New River Gorge Itinerary: 1, 3 & 5 Days, Built in Order
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Pick your days. The trails are grouped in order.
Day 1 is the one-day plan, built around the bridge and Canyon Rim. Each extra day adds the next cluster of trails, so a 3-day trip is days 1 to 3 and a 5-day trip is all five.
How many days do you have?
Showing all 7 days. Pick a length to see only the days that fit.
Last updated September 4, 2026 How we research
Numbers on the page match the map: as you scroll each day, its stops light up here.
This plan starts where most visitors do: the bridge and the Canyon Rim Boardwalk, the park's most recognizable view and its easiest stop. From there it moves outward by trail cluster — Endless Wall and the Kaymoor mining trails, then Grandview's rim trails, then the boardwalks at Sandstone Falls, then the river trails at Glade Creek for anyone staying a full five days.
Every stop below links to its own page on this site with photos and directions. New River Gorge doesn't yet have a published field-note guide on this site, so this order is built from the park's trail network rather than a first-hand account — check current NPS pages for hours, fees, and any closures before you go.
Day 1 Canyon Rim and the bridge
One day in New River Gorge: the bridge and Canyon Rim
The bridge is the image most people come for, and the rim trails beside it are built to frame it from close by.
- boardwalkCanyon Rim Boardwalk
- bridge viewLong Point Trail
- walkableFayetteville loop
Start at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center and walk the overlooks before the trails get busy. The Canyon Rim Boardwalk is the easiest introduction to the gorge, a paved path built for a first look at the bridge without committing to a longer hike.
From there, Long Point Trail is the classic follow-up: a rim walk that ends at one of the park's most photographed views of the New River Gorge Bridge. Tunnel Trail and the Bridge Trail round out the rim-side options if there's time left before lunch.
Close the day in Fayetteville. The Fayetteville Trail and the Town Loop Trail, with its connector, link the rim area to the small downtown, so the last stretch of the day can be done on foot.
With kids: The Canyon Rim Boardwalk is flat and paved, the easiest stop of the day for younger kids, and the bridge view from the overlook needs no hiking at all.
Where to sleep after day 1
Prince is one of two gateway towns used in this plan. Use it as tonight's base and pick up anything you need before heading out tomorrow.
Day 2 Endless Wall and Kaymoor
3 days in New River Gorge: Endless Wall and the Kaymoor mining trails
This cluster pairs a rim trail with the gorge's mining history, laid out along the old Kaymoor works.
- rim trailEndless Wall Trail
- mining historyKaymoor Trail
- rail bedKeeneys Creek Rail Trail
Endless Wall Trail is the rim walk for this cluster; a trail-run version of the same route exists on the site for anyone who'd rather move faster than stop at every overlook.
Move on to Kaymoor next. The Kaymoor Trail and Kaymoor Miners Trail both lead toward the old mine site, where Brooklyn Mine Trail, Headhouse Trail, Conveyor Trail, and Tipple Trail thread through what's left of the works. Craig Branch Trail connects the pieces for anyone stringing several together.
Keeneys Creek Rail Trail follows the old rail grade and is a straightforward way to link the Kaymoor stops without retracing the same path twice.
With kids: Keeneys Creek Rail Trail is the flattest option in this group and works well for a family that wants the mining history without the steeper connector trails.
Where to sleep after day 2
Stay another night in Prince; it keeps today's Endless Wall and Kaymoor stops close to base.
Day 3 Grandview
Day 3: Grandview and the rim trails
Grandview is a separate rim from Canyon Rim, with its own set of connector and loop trails.
- rim walkGrandview Rim Trail
- loop routeWoodland Loop Trail
- connectorPolls Plateau Trail
Grandview Rim Trail is the anchor here, with a trail-run version of the same route for a faster pace. Woodland Loop Trail and Polls Plateau Trail extend the day for anyone who wants more ground without leaving the area.
