We had the opportunity to visit New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia shortly after it was officially designated a national park. I had been seeing pictures of New River Gorge all over social media, and they were basically calling us there! We visited over spring break with our boys, my parents and my nephew, so we were looking for things to do at New River Gorge with kids and a pretty big range of ages.
It’s been a while since this trip, but there are a few things I definitely remember!
Grandview Rim Trail 🥾
One of the views I had seen over and over before our trip was the huge horseshoe-shaped bend in the New River from Grandview. I knew I wanted to see it for myself, so we made this one of our stops on the way to our house.
Grandview Rim Trail is about 1.6–1.8 miles one way and gives you an incredible bird’s-eye view of the New River curving through the gorge below. You don’t necessarily have to hike the entire trail to enjoy the views, either.
Tunnel Trail 🥾
We also did Tunnel Trail at New River Gorge, which was really cool and much shorter at about half a mile. It was a great option for our family because we could fit in another hike without committing to several more miles.
The trail takes you through the woods and past these huge sandstone formations, including a narrow, cave-like rock passage. This was probably the part the kids thought was the coolest.
I will say, parts of the trail are very narrow. At one point I was pretty sure we were going to lose my mom off the side. 😂 So I probably wouldn’t recommend this one for anyone who is a little less steady on their feet.
Where We Stayed 🏡
We stayed in a much bigger house than we normally would because my parents and nephew were traveling with us on this trip.
We stayed at The Redstar Cabin, and it worked really well for our group. It had a hot tub and pool table, which gave everyone something to do when we weren’t exploring the park. There were even trails within the neighborhood that led to waterfalls, so the location itself gave us more to explore.
Horseback Riding 🐴
One afternoon we went horseback riding through the mountains, which was such a nice way to see another side of the area.
There are actually a TON of outdoor activities around New River Gorge. Because we had such a wide range of ages with us on this trip, there were several things we considered but ultimately decided to save for another time.
Which just gives us an excuse to go back!
What We Want to Do Next Time
There are already a few things on my list for our next trip:
Zip lining
This seems like the perfect place to do it with the gorge and mountains as the backdrop. [Check out the zip lining tour here.]
Jet boat through the gorge
I love the idea of seeing New River Gorge from down on the water instead of only from above. [Check out the jet boat tour here.]
Whitewater rafting
New River Gorge is known for its whitewater rafting, so I feel like we almost have to do this eventually. Whether I will actually be brave enough when the time comes is another story. 😂 [Check out the whitewater rafting options here.]
When We Visited 🌧️
We visited in early April over spring break, and unfortunately, it had been rainy. Everything was wet, and spring hadn’t really sprung yet.
We still had a great trip, but if we went back, I’d love to see New River Gorge when everything is green—or in the fall when the leaves are changing. If you’re planning a spring trip, I’d definitely pack layers, rain gear and shoes that can handle some mud!
Even with the less-than-perfect weather, though, I could absolutely see why this place had been made a national park. Between the gorge, river, overlooks, trails, waterfalls, and all the outdoor adventures in the area, New River Gorge definitely deserves another trip for our family.
Go get lost! 🌎
Planning this trip? ✈️
Ready to start planning your own Shenandoah adventure? Here are a few places to start:
🏠 Find places to stay on Expedia or VRBO.
🚗 Compare rental cars on Expedia.
🗺️ Plan your road trip route with Roadtrippers.
🎟️ Find tours & activities on Expedia.
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