Hannah | August 2026
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New River Gorge National Park was one of those trips where I really had no idea what to expect. Dylan and I set a goal to visit all 63 national parks, and since New River Gorge was within driving distance of Northern Virginia, a random Tuesday-through-Thursday trip seemed like the perfect opportunity to check another one off our list.
We drove to West Virginia after the workday Tuesday, spent the next two days hiking and exploring, and headed home Thursday afternoon. Two days ended up feeling like exactly the right amount of time. Between incredible views of the New River Gorge Bridge, quiet trails, scenic drives and very few crowds, West Virginia completely surprised us.
Our 2-Day Itinerary
August 22: Drive from Northern Virginia to West Virginia
Day 1 – August 23: Long Point Trail + Endless Wall Trail + Fayette Station Road + Sunset at Canyon Rim
Day 2 – August 24: Babcock State Park + Grandview Overlook + Castle Rock Trail
Travel Night: Drive From Northern Virginia to West Virginia
Dylan and I drove from Northern Virginia to West Virginia on the evening of August 22, right after the workday. We were so excited to squeeze in a weekday national park trip on short notice. We left around 7 p.m. and caught a beautiful sunset over the highway as we drove to our Airbnb.
We arrived at the Airbnb around 10 p.m., checked ourselves in and pretty much went straight to bed. We had no idea what to expect from New River Gorge—or West Virginia in general—but we were excited to wake up the next morning and start exploring.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at The Eyrie at Beauty Mountain, a little loft cabin in Edmond, West Virginia, just outside Fayetteville. The location was perfect for our short trip because we were close to New River Gorge National Park and everything we wanted to do was a short drive away.
The cabin was simple and cozy. We mostly needed somewhere comfortable to shower, sleep and relax. I would definitely recommend the stay!
Day 1: Long Point Trail + Endless Wall Trail + Fayette Station Road + Sunset at Canyon Rim
Long Point Trail
We started our first day at New River Gorge National Park around 9 a.m. at Long Point Trail, and it could not have been a better start to the day. It was the perfect chilly August morning. Parking was easy, the trail was well marked and simple to follow, and the view was unbeatable.
Long Point Trail is a 3.2-mile out-and-back trail that gives you an incredible view of the gorge and the New River Gorge Bridge. We had the entire overlook to ourselves for a while. Dylan and I sat on the rocks, relaxed for a bit and enjoyed some trail snacks before turning around and heading back to the car. From there, we drove to the Endless Wall trailhead.
Endless Wall Trail
We made our way to the Endless Wall Trail, where the parking can be a little tricky. The NPS website notes that the Fern Creek Trailhead parking area is small and frequently fills up. If it’s full, don’t park along Lansing-Edmond Road—cars may be towed. Instead, the NPS recommends trying the Nuttall Trailhead parking area about half a mile away. Once we were on the hike, I quickly understood how the trail got its name. From the overlook, the massive rock wall seems to stretch on forever before eventually curving away into a forest of green.
The Endless Wall Trail is a 2.4-mile moderate walk but offers an easy turnaround point at Diamond Point, about 1 mile in. The scenery here was different from Long Point. Instead of looking toward the bridge, we looked down into the gorge, with the New River below and train tracks running alongside it. We only ran into a few people on our hike, which made the trail feel especially peaceful.
We were aiming for Diamond Point as our turnaround point, although I’m honestly still not 100% sure whether we actually reached it. According to our mileage, we had made it about one mile in, so we decided it was time to turn back. Either way, the views were beautiful, and the trail was absolutely worth adding to our day.
Fayette Station Road
After finishing our hikes, we decided to drive Fayette Station Road, an 8-mile, one-way scenic drive that winds down into the gorge and underneath the New River Gorge Bridge.
We followed the road to the bottom of the gorge, parked near the river and walked toward the beach. We sat on some boulders and stuck our feet in the water. After the two hikes, taking off our boots and dipping our toes in felt like almost heaven.
While we were sitting there, a train passed by on the tracks right across the river from us! We hung out on the rocks for a while, listened to music and eventually continued the drive back to our Airbnb. This was exactly what we needed after a busy morning of hiking.
Sunset at Canyon Rim Visitor Center
After seeing the bridge from Long Point that morning and relaxing underneath it that afternoon, watching the sunset from Canyon Rim felt like the perfect full-circle ending to our first day in the park.
We took some photos as the sun went down and finished the night with ice cream before heading back to our Airbnb.
Day 2: Babcock State Park + Grandview Main Overlook + Castle Rock Trail
Babcock State Park
We started our second morning with breakfast at the Airbnb before making a quick stop at Babcock State Park. We arrived at 9 a.m., walked around, took some photos—including a few on the Almost Heaven swing, the most Instagrammed spot in WV—and enjoyed the scenery before heading back toward New River Gorge National Park.
Grandview Main Overlook
Once we arrived at Grandview around 10:30 a.m., we had another moment of realization that our midweek timing paid off. There was next to no one around, and the main overlook was almost directly off of the parking lot.
The view was unbelievable. After all of the hiking we had done the day before, I loved that we could walk just a few steps from the car and get such an incredible panorama of the gorge. I just remember thinking, “West Virginia… who knew, right?!”
Castle Rock Trail
From the Grandview overlook, we drove to Castle Rock Trail around 11 a.m. for one last hike before driving home. We walked the one-mile loop alongside enormous rock formations with huge cracks and joints running through them. Dylan and I felt like ants next to them. It was completely different from the wide-open gorge and bridge views we’d spent most of the trip chasing. This hike is considered strenuous, so always make sure you check the NPS website for recommendations and any closures.
It was such a fun final adventure at New River Gorge. Once we finished, we made our way back to the car and started the drive home.
What I Would Do Differently
Honestly? Nothing. For the amount of time we had, this trip worked out almost perfectly. Traveling during the week helped us avoid the crowds, and we fit in the hikes and overlooks we wanted to see without feeling rushed. We had plenty of time to slow down and enjoy the park.
Of course, there is plenty more to do if you have extra time. New River Gorge is known for whitewater rafting, and every fall, Bridge Day brings BASE jumpers and other activities to the New River Gorge Bridge. We didn’t do either on this trip, but they’re definitely worth looking into if you’re planning a longer stay—or your visit happens to line up with Bridge Day.
Overall: Was 2 Days Enough to Visit New River Gorge National Park?
We packed a lot into our two days, and I think it was the right amount of time for us. We saw everything we wanted to see and then some. The National Park Service website also gives itinerary suggestions depending on the length of your visit.
We were genuinely blown away by how beautiful the area was, especially knowing it was only a road trip away from Northern Virginia. The area’s old mining-town history also gave parts of the trip a slightly spooky, almost-haunted vibe, if that’s your thing. We headed home happy to check another national park off our list—and very pleasantly surprised by West Virginia.
Han & Dyl Rating
Han & Dyl Overall Trip Rating: 8/10
Scenery: 7/10
Experience: 8/10
Crowds: 10/10 (for lack thereof)
Would We Go Back? Yes AND… I don’t need to rush back, but we always like to leave a few stones unturned…