Seldom Seen Trail lives up to its name, and Butcher Branch Trail and Burnwood Trail fill out the rest of the day for a longer stay in the Grandview cluster.
With kids: Grandview Rim Trail's overlooks are the easiest payoff here; save the connector trails like Polls Plateau and Seldom Seen for a family that wants to hike longer.
Where to sleep after day 3
Beckley is the other gateway town used in this plan, and a reasonable base for the Grandview cluster.
Day 4 Sandstone Falls
Day 4: Sandstone Falls and its boardwalks
This cluster centers on the falls, with a boardwalk built to look at them without a hike.
- boardwalkSandstone Falls Boardwalk
- short walkStroll on the Sandstone Boardwalk
- falls stopKates Falls Trail
Sandstone Falls Boardwalk and the Stroll on the Sandstone Boardwalk both put the falls within easy reach without committing to a longer trail. Kates Falls Trail is the hiking alternative for anyone who wants to earn the view.
Timber Ridge Trail, Rend Trail, and Gwinn Ridge Trail round out the day for a longer stay in this cluster; none of them need to be strung together, so pick whichever fits the time left.
With kids: The Sandstone Falls boardwalks are the easiest stop in the whole plan, flat and short, with the falls visible without any climbing.
Where to sleep after day 4
Beckley works again tonight for the Sandstone Falls cluster.
Day 5 Glade Creek
Day 5: Glade Creek and the river trails
This cluster trades rim views for trails that follow the river itself.
- creek trailGlade Creek Trail
- river loopIsland Loop Trail
- bikingBicycling at New River Gorge
Glade Creek Trail and Island Loop Trail follow the river, a change of pace from the rim-and-overlook days earlier in the trip. Stone Cliff Trail and Southside Trail extend the day along the same stretch.
Arbuckle Connector Trail, Big Branch Trail, and Big Buck Trail fill out the network for anyone staying a full day here, and Little Laurel Trail — or its trail-run version on the site — is the option for a longer add-on. Bicycling at New River Gorge covers the same ground for a trip built around a bike instead of boots.
With kids: Glade Creek Trail's river-level walking is easier on short legs than the rim trails earlier in the week.
Where to sleep after day 5
Prince closes the loop back to the first gateway town for the last night of a five-day trip.
What to check before you go
Dates and rules below are drawn from the official sources listed at the end of the page.
Questions people ask before a Glacier trip
Is one day enough for New River Gorge?
One day covers the bridge and the Canyon Rim Boardwalk, plus the Long Point and Fayetteville-area trails — the sampler most first-time visitors come for. That's Day 1 above. Kaymoor, Grandview, Sandstone Falls, and Glade Creek each want their own day.
How many days do you need at New River Gorge National Park?
Three days is a reasonable first pass: Canyon Rim, then Endless Wall and Kaymoor, then Grandview. Five days adds Sandstone Falls and Glade Creek.
What is the Kaymoor Trail known for?
Kaymoor Trail and Kaymoor Miners Trail lead toward the old Kaymoor mine site, where Brooklyn Mine Trail, Headhouse Trail, Conveyor Trail, and Tipple Trail cover what's left of the mining works.
Where should I stay near New River Gorge?
This plan uses two gateway towns from the park's listings — Prince and Beckley — and alternates between them across the days above.
What's the difference between Canyon Rim and Grandview?
Canyon Rim is where Day 1 starts, built around the bridge and its visitor center. Grandview is a separate rim covered on Day 3, with its own set of connector and loop trails.
Can you see Sandstone Falls without a hike?
Yes. The Sandstone Falls Boardwalk and the Stroll on the Sandstone Boardwalk both put the falls within easy reach without a trail. Kates Falls Trail is the hiking alternative.
This plan is built from the park's trail network and the site's existing guides, not from a personal visit — New River Gorge has no published field notes on this site yet, so there's no first-person color here. Check current NPS pages for hours, fees, and any closures before you go.
