There was nothing quite like standing at the overlook of the Grandview in New River Gorge National Park. This stunning horseshoe bend is mesmerizing to see but it is just one of the many places you can see along a scenic drive in and around the national park. Gather everyone and hop in the car for an adventure to the mountains to see the wonders of West Virginia with plenty of surprises along the way. 

When we visited New River Gorge, we started south and worked our way up I77. What we thought would have been a normal interstate road ended up being quite a fun start for our adventure. The interstate was filled with mountain views as far as the eye could see and tunnels, which are always a blast to drive through. The scenery started long before we got into the national park, and we still had many more surprises in store along the way.

The first thing that anyone should do when visiting the park is to see the New River Bridge. This engineering marvel spans the gap of the gorge and is a dizzying 876 feet above the water! You can drive over it and then stop at the visitor center to get a good view of the bridge by taking the Canyon Rim Overlook Boardwalk Trail. This is a simple walk down the steps but be prepared for a lot of them. Once you get this view of the bridge, it will all be worth the effort. 

On our day exploring the park we knew another must-see was Grandview. As we worked our way around the park, which is very spread out, we eventually ended up at this amazing overlook. This part of the national park was filled with green space to use for a picnic or to enjoy the day in the sun with your family. After a short walk, we were greeted with this jaw-dropping view.

After soaking in the view, we decided to take another short trail, which ended up being one of the highlights of the trip: the Tunnel Trail. This short half-mile hike had us winding through the forest and witnessing some of the best rock formations in the park. We passed countless tunnels and caves cut into the rocks with towering walls and large boulders everywhere. We followed stairs, boardwalks, and mountainous paths for a wild adventure.

I can never pass up a good waterfall and the best one at New River Gorge is Sandstone Falls. This is a little out of the way from everything else in the park but trust me when I say it is a worth detour. Take the easy boardwalk trail to see countless waterfalls along the river and explore the area to find all of these wondrous cascades. 

Grandview in New River Gorge National Park is a must-see in the park, but if you just allow the beauty of this mountainous place to wash over you, there is so much more to enjoy. Take a scenic drive, hike a few trails, and you can easily soak up all of this within a day. When you hop into the car, don’t forget to bring along some of the best road trip snacks and have your AllTrails app ready for your trails. To see more check out this video we made of Grandview and the Tunnel Trail to help gain some perspective.