A spring getaway to the New River Gorge National Park is always magical. This time of year provides the perfect opportunity to share memorable experiences against the beautiful backdrop of nature coming to life. Additionally, springtime crowds are smaller, allowing serenity on even the most popular trails (like Endless Wall and Long Point). While exploring […]
Like many people, we used to schedule most of our outdoor activities during the more temperate times of the year. Visions of verdant landscapes, blooming wildflowers, and fruiting mushrooms are what most often lure us into the woods, and those things only happen during spring, summer, and fall. A few years ago, though, we challenged […]
Standing on the rim of the New River Gorge, it’s hard to imagine that the deep, narrow, and rocky landscape was once bustling with industrial activities. Read this post to learn how to best explore the remnants of the long-lost coal mining complexes and communities that once filled the Gorge.
Southside Trail is an easy seven-mile riverside trail that provides great views of the New River and passes through several abandoned mining towns. Rush Run, Red Ash, and Brooklyn were all once-bustling communities located along this abandoned railroad line. It’s one of the few trails in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve that […]
Did you just give that title a double-take? It may be because you aren’t used to rivers flowing north; not many do. But the New River does, so head south from Fayetteville to explore the upper section of the New River Gorge. You’ll find a very different landscape upriver. Immediately, you’ll see a much wider, […]
The best way to truly experience the New River Gorge National Park is to take the trails less traveled. By avoiding the most popular hiking areas – and other humans – you are much more likely to see wildlife, find undisturbed flora, and experience the natural rhythms of the forest. Here are five less traveled […]
Without a doubt, the best view of the New River Gorge Bridge is from the end of the Long Point Trail in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. While it is the Instagram-worthy spot at the trail’s terminus that gets most of the attention, the journey has other merits, and there are a […]
Yearning for a fun getaway but nervous about traveling? We get it, and we’re here to help. In this post, you’ll find a list of New River Gorge activities that get you outside in the fresh air and beautiful sunshine. No need to worry about group activities, close quarters, or social interactions. There is plenty […]
Few people truly understand what makes the New River Gorge one of the most special places on Earth. Some folks are simply amazed by the deep cut of the river and the beauty of the gorge itself. Some are surprised by the whitewater and beguiled by the world-class rafting. Others are impressed by the engineering […]
Thoreau said it best: “A taste for the beautiful is most cultivated out of doors.” While we have strived to make the interior spaces of Lafayette Flats as beautiful and comfortable as possible, we are at our core, outdoor people. Most every weekend for us includes at least one walk in the woods, whether hunting […]