Rafting and canyon views at New River Gorge
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, WV
If you were considering Pigeon Forge, this is a different kind of trip.
- Who it suits
- Families with teens, couples and friends
- How long
- 4, 5 or 7 days
- Getting there
- Drive. A drive from Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Detroit (about 8 hours or less by car).
- Seasons
- Spring, Summer, Fall
Why it works
- The New River, among the oldest rivers on the continent, runs through deep canyons in a park of over 70,000 acres.
- Licensed outfitters run guided river trips from April through October, from mild pools and riffles on the upper river to big rapids in the lower section.
- On Bridge Day, held every third Saturday in October, spectators can walk across the New River Gorge Bridge and watch BASE jumpers.
Watch out for
- Rapids in the Lower Gorge range from Class III to Class V while the upper river is milder, so pick the section with your kids in mind.
Sources
- The New River, among the oldest rivers on the continent, runs through deep canyons in a park of over 70,000 acres. source (checked 2026-11-13)
- Licensed outfitters run guided river trips from April through October, from mild pools and riffles on the upper river to big rapids in the lower section. source (checked 2026-11-13)
- On Bridge Day, held every third Saturday in October, spectators can walk across the New River Gorge Bridge and watch BASE jumpers. source (checked 2026-11-13)
- Rapids in the Lower Gorge range from Class III to Class V while the upper river is milder, so pick the section with your kids in mind. source 1 · source 2 (checked 2026-11-13)
- seasons: commercial river trips run April through October source (checked 2026-11-13)