Looking to take a trip to the New River Gorge in Fayetteville, WV? If we haven’t met, I’m Gina, and I’m an aesthetic traveler who was born and raised in wild & wonderful West Virginia. Although I didn’t grow up near Fayetteville, it’s become one of my favorite parts of the state for it’s scenic beauty, amazing restaurants, and small-town charm. If you’re looking for the perfect West Virginia weekend getaway, New River Gorge in Fayetteville should be at the top of your list. As always, use the Contact Me form at the bottom or message me on Instagram with any questions about this post!
Upon entering the town of Fayetteville, you will see a sign that reads “Coolest Small Town”…and honestly, they’re not wrong. Fayetteville is home to New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia’s first and only national park and one of the most popular destinations in the entire state. There are a ton of things to do in the park, but my favorite thing is just walking around and taking in all the beauty.
Even if you’re unfamiliar with Fayetteville, you’ve likely heard of its most famous structure: the New River Gorge Bridge. This bridge is the longest steel span arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most iconic symbols of West Virginia. With a staggering arch that rises 876 feet above the New River, this engineering marvel offers breathtaking views in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. In fact, we love this bridge so much that we have an annual event known as Bridge Day during the 3rd weekend of October. I won’t ruin the surprise for you yet – but keep scrolling. It’s a huge tourist attraction and something we as West Virginians are extremely proud of.
When is the Best Time to Visit The New River Gorge?
IMO, fall is the best time to visit the Gorge, with summer being a close second. Summer is great because of all the outdoor activities that you’ll read about below, but I have to say there is NOTHING like West Virginia in the fall. Maybe I’m biased, but I think we have the prettiest fall foliage.
I know. I KNOW. You’re coming in the fall now aren’t you. The other good thing about fall in WV is it’s still warm enough to do plenty of outdoor activities. And with this as your backdrop…phew!
- Pro Tip: If you’re a solo traveler and want epic photos of you + the Gorge, I recommend taking this tripod with you.
Things to Do in Fayetteville and The New River Gorge
1. New River Gorge Bridge Walk
If you’re terrified of heights, jump to the next section. If you want to walk underneath one of the most notable symbols of West Virginia and a bridge that made history, keep reading!
New River Gorge National Park’s Bridge Walk lets you go on a guided tour underneath of the New River Gorge Bridge where you walk from one end of the bridge to the other. Before you freak out, you ARE strapped into a harness! There is a long, steel isle underneath of the bridge with guardrails on each side. For being up 876 feet in the air, I felt pretty safe! The only thing nerve-wracking about this tour was that you could sometimes feel the bridge shake when you weren’t walking!
The tour takes about 2 hours to complete. Your guide will stop multiple times along the way and tell you historical facts and stories about the bridge. My tour guide was Dreama, and she was THE BEST. The views of West Virginia that you get from being up this high are incredible. The New River is underneath of you on both sides, along with the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains.
2. Check Out the Canyon Rim Visitor’s Center
The Canyon Rim Visitor Center in New River Gorge offers a wealth of information, educational exhibits, and stunning panoramic views of the gorge. You can see the New River Gorge Bridge from up-close here, although you are at somewhat of a side-angle. The path to see the bridge from here is called the Canyon Rim Boardwalk. You can walk down here and see the bridge from two different overlooks.
The visitor center is home to a range of exhibits that delve into the natural and cultural history of the New River Gorge. You’ll find displays on the geology of the area, the diverse flora and fauna that call the gorge home, and the human history of the region, including its mining and industrial past. There is also a gift shop inside where you can buy souvenirs!
Outside of the building, there is a display with maps and detailed descriptions of some of the trails. I found this very helpful when I was trying to decide which trails I wanted to hike, because I could read about the views, how to get to the different trailheads, and what to expect while hiking.
3. Hike One of Fayetteville’s Most Popular Trails
Fayetteville and the New River Gorge area have a plethora of hiking trails that outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy. I have only hiked 2 of them – Long Point Trail and Endless Wall Trail/Diamond Point – so those are the 2 I’ll be speaking about. Both of these trails have incredible views, and isn’t that why we go hiking? I mean, okay, the exercise…but THE VIEWS!!!
Long Point Trail – for Bridge Views
If you want a hike with an epic view of the New River Gorge Bridge, you want to hike Long Point Trail. To get here, type “Long Point Trailhead” into Google maps. The trailhead is located just off of Gatewood Road to your left, and is relatively easy to find!
Long Point Trail is roughly 3 miles long and ends at an overlook where you get unparalleled views of the New River Gorge Bridge. It’s a relatively easy hike until you get towards the end, and then there are some steep areas with roots, bushes, and trees that you have to maneuver around.
I should also point out that there are no markers or cairns along the way to guide you through the trail, but I did feel like it was easy to stay on the path! Once you get close to the end, there is an overlook towards the right that gives you great views of the Appalachian Mountains. Keep going past this, and you’ll get to where you can see the bridge.
- Pro Tip: This trail does NOT loop around. Once you reach the end, you have to turn around and come back the same way.
Endless Wall Trail/Diamond Point – for Gorge Views
Endless Wall Trail has incredible panoramic views of the New River Gorge but does NOT have good views of the bridge. The hike is relatively easy, and is roughly 3.2 miles long. It took me about an hour and a half to hike it, including time for photos.
Endless Wall Trail is located on Lansing-Edmond Road. To get to the trail, there are are two trailhead parking lots you can use: Fern Creek and Nuttall. When you’re hiking this trail, you’ll start your hike at one trailhead and end at the other.
