New River Gorge Insider

The most-visited trail in the park — and worth every visitor it gets. The paved out-and-back boardwalk runs from Canyon Rim Visitor Center to two overlook platforms with direct views of the New River Gorge Bridge. One platform is partially covered. The bridge sits 876 feet above the river below. This is the trail for first-timers, families with young kids, and anyone who wants a meaningful view without a significant hike. Canyon Rim Visitor Center is open daily and has restrooms, ranger programs, and the Junior Ranger program for kids. Dogs are allowed on leash.

If a group only has time for one hike during the trip, this is it.

Long Point Trail winds through hardwood forest to a rocky peninsula jutting out over the New River Gorge — the only place in the park where you can stand at the same elevation as the Bridge and look directly at it from the side. The view at the end is one of the best in the park and feels genuinely earned. The trailhead is off Long Point Road in Fayetteville — low traffic, easy parking. Total elevation gain is about 344 feet. Dogs are allowed on leash. The out-and-back takes most people 1.5 to 2 hours.

Endless Wall runs along the gorge rim with sustained views of the river and sandstone cliffs below. The midpoint destination most hikers aim for is Diamond Point — a rocky promontory with views looking directly down the river. The trail surface is rockier than Long Point and requires more attention underfoot, but the continuous scenery makes it worth the focus. The trailhead is off Lansing-Edmond Road, about 10 minutes from Fayetteville. Dogs are allowed on leash. Most people do a portion out-and-back rather than the full one-way distance.

This is the trail most visitors walking the Canyon Rim Boardwalk never find — and one of the most rewarding in the park. Kaymoor Miners Trail descends 820 feet into the gorge via a series of wooden staircases and switchbacks, ending at the ruins of the Kaymoor coking ovens — an industrial site abandoned in the early 1900s. The descent is manageable. The return climb is not casual — plan for twice the time going up as coming down. The trailhead is at the Kaymoor parking area off Gatewood Road, south of Fayetteville. Not recommended with young children or in wet conditions.

An easy loop trail through hardwood forest within New River Gorge National Park, located near Adventures on the Gorge off Ames Heights Road. The trailhead is about 1 mile from Adventure Haven — making it a walkable morning option before rafting or a short wind-down walk in the evening. No gorge views, but the forest is old and quiet. Good for kids, good for dogs on leash, and good for anyone who wants to be in the park without committing to a half-day hike.