Nestled within the Appalachian Mountains of southern West Virginia, New River Gorge National Park preserves one of the state’s great natural wonders. Despite its name, the New River is actually one of the world’s oldest, and the gorge it carved into the landscape is truly spectacular. Originally established as a National River in 1978, New River Gorge was re-designated in 2020, becoming the nation’s 63rd National Park. The park preserves a landscape so stunningly beautiful, that it’s tempting to believe it’s a virgin wilderness, unspoiled by the hands of man. But the reality is New River Gorge has undergone quite the transformation, for the gorge was once a beehive of industrial activity.
https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm
The New River Gorge was once a great repository of coal, that magical resource so synonymous with West Virginia. The tides of change first came in the 1870’s, with the arrival of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, which linked the New River Gorge with the great industrial centers of the United States. The region’s resources were now accessible to industry, and New River coal would soon fuel the nation’s trains, factories, ships, and power plants. Boom towns sprung up throughout the gorge, and at times towns could be found every half mile along the river.
The boom times would not last forever though, and the region’s coal industry entered a period of steep decline after WWII. By the 1950’s, most of the mines lay dormant, and many towns had been abandoned. By the early 1960’s, coal mining would completely cease in the gorge, ending nearly a century of continuous activity. Throughout that period, the logging industry operated alongside the coal miners, clearing vast swaths of forest, leaving much of the gorge bare.
The 1960’s would prove to be a turning point for the New River Gorge. After decades of industrial activity and environmental degradation, the gorge could begin healing itself. The forests would slowly return, concealing evidence of the environmental damage sustained over the decades. It was a gradual recovery, but sixty years later it’s hard to believe that this landscape was once barren. Along with Cuyahoga Valley National Park, New River Gorge represents one of the National Park System’s great redemption stories.
While the New River Gorge is a scenic wonder all on its own, it’s also home to an iconic engineering landmark, the New River Gorge Bridge. Rising 876 feet above the river, the New River Gorge Bridge is the longest single arch span in the western hemisphere, and the third highest bridge in America. An iconic piece of American engineering, the bridge has become synonymous with the New River Gorge. The bridge also offers one of the park’s more unique recreational opportunities, as you can go for a stroll along the bridge’s catwalk. Tours are offered by private operator Bridge Walk, and they are worth every penny, as the views from the catwalk are spectacular.
As impressive as the New River Gorge Bridge is, the park’s best recreation opportunities lie 876 feet below, on the river’s surface. The New River descends 750 feet over just 66 miles, producing some of the nation’s best rapids. I didn’t get the chance to go river rafting during my visit, but it looked like great fun, and I will surely be making a return trip to experience the rapids. I confess I didn’t know much about New River Gorge before my visit, but I left incredibly impressed.