New River Gorge National River

Weather in the New River Gorge area is seasonal, and the climate generally mild. Winter can bring significant snowfall, but it is usually short-lived. Summers can be warm and humid.

No Fees.

Reservations available for picnic structures.

New River Gorge National River provides opportunities for primitive camping only. Camping areas are located along the river. These primitive camping areas have no drinking water or hookups, and limited restroom facilities. All sites are managed on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no fees for camping, but campers are required to register with a ranger at the earliest opportunity. Stays are limited to 14 days in the same area. Developed campgrounds are available at state parks and private campgrounds throughout the surrounding area.

There are four primitive camping areas within the park. All are located on maintained gravel roads, but are often located some distance from service stations, markets, and telephones. All of the camping areas provide easy access to the river for fishing and swimming. When swimming, be advised that the New River has powerful currents, rocky banks and shoals, and sudden dropoffs. Always treat the New River with respect and wear a life jacket!

The four camping areas located between Thurmond and Glade Creek are:

• Stone Cliff Beach - Located off Route 25 near Thurmond. Follow the Stone Cliff signs.
• Army Camp - Located on an unmarked dirt road, off Route 41 near Prince. Coming from Beckley, it is the first left after crossing the New River.
• Grandview Sandbar - Located on Glade Creek Road, off Route 41 near Prince. Coming from Beckley, it is a well-marked right hand turn before crossing the New River.

The following campground is currently accessible only by boat or by foot, as Glade Creek Road is closed for repairs.

• Glade Creek - Located at the end of Glade Creek Road, off Route 41 near Prince. Coming from Beckley, it is a well-marked right hand turn before crossing the New River.

Regulations
At Army Camp, Glade Creek, Grandview Sandbar and StoneCliff, camping is permitted on a first-come, first-served basis as follows:

• Two vehicles permitted per site.
• Quiet hours are from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
• Two camping units (tent or RV) with a maximum of 8 people per site.
• Camp only in designated campsites.
• Limit of 14 days within a 28-day period.
• Public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and possession of alcohol by minors is prohibited.
• Possession and use of firearms is prohibited in the camping area.
• Pets must be kept on a leash.
• You are in a national park area, help protect it:
• Littering is strictly prohibited.

Use existing fire rings.

• Burn only dead wood found on the ground.
• Do not drive nails into trees, or hang lanterns against trees.
• Please use the provided toilet facilities.
• Broken glass is a hazard to all -- use plastic and aluminum containers when possible.
• Respect other river users.

Group Camping
The park has two camping areas available for group camping. One is located off U. S. Route 19 across from Canyon Rim Visitor Center. The other is located along the New River at Dunglen (across from Thurmond). Both these sites require a Special Use Permit.

More Information
For general camping information, call the main park number at 304-465-0508 (weekdays only).

To request an application for group camping, call 304-465-6517 (weekdays only).

New River Gorge National River provides a variety of different trails throughout the park. Peaceful forest trails, superb overlooks, and historic scenery are all found here. The trails available consist of park service trails that are marked and maintained, trails within lands administered by state parks, and undeveloped trails and abandoned roads.

Trails range from 1/4 mile to 7 miles in length. Several can be easily connected to make for longer excursions. Difficulty varies from flat, smooth walking to steep challenging terrain. Trail recommendations and maps are offered at Canyon Rim, Grandview, Sandstone, and Thurmond visitor centers. Much of the land within the National Park Service authorized boundaries remains private property: please respect the owners' rights.

Here are a few selected trails to consider:

• Brooklyn – Southside Junction Trail
• Endless Wall Trail
• Glade Creek Trail
• Kaymoor Trail
• Thurmond – Minden Trail

Trail Etiquette:

• Pack it in, Pack it out. Pocket all your trash, including cigarette butts and candy wrappers, and dispose of it properly.
• Wildflowers, wildlife, and historic objects all contribute to the beauty we came to see. Leave them undisturbed.
• Keep pets on a leash at all times.
• Bicycles are only permitted on designated bike trails.
• Courtesy and common sense on the trail can help provide an enjoyable experience for all. Respect the rights of others.

Helpful Information for Climbers

Safety First
Climbing has inherent risks and hazards, and is a potentially dangerous activity. A variety of skills and techniques are required to ensure a safe climbing experience. Please seek qualified instruction before venturing onto the cliffs. Many of the climbing locations are located miles from roads, and rescue is difficult. Please, climb smart! In case of emergency, call 911.

Within the 63,000 acres of New River Gorge National River are over 1,400 established rock climbs. "The New" has become one of the most popular climbing areas in the country. The cliffs at New River Gorge are made up of a very hard sandstone, and range from 30 to 120 feet in height. The rock is very featured, and an abundance of crack and face routes are available. Most of the routes in the gorge favor the advanced and expert climber. The majority of routes are 5.9 and harder, and most sport routes fall in the 5.10 - 5.12 range. A guidebook is an essential tool for locating climbs, and local climbing shops can offer information and specific recommendations.

Climbing Season
The climbing season at New River extends from April through November. The best months are usually late April to mid-June, and mid-September to late October.

Food and Water
Water is available at the spring on Route 82, one mile past Bridge Buttress, and at Canyon Rim Visitor Center. There are numerous markets and eating establishments in nearby towns.

Showers
Showers can be purchased at many of the private campgrounds in the area. Please do not bathe in the restrooms at park visitor centers.

Camping
There are many private campgrounds located within easy driving distance from the climbing areas. Primitive camping is allowed on park property. Camping is prohibited within 100 feet of parking areas, water sources, historic sites, or the top rim of the cliffs.

Private Property
There are many areas of private property within the New River Gorge, including some within the park boundary. Do not trespass on private property!

Parking and Security
Park in designated parking locations -- do not block roads or driveways. Always change clothes out of view. For security reasons, do not leave vehicles unattended overnight at parking areas or trailheads. Hide or remove all valuables while climbing, and lock vehicles.

Climbing Regulations

Within the 63,000 acres of New River Gorge National River are over 1400 established rock climbs. "The New" has become one of the most popular climbing areas in the country. Over one million people visit New River Gorge each year, thousands of whom are climbers. With this large number of visitors, park issues develop that can only be solved through everyone's cooperation.

Briefly, the National Park Service mission is to protect park resources for future generations, while providing opportunities to enjoy these resources at present. This task is obviously a difficult one, balancing resource protection and visitor use. Park managers are concerned about the impacts of visitors and climbers in the areas of soil erosion and compaction, vegetation damage, human waste disposal, cultural resources, and overcrowding. Please do what you can, as a climber, to limit your impact on New River Gorge and preserve it for future generations.

There are many areas of private property within the New River Gorge. Always acknowledge the landowners' rights. Respect all gate, fences, and no trespassing signs. Do not trespass on private land!

Guidelines and Regulations

• Leave historical and natural objects undisturbed for the next visitor.
• The use of motorized drills is by permit only.
• Do not trespass on private property.
• Park only in designated parking areas.
• Use existing trails whenever possible.
• Pets must be on a leash.
• Pack it in, pack it out.

Boating

The New River begins high in the mountains of western North Carolina, crosses Virginia, and enters West Virginia near its southernmost tip. It then heads north to join the Gauley River, and form the Kanawha River. In so doing, it manages to transect every ridge of the Alleghenies. Its name is actually a misnomer in that it may be one of the oldest rivers in the world.

New River Gorge National River includes 53 miles of free-flowing New River, beginning at Bluestone Dam and ending at Hawks Nest Lake. The New River typifies big West Virginia style whitewater. Within the park it has two very different characters. The upper (southern) part of the river consists primarily of long pools, and relatively easy rapids up to Class III. It is a big powerful river, but very beautiful, always runnable, and providing excellent fishing and camping. There are a number of different river access points, and trips can run from several hours to several days.

The lower (northern) section of river is often referred to as "the Lower Gorge." In a state that is justifiably renowned for colossal rapids, the Lower Gorge has some of the biggest of the big with rapids ranging in difficulty from Class III to Class V. The rapids are imposing and forceful, many of them obstructed by large boulders which necessitate maneuvering in very powerful currents, crosscurrents, and hydraulics. Some rapids contain hazardous undercut rocks. Although the gradient is a modest 20 ft/mi, the rapids are of the full-grown West Virginia variety: big, brawny, and bodacious!

Fishing

Fishing at New River Gorge

Fishing is one of the most popular activities on the New River. The diversity of fish in its waters makes the New River an excellent warm water fishery. With proper respect for the river and its resources and a few safety precautions, anglers can enjoy a quality fishing experience.

Public river access points within New River Gorge National River are available at the Hinton Visitor Center on Rt. 20 bypass; Tug Creek Beach, Brooks Falls, Hellems Beach, and Sandstone Falls via River Road at Hinton; Meadow Creek; McCreery, Grandview Sandbar, Mill Creek, and Glade Creek off Hwy. 41 near Prince; Dun Glen and Stone Cliff near Thurmond; Cunard; and Fayette Station.

To access the New River across private property, one must receive permission from the land owner.

Other places to fish include Bluestone National Scenic River, Gauley River National Recreation Area, Meadow River, Greenbrier River, Bluestone Lake, and Summersville Lake.

A Time to Fish

Spring and fall are the best times of the year to fish the New River. During these seasons, water temperatures are in transition between cold winter temperatures and warm summer temperatures. Most fish species are more active in cooler water and are more aggressively feeding during the spring and fall.

The best times of the day to fish are early morning and late evening. Most fish prey is much more active at these times; therefore, more fish are out feeding. Some species of fish feed at night, providing anglers an opportunity for night fishing.

Catching Your Fish

The New River offers anglers the opportunity to catch bass (Smallmouth, Largemouth, Striped, and Rock), Walleye, Muskellunge, Crappie, Bluegill, Carp, or Flathead and Channel Catfish.

Nightcrawlers and hellgrammites are common bait used for fishing. Popular artificial lures are top-water crank-baits, spinner baits, minnows, or crawfish. Dark-colored lures work better in murky water conditions and bright-colored lures in clear water.

The Smallmouth Bass is one of the more abundant species found in the New River. A variety of artificial lures may be used. Top-water lures used late in the evening are an excellent choice. Live bait, such as nightcrawlers or hellgrammites, can increase the odds of catching bass.

The Rock Bass is not an aggressive fighter; however, it is an aggressive biter. This species of Sunfish will hit anything from crank-baits to nightcrawlers. A preferred lure to use is the twister-tail grub.

The Walleye is commonly fished for in the fall when water temperatures cool down. It may be caught using crank-baits, jigs, jig and minnow combinations, and nightcrawlers. You should fish deeper water for Walleye.

Flathead and Channel Catfish can be caught on similar bait. Although Channel Catfish may occasionally strike a crank-bait, live bait is a wiser choice. Types of live bait to use include nightcrawlers, hellgrammites (both black and yellow phases), and crayfish. Minnows may also be used when fishing for catfish.

The Muskellunge or Musky can be caught on a variety of crank and spinner-baits. Top-water crank-baits appear to be a successful choice for catching Muskies. The Musky can also be caught using live bait.

Trout are present in several tributaries of the New River. West Virginia’s Division of Natural Resources stocks these tributaries each spring with Golden, Rainbow, Brook, and Brown Trout. Trout fishing can be enjoyed on these streams within the park: Meadow, Glade, Dunloup, Glade at Babcock State Park, or Mill Creeks and Gauley Meadow, or Little Bluestone rivers. A trout stamp is required when fishing for trout.

Catch and Release

Catch and release ensures fishing opportunities for future generations. Glade Creek from the pedestrian bridge 3 miles down to the New River is designated a catch and release for trout. The New River from the I-64 bridge at Sandstone 12 miles downstream to the Grandview Sandbar is designated catch and release for Black Bass. This includes Smallmouth, Spotted, and Largemouth Bass.

Survival of the fish being released depends upon how well the angler handles the fish while catching and unhooking it. Several basic guidelines to follow are:

• return the fish to the water as soon as possible
• unhook the fish in the water
• handle the fish as little as possible
• use needle-nose pliers to remove the hook
• remove the hook quickly and carefully
• move fish back and forth in the water to move
• water through its gills until it can swim away

Fishing Safety

Safety on the river will always make your fishing trip an enjoyable experience and possibly could save a life. Some safety tips are:

• always wear a life jacket around the river
• never drink alcohol while fishing
• remain seated while in a boat
• never fish alone; take a friend along
• do not wade in water above your knees
• fish at least 100 feet away from a boat launch

Regulations

All persons fishing in the park are required to have a West Virginia fishing license. Year long and 3-day tourist licenses are available at area sporting goods stores and bait shops.

Much of the land within the National Park Service authorized boundaries remains private property: please respect the owners' rights.

The beautiful landscapes and less challenging bike routes make the New River Gorge among the most popular destinations for mountain biking trips in the eastern U.S. Bike shops, mountain biking trails, outfitters and companies offering guided biking tours of the New River Gorge and nearby areas may be found throughout the region.

The park currently allows bicycles on the following trails within New River Gorge National River:

• Brooklyn to Southside Junction
• Cunard to Kaymoor Trail
• Thurmond to Minden Trail

Bicycles are also permitted on the Bluestone Turnpike Trail at Bluestone National Scenic River.

Mountain biking trails are also found at nearby Summersville Lake and Little Beaver State Park.

Cyclists are asked to follow these rules and guidelines:

• Only ride on trails open to bicycles.
• Leave no trace - pack it in, pack it out.
• Control your bicycle!
• Be considerate of other trail users.
• Do not disturb or scare birds or animals.
• Plan ahead.