Visitors have been drawn to West Virginia by its mountains, winding roads, and wild rivers, but until last week, America’s 35th state had no national park. New River Gorge was awarded the honor of becoming the nation’s newest park – and the only national park in West Virginia.

A rugged, whitewater river flowing northward through deep canyons, the New River is among the oldest rivers on the continent. The park encompasses over 70,000 acres of land along the New River, is rich in cultural and natural history, and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities.