Best Hikes in New River Gorge: Endless Wall, Long Point, & More!

Spend your second day at New River Gorge National Park with a stroll on 2 of the best hikes in New River Gorge. First up is a morning hike on the Long Point Trail. This hike offers some of the best views of the New River Bridge.

Next, hike the Endless Wall Trail for some of the best views of the gorge and river. These are the best hikes in New River Gorge and can’t be missed.

Finally, with an option to visit the Nuttallburg Coal Trail and the Kaymoor Mining Trail, your second day on the trails will be packed with fun! This post is part of our New River Gorge Itinerary: 6-Day National Park Trip.

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Before You Venture Out

• It is FREE to visit New River Gorge National Park!
• Parking may be an issue during peak season. Get to the trailheads as early as you can to try to guarantee parking.
• There are pit toilets at the Long Point and Endless Wall trailheads.

Long Point Trail – easy – 3.6 miles, out and back

First up is our pick #2 of the best hikes in New River Gorge – the Long Point Trail. First, spend your morning hiking this great 3.6-mile trail. Begin at the large parking lot on Newton Road, just 5 minutes from downtown Fayetteville. Head through the forest on this mostly flat trail for about 1.4 miles.

The first part of this trail is honestly nothing spectacular, but during the last section of the trail, you will drop in elevation before heading out onto a rocky outcropping with 360-degree views of the New River Gorge and one of the best views of the New River Bridge!

Spend some time here to take it all in and be sure to get plenty of pictures. If you can get here early enough, you might just have the place to yourselves as we did! If not, expect crowds as this is a popular destination.

After you have taken in the amazing views, head back the way you came, 1.6 miles to the parking lot, and get ready for your next hike on the other side of the river.

➡️ Read next: How to Visit Thurmond, West Virginia: New River Gorge

Endless Wall Trail – easy/moderate, 5-mile loop or 9 miles out and back

Second, take a hike on the Endless Wall Trail. In our opinion, this comes in at #1 of the best hikes in New River Gorge! From the parking lot of the Long Point Trail, make your way to the parking area on Edmond-Lansing Road (Route 82).

There are two parking areas on this road, but you will want to start at the first one on the right-hand side of the road, a little way past Workman Road. The lot here is on the smaller side, so hopefully you get there early enough to find a spot. Along this trail, you will also encounter some great places for rock climbing if that is your thing!

First, head along the trail through the tall and lush green forest for about 0.7 of a mile. Then, you will reach the “wall” section of the trail with endless views of the New River and the gorge below.

Follow the trail for another 0.3 miles, and you will reach Diamond Point. This is one of the best views in all of New River Gorge! Just don’t get too close to the edge! After you have enjoyed some time here, turn around or continue on the trail for more views of the area as you travel along the rim of the gorge.

At this point, you have a few options:

Continue Hiking or Turn Around?

• Turn around at Diamond Point – this is the shortest route you can do with a stop at the epic viewpoint.
• Continue to the other parking lot and turn back – this will make it a 9-mile round trip, out and back, but the views are excellent both ways.
• Continue to the other parking lot and hike on the road to complete a loop – this will create a 5-mile loop and lead you back to the parking lot where your car is parked.

We chose to complete the 9-mile out-and-back hike as we wanted to experience the views coming from both directions. And who wouldn’t want to be able to stop at Diamond Point a second time?! No matter what option you choose here, make sure to stop and spend some time at Diamond Point.

This is also a great spot to spend some time and enjoy a delicious PB&J! Finally, when you reach the parking lot where your car is, take a rest and get ready to head off the beaten path…if your car allows it!

2 amazing hikes in New River Gorge are now complete! At this point, we recommend continuing your day of hiking with shorter hikes and other areas in the park if your energy level allows it. The next 2 spots provide more history and hiking, so read on!

Nuttallburg Coal Trail & Town

If you are looking to get some history about mining in the area and view some of the old equipment used in coal mining, head to Nuttallburg.

Now pay attention here! This area is located on Keeneys Creek Road. Be advised that this road is winding, steep, and narrow. Parts of the road are paved, and other parts are gravel. In some locations, the road is one-lane with very few pull-outs.

You should be comfortable with having to reverse up a steep road if you visit. We made it just fine with our small sedan.

