents supporting the arch bridge

View downstream from the Fayette Station bridge

View upstream

Another view of the arch bridge

View of the one-lane Fayette Station Bridge from the northeast abutment

One more view of the arch bridge

Fayette Station Bridge from the northeast

Rapids downstream of the old bridge

View upstream

Side view of the Fayette Station bridge

Arch bridge from the Fayette Station Day Use Area

South arch abutment

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.

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.