- Fern Creek Trailhead is the first parking lot you will come to after turning down Lansing-Edmond Road.
- Nuttall Trailhead is another parking lot located 0.5 miles up the road from Fern Creek.
I recommend parking at Fern Creek because once you end at Nuttall, it will be a downhill walk to your car. This way, you won’t have to walk uphill after hiking 3.2 miles (and yes, I learned this the hard way).
When you’re on Endless Wall Trail, you will come across multiple lookout points. Diamond Point is the most popular lookout spot, located towards the middle of trail. Here, you will get the most epic views of The Gorge:
- Pro Tip: Most of the lookout spots are towards the middle of the trail. In other words, you’ll have to walk for a bit before you come to any scenic overlooks no matter which trailhead you start at.
Similar to Long Point, Endless Wall doesn’t have any trail markers or cairns along the path, but I still found it easy to navigate because the trail is very well laid out. Normally I will use the AllTrails app to make sure I know where I’m going, but I didn’t have to for this hike!
4. Take a Jeep Tour with New River ATV
Going on a Jeep tour with New River ATV is one of the best ways to see the New River Gorge in all its beauty. You’ll spend 4.5-5 hours riding in a comfy Jeep Wrangler all though the back roads of the gorge and surrounding areas, taking in West Virginia’s beauty. During the tour, you’ll see historic places like Thurmond (a ghost town!), Beury Mountain, and Babcock State Park. For those of you who are REALLY adventurous, New River ATV also offers side-by-side, motorcycle, and (of course) ATV tours.
During the tour, there will be places to stop and walk around, so make sure you wear tennis shoes. My tour guide, Mike, was amazing and taught us a lot about the history of Fayetteville and the New River Gorge, and made sure we all had snacks and drinks. This is a great activity for families, friends, dates, and anyone wishing to experience a guided tour of the New River Gorge…and if you don’t believe me, believe the ~1,000 5-star reviews on Google 😉.
- Note – There are places to stop for restrooms and snacks during the tour.
5. Go White Water Rafting
- Disclaimer: I’ve never gone white water rafting at New River Gorge, but I know it’s a VERY popular activity. A lot of my friends and colleagues have gone, and they all had great things to say about their experience.
New River Gorge offers rafting experiences suitable for all skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rafter, you’ll find a trip that suits your abilities. The most popular rafting area is in the Lower New River. This area is great because you get to experience the intensity of the rapids while also paddling through some calmer areas that lets you relax, swim, check out wildlife, and more.
If you’re looking to book, two popular companies are Adventures on the Gorge and ACE Adventure Resort. Both companies provides a wide range of white water rafting activities.
6. Explore the (Adorable) Downtown Area
Court Street in downtown Fayetteville is home to numerous boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, and more. You will also find a lot of neat places along the side streets that run perpendicular to Court St. There’s a lot of street parking in this area, and I REALLY liked how I didn’t have to struggle to find a place to park!
7. Plan Your Trip Around Bridge Day
Ask any native West Virginian, and they will tell you Bridge Day is essentially a national holiday here in West Virginia. Every year on the 3rd Saturday in October, thousands of people gather on the New River Gorge Bridge to celebrate the bridge’s unique history.
But it’s not just about history. We have also turned Bridge Day into an extreme sport. What makes Bridge Day truly special is the opportunity for extreme sports enthusiasts to leap off the bridge into the water 876 feel below! Every year, B.A.S.E. jumpers (Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth) and rappellers descend from the bridge, creating a thrilling spectacle for onlookers. They don’t call us “wild and wonderful” for nothing 😉.
- At present time, you must have made 50 prior parachute jumps, skydives and/or BASE jumps to participate.
BUT – please know that Bridge Day isn’t just about adrenaline rushes; it’s also a celebration of Appalachian culture! Visitors can enjoy local food, traditional music, and craft vendors selling handmade products.
A Few Must-Try Restaurants in Fayetteville
Fayetteville has a plethora of adorable restaurants to choose from, but I will highlight the few places that I have been (and loved):
Things to Pack When Visiting The New River Gorge
If you plan on doing a lot of hiking or outdoor activities around New River Gorge (and you should, because that’s what this area is known for!), here is a list of things to make sure you pack:
- Sturdy hiking boots or shoes
- Clothing you can layer (for example, a light jacket and pants)
- A backpack to carry essentials such as water, snacks, maps, and extra layers.
- A refillable water bottle or hydration reservoir to stay hydrated during your hike.
- Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses
- First-aid kit with bandaids, gauze, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers
- A waterproof bag and/or clothing you can get wet, if you plan on doing white water rafting
Where to Stay in Fayetteville/New River Gorge
A few top-rated accommodations in Fayetteville and the surrounding areas (Oak Hill) include:
- The Evergreens Cabin (with hot tub, sauna, and fire pit)
- Dog-friendly home with hot tub
- Family-Friendly Sanctuary with BBQ, Patio and Yard
Additionally, I have stayed in The Barn Loft on AirBNB, a refurbished barn located near downtown Fayetteville. It’s gorgeous and perfect for a romantic getaway! Of note, you’ll only be able to book during late spring, summer, and early fall, as the barn has no heat or A/C.
Of note, there are rungs on the inside of the barn to climb up to get to the second level, which may impact those with mobility issues. Also, the bathroom is inside of the main house, NOT inside of the barn. But OMG is it beautiful and peaceful. The location is perfect, there’s a coffee maker and table setup inside, and the bed is SO COMFY. The host also has a drawer of toiletry items in case you forget something!
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