West Virginia Off the Beaten Path® by Su Clauson-Wicker

Author:Su Clauson-Wicker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Globe Pequot
Published: 2022-05-09T00:00:00+00:00

New River Gorge

Sometimes there’s no overstating the obvious—this is a gorgeous place. The natural beauty coupled with the man-made attractions makes for a not-to-be-missed West Virginia experience.

The natural drama of Sandstone Falls seems an appropriate primer to this region, considered by many outdoor enthusiasts to be among the most scenic natural areas east of the Mississippi.

The New River is ancient—it’s been flowing on its present course for as long as 225 million years, making it second only to the Nile as the oldest river in the world. Glaciers in the Ice Age buried it and diverted much of the water flow into two other rivers, the Ohio and the Kanawha. Another indication of its age: The New River flows across the Appalachian Plateau, not around it or from it as do most other rivers in the East. The New River existed before the Appalachians did, and these are the world’s oldest mountains.

The river was virtually inaccessible along its entire length until 1873, when the railroad opened up the isolated region. The railroad followed the river and made possible the shipment of coal to the outside world. Today more than 50 miles of the New River (between Fayetteville to the north and Hinton to the south) and 40 miles of its tributaries are preserved and protected as a national park, one of the nation’s newest.

The best place to get acquainted with New River Gorge National Park is at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center on US 19, about a mile north of Fayetteville. The center’s overlook offers the most impressive views of the gorge and the awe-inspiring New River Gorge Bridge, which is actually part of US 19. This is the world’s longest single steel-arch bridge, with a central span of 1,700 feet and a total length of 3,030 feet. It rises 876 feet above the riverbed. If you want to take your time admiring the view, come back for Bridge Day the third Saturday in October, the one day of the year when the bridge highway is open to foot traffic. You will have to share the road with more than a quarter of a million other visitors who come to watch the rappellers and parachutists drop over the side. Music, food, crafts, and guided walks are part of the festivities. This gala affair has become West Virginia’s largest festival.

Among the diverse lodging choices around the gorge, Country Road Cabins in Hico stands out. While some tree houses on stilts earn the moniker because they jut above the tree line, the treehouses at Country Road Cabins in Hico are actually built into trees. This is no easy undertaking. Former owner Paul Breuer, who built two such houses at the cabin resort, said everything had to tested and retested to ensure they were light enough to be supported by trees yet strong enough to withstand some flexing in a storm. He had to use a light heating and cooling system and have the steel main beams ziplined in place. No climbing is necessary here.

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