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Located in West Virginia, New River Gorge National Park offers a great and affordable outdoor experience to its guests. With miles of trails, stunning vistas, white water rapids, and waterfalls, New River Gorge is an outdoor dream adventure. But how long does a traveler need to spend in the park to truly enjoy it?

New River Gorge National Park is open all year round and always offers an incredible experience to those that visit. Travelers can enjoy campsites of their choosing while taking in the park their way. Knowing how many days to spend at this park is all about understanding what the traveler wants from the park and the pace they want to experience it. So here’s how to know how many days travelers will need.

Planning The Itinerary For New River Gorge National Park

With so much to do at New River Gorge National Park, so one traveler's itinerary could look quite a bit different from another. To make sure travelers design the ideal itinerary for them. An ideal Itinerary in this state park usually involves about three days but doesn't necessarily have to; here are a few things they should keep in mind.

Scheduling The Trip

Picking the time of year that travelers visit the park strongly dictates which activities they can partake in. For multiple-day visits, it is recommended to visit between April and October. The park is open year-round, but outside of winter outdoors enthusiasts; there is generally less to do during the winter months.

  • Open - Year-Round
  • Recommendation - April to October

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The Types Of Park Geography

While in the park, travelers will experience a great deal of the geography of the park. Those in the park should take some time to study what they may encounter, so they can properly prepare for it. Here is a look at some prominent geographical features in the park and a bit about them.

  • Canyon Rim - North end of the park with numerous hiking and biking trails.
  • Thurmond Historic District - An overlook and an old mining town, popular with history buffs.
  • Grandview - Two great hiking trails and a view of the New River.
  • Sandstone Falls - An impressive waterfall on the southern end of the park.

Preparing For The Trip

Travelers visiting River Gorge State Park will need to prepare a couple of things before they can fully begin their adventure. Checking their equipment and making sure they have everything essential for their desired activities is incredibly important for travelers. Also, travelers should be sure to understand the park's policies to ensure the best experience.

Camping in the Park

Travelers to the park will not need to make reservations or pay for their campsites. The runs on a first-come-first-served basis. Travelers will be able to pick out their own desired location or more freely across the park as they desire. For more information, check out the state website's details page.

Preparing a Vehicle

One of those things travelers will need for this park is a car. Any standard vehicle is acceptable, and cars are rentable. Without a car, it becomes quite difficult to effectively navigate the park.

  • Vehicle - Required
  • Type - Any Standard
  • Car Rental

Related: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Congaree National Park

How To Enjoy The Park

With so much to do in this park, the outdoor enthusiast will have no trouble spending several days adventuring through this park. With an abundance of riding trails, rock climbing, and vistas, travelers can pass the time exploring and reaching scenic areas such as Grandview or Sandstone Falls. Or perhaps they can venture to the river, where they can experience a white water rafting experience.

  • New River Gorge Bridge Walk - Link
  • White Water Rafting - Link
  • Mountain Biking - Trail Guide
  • Rock Climbing - Guide
  • Drive Fayette Station Road - Guide
  • Visit Grandview Overlook - Link
  • Visit Sandstone Falls - Link

Hiking New River Gorge National Park

Hiking is one of the better aspects of the park, with such a variety of trails to choose from. Travelers can experience incredible vistas from high points in the park as well as the wildlife that calls this park home. Here are four trails to check out during a visit to the park.

Obey The Seven Principles

While in the park, travelers are asked to respect the seven principles of Leave-No-Trace, which is a policy the park adheres to. Overall the principles are pretty straightforward and fairly easy to adhere to for conscientious travelers. Here is a quick look at what the seven principles are.

  • Plan Ahead & Prepare
  • Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
  • Dispose of Waste Properly
  • Leave What You Find
  • Minimize Campfire Impacts
  • Respect Wildlife
  • Be Considerate of Others