This is honestly one of our favorite road trip spots, just ~4.5 hours from NEO and FILLED with endless outdoor opportunities. While I have been to the NRG nearly 15 times, Gwennan lives there and was formerly a raft guide and yall know that raft guides know ALLL of the jokes, local history, and best things to do. Her new hubs is also affectionaly known as the Fayetteville Cruise Director so together they're the best at knowing all of the classics and hidden gems.

Below are some of mine and their favorites —

ACTIVITIES

• Arrowhead Bike Farm 

  • Bike shop, mountain bike rentals, MTB clinics, food and bar, camping, pump track, GOATS, and more! They also host family and kid-friendly bike clinics throughout the year.

• Hawks Nest State Park

  • Jet Boat Ride, Hawks Nest Nature Center. 

  • Hawks Nest Rail Trail - this scenic trail offers a 4-mile out-and-back hike, featuring numerous opportunities to see wonderful waterfalls.

• Whitewater Rafting: ACE Adventures

  • White water rafting at the New River Gorge spans a rapid scale from Class I to Class IV+, split distinctly between a mild upper section and a wild lower section. The Upper New River offers gentle Class I to III trips for families and kids as young as six, while the Lower New River delivers powerful Class III to IV+ technical rapids ideal for teens and adults. 

  • (800) 787-3982

• Rock Climbing: New River Mountain Guides

  • In addition to whitewater, the New River Gorge is known as a world class climbing destination. You can book a guided trip with some stellar local guides (seriously they really are fantastic). There is such a wide range of climbs in this area that you can give this a go regardless of your skill level.

• Zip Lining: Adventures on the Gorge

  • This is another one of the main rafting companies, but this is where I would recommend if you're looking for a zipline trip.

  • 219 Co Rte 60/5, Lansing, WV 25862, USA (304) 461-6570

• Bridge Walk LLC

  • The Bridge Walk is a guided 2- to 3-hour walking tour on the 24-inch-wide maintenance catwalk suspended 851 feet above the river beneath the famous New River Gorge Bridge in Lansing, West Virginia.

• Summersville Lake

  • Massive lake about 30 mins north of Fayetteville, awesome for swimming or paddleboarding.

• New River Bikes

  • Mountain Bike Rental option

• Wild Blue Adventure Company

  • Historic WWII Biplane Rides

    
    

• The WILD Institute

  • WILD’s mission is to provide opportunities for outdoor professionals and first responders to learn the necessary skills to help them progress with technical, medical, and educational courses and training in their respective fields.

  • https://wildtraining.org/

Breweries, Restaurants, and Community Farms

• Arrowhead Bike Farm — The HandleBar and Kitchen

• Bridge Brew Works (Fayetteville) 

• Cathedral Cafe - At Cathedral Cafe, their philosophy is straightforward: we believe in using fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients to create the best dishes possible.

• Freefolk Brewery (Ansted) both local brewery options with awesome selections.

• Ironwood Eatery - An upbeat American diner/cafe serving a fresh menu and delicious coffee. They have an awesome outside eating space, great for kids and dogs.

• New Roots Community Farm - New Roots Community Farm is a 501(c)3 nonprofit farm and year-round farmers market based on 82 acres in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Through our production farm, brick-and-mortar market, community and educational programs, and Farm-to-School partnerships, we work to strengthen the local food system— making it more connected, collaborative, and accessible for the people who grow, sell, and eat food here.

• Range Finder Coffee -  Great coffee shop right in downtown.

• Secret Sandwich Society - Quick and delicious sandwiches!

• The Take Out (The Stache) - This restaurant is all about fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and global inspiration. The menu takes you on a flavor journey — from Caribbean jerk with citrus aioli, to Cuban mojo with black beans and scallions, to Asian-inspired Pacific bowls with hoisin and chili-lime glaze. Classic comfort gets a twist with smoky BBQ, while the veggie and carnitas options bring bright, refreshing combinations topped with crispy fried onions, pickled vegetables, and tangy sauces.

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve

• From hiking trails, to overlooks, to scenic drives, the New River Gorge is an expansive National Park and the main NPS visitors center is located right next to the bridge and the local rangers are great at giving suggestions and directions.

• Non-Hike Overlooks:

  • Visitor center Over Look

  • Concho Overlook

• Favorite Hikes:

  • Long Point 

  • Wolf Creek

  • Kaymoor Miners Trail

  • Endless Wall Trail

With Kids

• Fayetteville Town Park: The playground area, called Play-it-ville, has a variety of nature-themed equipment for children. Park at Hike down to Wolf Creek Falls to play in the creek (~1mi down, ~1mi back), ride bikes on the pump track, play on the play ground, play in the splash pad

•  Go to the New River Gorge Canyon Rim Visitor Center to pick up a Junior Ranger book! Once you are finished with your book, turn it into a park ranger for your official badge. While at the visitor center, walk the Canyon Rim Boardwalk. This short .6-mile out-and-back trail takes you to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center’s overlook, offering breathtaking views of the New River Gorge Bridge and surrounding Gorge. Be aware that there are some stairs to reach the lower overlook, but the top overlook is stroller-friendly.

• Summersville Lake: Play in the lake >> Go to Fat Eddie’s Ice Cream >> Play on the Playground at the Roadside Park nearby. 

Lodging

• Arrowhead Bike Farm — Camping 

• The Outpost — Camping, Glamping, and Cabins

• Adventures on the Gorge — Cabins

As always, make sure you do your own research on these hikes so you can plan and prepare appropriately. Please be sure to review the principles of Leave No Trace so you can minimize your impact and preserve these beautiful natural areas for generations to come!