The Best 2-Day New River Gorge Winter Itinerary.
Winter is the off-season at New River Gorge National Park. It’s ideal for people who prefer to avoid summer crowds or seek solitude from the busy holiday season. Here is the 2-day New River Gorge winter itinerary that you can steal. It is based on our experiences when visiting the park.
Our 2-day itinerary at New River Gorge National Park is a little different. We visited New River Gorge in December for the first day, and our second day was on New Year’s Day.
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You can do it two days straight, but it didn’t work for our Christmas road trip itinerary from Dallas, Texas, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In our case, it made the second day more serene with the accumulation of snow on the ground and more snowfall during our visit.
New River Gorge National Park is open daily and has free admission. It is one of the pet-friendly National Parks in the country.
– Read more: 2 Days in Acadia National Park with a Dog (or Without)
– Read more: One Day in Dog-Friendly Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio.
2-Day New River Gorge Winter Itinerary
Day 1 – AM
– Visiting Canyon Rim Visitor Center.
It is the main visitor center for learning the park’s history, natural, cultural, and recreational aspects, as well as area information. There’s an 11-minute orientation video about the park that you shouldn’t skip.
The Canyon Rim Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Days).
Address: 162 Visitor Center Road, Lansing, WV 25862.
– Walk the Canyon Rim Boardwalk.
It is an easy/strenuous 0.1-mile/0.16 km trail to the left of the Visitor Center.
At the end of the trail, you will see exceptional views of the New River Gorge Bridge and the gorge.
The walk to the upper deck is accessible, while 178 steps descend to the lower overlook.
Watch your step for ice on the ramp and the steps.
– Hike the Endless Wall Trail.
The trail will take you to Diamond Point. It’s where you see the New River almost 1,000 feet below, the sandstone walls that gave the trail its name, and the New River Gorge Bridge in the distance.
You will start from Fern Creek Trailhead or Nuttal Trailhead and hike for about 2.4 miles.
It is one of the best hiking trails recommended by the Park Ranger, and it’s dog-friendly. Keep your dog on a leash at all times.
Bring your crampons, in case you need them. We brought ours, but we didn’t have to wear them even though there was snow on the ground.
– Drive the Fayette Station Road.
It is one of the scenic drives in the park, beginning from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center.
Fayette Station Road is primarily a one-lane road that winds down beneath the New River Gorge Bridge and into the gorge.
There are roadside exhibits with information on the history of mining, transportation, and life in the gorge. Stop, read, and enjoy the views along the road.
Call the park for closure.
Day 1 – PM
– Lunch at Fayetteville.
Fayetteville is the end of Fayette Station Road. It’s a place for lunch before you continue exploring the park.
We had lunch at Cathedral Cafe. I searched before our trip and was intrigued by the restaurant’s location. It’s inside an old church with beautiful stained glass windows.
While I enjoyed my salad, my husband and son weren’t impressed with the food. It’s too fancy for them.
You may want to check out Southside Junction Tap House, Secret Sandwich Society, or The Take Out. They’re all on the same street as Cathedral Cafe.
Cathedral Cafe address: 134 S Court St., Fayetteville, West Virginia.
– Hike the Long Point Trail.
Long Point is one of the favorite spots to see the New River Gorge Bridge from a distance. You’ll see lots of pictures posted on this spot.
You will hike on an easy 1.6 miles to get to the Point, with an exceptional 0.2-mile steep section at the end.
The park ranger at the Visitor Center recommended Long Point and Endless Wall hiking trails for our two-day visit to the park.
The Long Point Trailhead is 2.3 miles or a 5-minute drive from Cathedral Cafe.
– Visit Thurmond Historic District.
Thurmond was a classic coal boomtown in the 1900s with banks, stores, saloons, hotels, and boarding houses overflowing the town.
There’s a railroad running through town that remains active to this day.
You will drive 7 miles on a narrow winding road from US 19 at Glen Jean.
The restored Thurmond Depot serves as an information center and park store during the summer. Typically, Memorial Day to Labor Day.
When you go, drive uphill to see the small community that lives there.
Physical address: 254 River Crest Road, Thurmond, WV 25936.
New River Gorge National Park Winter Itinerary
Day 2 – AM
– Visit Glade Creek Grist Mill at Babcock State Park.
Glade Creek Grist Mill is the most photographed structure in West Virginia, and also one of the most photographed images in the world.
I saw incredible pictures of the mills covered with snow, and I hoped to see it like that on the day we visited the park. And I was lucky. It’s not only covered with snow, but it was snowing when we were there. It felt magical to see it in the winter.
The park is located within the boundaries of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. It is suggested that visitors visit the other side of the gorge. Babcock State Park is one of them.
Babcock State Park is about 20 miles or a 30-minute drive from the New River Gorge Bridge Canyon Rim Visitor Center.
Address: 486 Babcock Road, Clifftop, WV 25831.
Day 2 – PM
– Visit Grandview.
The overlook at Grandview is the highest in the park. It offers broad views of the land cut by the New River and its many tributaries.
It reminded me a little of Horseshoe Bend in Arizona because of its horseshoe shape.
Watch for the train with endless cars hauling coal from the nearest coal mine.
The Grandview looks better in the summer or fall, but while in the area, why not stop there, right?
Time permitting, drive to the nearby Turkey Spur Overlook. Or, hike the Castle Rock Trail.
Don’t forget to check the weather conditions.
Where to stay in New River Gorge?
We visited the park with our dog, Snoopy. We found Quality Inn New River Gorge in Fayetteville to be the perfect fit for us. It was clean, affordable, and included a complimentary hot breakfast.
You may want to read my review of Quality Inn before booking a room.
Here are some other hotels to consider:
– Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Beckley
– Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Beckley by IHG
The distance from Beckley to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center is about 25 miles or a 35-minute drive.
Where is New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
This wild and wonderful park is located in southern West Virginia. It is about a one-hour drive from Charleston, the capital of West Virginia.
