Blog Post 16 – New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and a Nearby Hidden Gem

October 25- November 2, 2023

Going south down the trail, which was Interstate 81, headed to Seneca Rock in West Virginia, we made a last-minute decision and turned west towards Roanoke and onto Interstate 64.  New River Gorge National Park was our destination.  That new plan was a satisfying and pleasant surprise.

History of the River

The New River, a testament to time, is ancient. Its sandstone cliffs and steep canyon walls, formed between 3 million and 320 million years ago, bear witness to the relentless power of erosion as the river carved through and lifted the Appalachian plateau. Often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the East, it serves as the headway of the ancient Teys River, which adds to its grandeur and mystique.    

Meadow Bridge Campground

We spotted Meadow Bridge Campground on the map and decided to see if it would be a base to camp as we explored the area.  As we approached a narrow road, we were greeted by signs that read, ‘No RVs.’  We assumed this meant no parking on the roadside. Crossing the railroad track, we discovered an ideal little campground. The grassy sites were level and generously spaced, with free amenities, including bathroom facilities, trash bins, picnic tables, and campfire rings. It seemed like the perfect spot for us, except for the ‘No RVs’ sign, which was a disappointment.

We left and stopped at the Stone Creek Falls Visitors Center down the road and spoke to the ranger.  We asked her for suggestions on where to camp and described our disappointment at being unable to camp at Meadow Bridge after we drove through it.

She asked us a couple of questions.  After verifying that we did drive through it and that Mike had many years of experience pulling a trailer, she said we could camp there. The problem was that people with very long trailers or little experience got stuck on the railroad tracks going onto the road leading to the campground, which prevented the trains from passing.

The ranger gave us a map of the National Park and suggestions for other sites besides the New River Gorge Bridge and the best place to view the Bridge. We happily thanked her and set up our camp on a great site.

To get to Sandstone Falls, we left the campground and followed the road passing under the interstate bridge.  We headed south on Highway 20 toward Hinton, West Virginia.  Three river overlooks dotted the way.

Next, we took the boardwalk to the upper falls.  Unlike more prominent, taller falls, Sandstone Falls stretched from side to side of the river as the water poured over the beige and rust-colored rock ledges.  It is a simple, pleasant beauty. 

Hidden Gem

Back at camp that evening, Mike started talking to a man with a van exactly like ours.  He is a resident of the area who visits this campground occasionally with his wife.  They were having a picnic dinner and would return home afterward. During their discussion, Mike told him we were sightseeing and had been to Sandstone Falls.  The man said they were pretty, but the best views were outside the National Park. Turn left out of the campground instead of right. 

We left the campground the next day and turned left.  What started as a simple sightseeing adventure unfolded as a present for our senses.  Traveling along the golden tree-lined route winds up the hills leading to the small, quaint town of Meadow Bridge at the entrance to Meadow Creek.

I noticed a small road in the town and convinced Mike to turn.  He did but was skeptical.

Along Rt7/1, we wound uphill along the narrow road flanked by trees of gold and yellow. I started looking at the map to see where we were going. Mike wanted to turn around. 

Don’t turn around.  I see on the map another waterfall further down the road.

A closer examination of the map in the paper Atlas showed that we were on a scenic route loop that led to Beury town along Claypool Road.

New River Gorge Bridge

History of the Bridge

The New River Gorge was mainly a farming community dotting
on either side of the gorge. In 1841, John Townsend bought the tract of land at the site of the present bridge and ran a ferry crossing both sides of the river until the Civil War.  Coal was necessary for powering homes, businesses, railroads, ships, and factories during the late 1800s.  New River Gorge held a wealth of coal, and the mining boom began and lasted for more than 70 years.  The topography of the gorge made it easy to extract the coal from the rock.  The railway, completed in 1873 at the gorge’s edge, made it easy to transport coal to the rest of the world. All along the Gorge, mining towns held residents who lived in the area and worked in the mines. This was the beginning of the Industrial
Revolution.

 Our Visit

We started at the Visitor Center to see the New River Gorge
Bridge and walked the trail to the overlook.  
At one time, visitors could hike The Bridge Walk Trail under the bridge. It is now closed, and visitors can only view the bridge from the overview at the Visitors Center.  However, as I researched on Google, apparently, once a year, visitors can take a tour to walk the catwalk under the bridge.The NP ranger at the Sandstone Visitor Center showed us on
the map a better place to view the Bridge. The Tunney Hunsaker Bridge was built in 1889 and handled traffic for 90 years. 
It was rehabilitated in the 1990s as a one-lane for foot traffic to view
the river, and the New River Gorge Bridge was built in 1977. Armed with the New Gorge Visitor Center booklet with directions to the Tunney Hunsaker Bridge, it didn’t prevent Mike and me from going in circles until I got on Google Maps. It led us straight to it.  That tells you and us that you need various resources – print and digital.

From the bridge, visitors can see the recreation opportunities on the river. 

Grand View

Another site we visited in New River Gorge National Park is
Grand View. Overlooking the gorge, this site lived up to its name.