Only have one day for the new river gorge? here’s what I’d recommend
One Perfect Day at New River Gorge — A Local's Guide
Only have one day? We've thought a lot about this. Here's exactly how we'd spend it.
The bridge view is worth every penny, but it’s also actually free. photo credit iron arch photography
9:00 AM — Canyon Rim Visitor Center
Start here, no exceptions. Pull into the Canyon Rim Visitor Center on the north side of the bridge, walk the boardwalks, and take in the view. The bridge is enormous and the gorge drops away beneath it in a way that genuinely stops people in their tracks. It's free, it's open daily from 9am to 5pm, and it sets the stage for everything else. Don't skip the boardwalks — the overlooks get better the further you walk.
10:00 AM — Drive Fayette Station Road
This is the non-negotiable second stop. Fayette Station Road is the original route that all traffic used to take to cross the gorge before the modern bridge was built — a winding one-lane road that switchbacks all the way down to the bottom of the gorge and back up the other side. Allow about 45 minutes if you don't stop, but you absolutely should stop at the bottom.
At the bottom of the gorge, step out and take it all in. Put your feet in the river if the season allows. If you're lucky, you'll see whitewater rafters come through. And while you're standing there, look up at the bridge above you and imagine Bridge Day — when hundreds of people BASE jump off it while hundreds more watch from right where you're standing.
11:30 AM — Lunch in Downtown Fayetteville
Head into Fayetteville for lunch and a quick browse. It's a small town with more great restaurants than it has any right to have. Our top picks: Tudor's Biscuit World for the classic WV breakfast experience, Pies & Pints for pizza and local beer, Secret Sandwich Society for creative sandwiches, Wood Iron Eatery for the best burgers and waffles around, and Cathedral Café for seasonal specials in a stunning old church building. If vintage shops are your thing, Main Street has a ton worth poking around in.
After Lunch — Pick Your Adventure
Here's where the day branches depending on what you're after.
Option A: The Scenic Route — Thurmond, a Waterfall, and the River
This is our personal favorite for a first-time visitor who wants to feel the full scope of the gorge. The drive to Thurmond takes you through stunning mountain scenery and a roadside waterfall along the way. On the drive in, be on the lookout for a waterfall on the right side of the road - it’s easy to miss but you can always catch it on the way back out too.
Thurmond itself is a near-ghost town — a former coal and railroad boomtown that once rivaled Charleston in wealth, now mostly empty and fascinating. Park rangers are on site in summer and can tell you the whole story.
Bandit with his head out the window as we cross the bridge over the New River into Thurmond.
Stop and wade into the New River over at Stone Cliff while you're there — it's a beautiful, calm stretch of water in this section.
To get there, if you’re driving straight toward Thurmond, you would need to take a right on a one lane road and go for a couple miles.
Important note: there is nothing to eat or drink in Thurmond, so either bring a picnic or plan to grab dinner back in Fayetteville on your way home.
Option B: Views and an Activity at ACE Adventure Resort
Head to ACE Adventure Resort and start with the Concho Overlook — a stunning high-up view of Thurmond and the mountain peaks that not enough visitors know about.
Then pick your activity: ziplining over the gorge, the waterpark with its inflatable obstacle course, water slide, and water zipline, or a rafting trip on the New River. ACE has wood-fired pizza and a full bar and restaurant on site, so dinner is sorted too.
The Concho Rim overlook looking down on the town of Thurmond and the New River Gorge.
One day is never enough. But this one will stick with you.