GRANDVIEW, WV (WFXR) — The New River Gorge snakes its way through more than 50 miles of southern West Virginia. It is known for rafting and paddling, and fishing, and for the New River Gorge Bridge, the longest steel span in the Western Hemisphere.
It is also known for its rugged natural beauty, and perhaps the best way to experience that up close is on foot. That means hiking the gorge.
Good thing there are more than a hundred miles of hiking trails in the New River Gorge National Park.
“They do really run the gamut from incredibly approachable trails, you know, family friendly, to more challenging trails for some of the more experienced outdoorspeople,” said New River Gorge National Park ranger Andrew Astley.
Astley suggest the Grandview area of the park to find hiking trails for families and beginners. There is an overlook there that provides stunning views of the gorge below. There is also the Tunnel Trail.
The Tunnel trail is well cut, accessible, and provides a relatively easy hike. The path is surrounded by rock formations and quiet forest.
“It’s beautiful, and that overlook’s aweome” said Ben Betz. He and his friend Courtney Chouinard were visiting from New Hampshire.
“Yeah, it’s gorgeous,” added Chouinard.
In addition to the Tunnel Trail, there are dozens of other trails in the park. They offer an immersive hiking experience. Some are difficult and run from the rim to the river. Other trails take you to historic places within the park boundaries like abandoned mines and rail trails.
No matter which hike you choose, there is a health benefit that happens almost immediately. Research has shown that being surrounded by forest drops stress levels, as well as blood pressure.
“You have things like scenic trails, where you’re getting out to a big overlook like what we have here at Grandview,” said Astley. “You also have nature trails where you’re going to be coming into the gorge to sort of explore its natural beauty in a more intimate way.”
Astley encourages everyone to take advantage of the unique beauty New River Gorge National Park has to offer.
“One of the upsides of being a park ranger is you really get to be someone who connects people with these incredible resources,” said Astley. “There is a myriad of those opportunities to make those connections and to have those incredible experiences in the park.”