If you are up for the adventure, you will be able to visit and learn about the history of Nuttallburg. It was once a bustling coal town in its heyday. Imagine living down here in the late 1800s- early 1900s, where you would likely arrive by train on the nearby railroad!

In Nutallburg, time stands still. This area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Please treat the area with respect and leave all artifacts you find. Once you arrive, explore the remnants of an old village as well as the coal tipple.

There are short trails around the area and plenty of interesting information to read. Once you have spent some time here, get ready for the drive back into town and hope that no one is coming in the other direction.

Kaymoor Miners Trail – strenuous – 1.2 miles out and back (or less)

Last but not least, head to the Kaymoor Miners Trail. We have this trail on our list of best hikes in New River Gorge because of the history associated with the area. That being said, this trail is very, very steep. Plan on spending some time here, climbing the 800 or so stairs, or visit the old mine and call it a day.

First, make your way 40 minutes from Nuttallburg to reach this trail. Hike along the trail through the woods, descending toward the river. After about half a mile, you will reach the Kaymoor Mine Site.

This is where we stopped hiking before heading back to Fayetteville for dinner. To keep going, head down the wooden staircase to the old community where coal was processed and explore the area on the banks of the New River. Just remember, you’ll have to climb all the way back up!

🛏️ Looking for a place to stay near New River Gorge? Check out the options on VRBO! This is definitely the way to go when visiting.

Animal Safety in New River Gorge National Park

• New River Gorge National Park is home to many animals, including foxes, chipmunks, deer, black bears (rare), eagles, fish, snakes, and more. The park is home to copperhead and timber rattlesnakes. Both are venomous, however, these snakes are not usually aggressive unless you provoke them.
• Ticks are present in the park. Always complete a tick check after hiking! Tick-borne illness can be serious. Learn how to protect yourself and your family here.
  • Fun fact! After hiking on the first trail we visited at New River Gorge, I had the pleasure of finding a tick on my leg even while staying in the center of the trail and using bug spray. Luckily, it was not attached, but it was smaller than a poppy seed, so it could have gone unnoticed. Always complete a tick check!
• Mosquitoes will also be present in the warmer months. Invest in some good bug spray to make your time outdoors more enjoyable. If you are anything like me, this is definitely necessary. I have been chased out of the woods by swarms of mosquitoes!

Weather and General Safety in New River Gorge National Park

• Cell phone coverage is fairly good here. We did encounter service issues in some of the more remote areas of the park.
• Carry plenty of snacks and water. It’s recommended to carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking. Get yourself a water bladder and never run out!
• Pack PB&J and other snacks to eat around lunchtime on the trails. Snack time is the best time!
• Always carry a first aid kit and make a plan to tell at least one person where you plan to be each day in case something happens.
• Reduce your risk by preparing and having the proper gear for all hikes you plan to complete. This means good shoes and proper hiking attire. No flip-flops!
• Be aware of the weather at all times. Check the forecast before you head out so you aren’t surprised by a pop-up thunderstorm or something else.

Where to Stay When Visiting New River Gorge National Park

🛏️ Book your stay in nearby Fayetteville, WV. This is a perfect location to use as your home base while exploring New River Gorge National Park.

• Our top pick is to have a place of your own through VRBO. Pick a place right near Fayetteville and enjoy what this cute town has to offer. Check out the options on VRBO!
• Quality Inn New River – run of the mill chain hotel offering free breakfast & a best seller. Outdoor pool on site. Check it out on Expedia or Booking.com.
• The Historic Morris Harvey House Bed and Breakfast – breakfast included! Built in 1902, this 3-story Queen Anne-style inn features five themed guest suites, historic charm, an on-site speakeasy, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Cantrell Ultimate Rafting – Walking distance to the village of Fayetteville and five minutes from the New River Gorge Bridge. They do offer cabins and bungalows for you non-campers out there.

Final Thoughts

We really enjoyed spending some time in the northern section of New River Gorge National Park. The Endless Wall Trail is definitely our favorite out of all of the hikes we completed during our first full day.

Visiting Nuttallburg was an adventure in itself, and the drive is really not for the faint of heart. Not because the road is dangerous, but because it’s a very narrow one-lane road with the chance to meet someone coming in the other direction with no pull-offs!

We only hiked a part of the Kaymoor Miners Trail because let’s be real, we were tired! It was getting late in the day, and we already had a jam-packed day! Those 800 steps did not sound appealing!