New River Gorge Park and Preserve was established in 1978 as a national river and elevated to national park status in 2020. It stretches 53 miles from Hinton to Ansted, West Virginia, and preserves the longest and deepest river gorge in the Appalachian Mountains "for the purpose of conserving and interpreting outstanding natural, scenic, and historic values and objects in and around the New River Gorge and preserving as a free-flowing stream an important segment of the New River in West Virginia for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations."
Hiking, white water rafting, and climbing are the primary activities it offers, though several trails following old railroad grades are open to bikes. Also offered are fishing, hunting, bird watching, picnicking, and just enjoying the natural world. Four primitive camping areas within the park are located along the river. Ten percent of the land is designated national park and the remaining 90% is national preserve.
The Lower Gorge is a premier whitewater rafting venue with rapids ranging from Class III to Class V, many obstructed by large boulders which create powerful currents, crosscurrents, and hydraulics. Commercial outfitters offer trips from April through October. The upper section of the river has Class I to III rapids and allows whitewater canoeing.
The New River continues into Virginia, and despite its name, it is claimed to geologically be one of the five oldest rivers (or according to some, the second oldest river) in the world. I have biked the Virginia New River Trail State Park which traverses 57 miles through four counties and three towns in Virginia, following the right-of-way of the Norfolk Southern Railroad which donated the land to Virginia. I've also rafted this section in West Virginia.
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