Fly into Raleigh County Memorial Airport and Spend a Weekend Exploring New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia

WV – Are you ready to unplug, spend some time in nature, go whitewater rafting, and enjoy a few beautiful nights under the stars? New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia contains 8 primitive campgrounds and more than 70,000 acres to explore. Just imagine taking a long car tour, biking or hiking through the trails, and going whitewater rafting. Let’s explore all the things you can do while on vacation at New River Gorge and how you can get there in your airplane.

Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW)

If you have your own airplane, you can land at Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW), which is a 20-minute drive to New River Gorge National Park. The airport was activated in 1952 and sits at an elevation of 2,503.8 feet. BKW has two runways, including Runway 10/28 and Runway 01/19. Runway 01/19 is 6,750 feet long and 150 feet wide. Runway 10/18 is 5,001 feet long and 100 feet wide. Raleigh County Memorial Airport offers major airframe and powerplant services, and they have 100LL and Jet-A available. However, they do not have any oxygen. The CTAF is 123.0, and hangars and tiedowns are available. Rental cars are provided by Hertz and Enterprise.

New River Gorge National Park

New River Gorge National Park is beautiful and full of outdoor adventures for all ages, skill levels, and athletic abilities. The park was initially established as New River Gorge National River in 1978. However, in 2021, it was redesignated as a national park. Its 70,000 acres extend from Bluestone Dam to Hawk’s Nest Lake, all along the New River in the Appalachian Mountains. New River Gorge National Park is well-known for its ecological diversity, including the widest array of flora in the Appalachian Mountains.

Adventures and Recreational Activities at New River Gorge National Park

Once you arrive at the park, you can enjoy camping, hiking, backpacking, whitewater rafting, biking, rock climbing, hunting and fishing, and scenic drives that go through and around the national park.

Camping at New River Gorge

New River Gorge National Park offers primitive camping via their 8 campgrounds, including Stone Cliff, Brooklyn, Army Camp, Thayer, War Ridge, Meadow Creek, Glade Creek, and Grandview Sandbar. When a campground is primitive, it means that there’s no drinking water, RV hookups, or electricity. There are, however, pit toilets and outhouses. It’s important to note that the campgrounds are strictly first come, first serve. RVs are allowed in the large parking lots surrounding the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, the Grandview Visitor Center, the Sandstone Visitor Center, and Thurmon Depot. However, RVers should note that every spot is boondocking.

Whitewater Rafting

The New River is an amazing waterway for experiencing whitewater rafting. The national park contains 53 miles of the river, and while it is possible to go whitewater rafting on your own, it’s often recommended that beginners hire the services of an outfitter. Whitewater rafting services in the area include Ace Adventure Resort, Adventures on the Gorge, Cantrell Ultimate Rafting, and River Expeditions.

Hiking Adventures

The New River Gorge National Park contains more than 100 miles of hiking trails that range in length from 1/4 mile to 7 miles. The trails range in difficulty from easy to extremely rugged. If you don’t go hiking very often, you might want to start with a short, easy hike. Easy hikes include the Big Buck Trail at .9 of a mile, the Burnwood Trail at 1.2 miles, and the Island Loop Trail at half a mile.

If you’re in the mood to hike to a historic site, you might try the Brooklyn Mine trail at 5.4 miles, the Headhouse Trail at 1.4 miles, or the Keymoor Miner’s Trail at 2 miles. It’s important to note that the mileages listed are for one direction.

Biking Adventures

Along with amazing hiking trails, the national park also offers biking trails. It’s important to note that there is only one trail that allows e-bikes, and that is the Stonecliff Trail. Every other trail is built and maintained for traditional peddle bikes, including the Bluestone Turnpike Trail, Clovis Trail, Adena Trail, and the Dalton Trail, among others. It’s important to note that some trails are designated for multiple modes of transportation, including bikes, foot, and horseback.

Scenic Drives within New River Gorge National Park

Along with hiking and biking, you can also take a drive down some of the scenic car routes. One favorite drive is the New River Gorge Scenic Drive. It’s an 83-mile route that takes you past two visitor centers and gives you a great view of the gorge, the valleys, and the New River Gorge Bridge.

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is extremely popular in New River Gorge National Forest. There are more than 1,400 rock climbing trails. Most climbing routes range in height from 30 feet to 120 feet. It’s important to note that most of the routes are designed for intermediate and advanced climbers, as the difficulty ratings often start at 5.9. Prime climbing season runs from April to mid-June. However, the rock faces can be climbed at any time of year.

Participate in a Guided Activity

If you’re new to outdoor adventures, you might want to try a guided activity or two. The guided activities at the park are for all ages, and they are considered beginner-friendly and low-impact. Many of the activities are also free and typically start in April. For example, if you were to visit the park on April 10, you could participate in the Salamander Stroll, which is a 90-minute, .2-mile walk where you search for salamanders and other night creatures. Other guided activities include the Spring Birds and Blooms of Stone Cliff hike, a talk on Wildfower Forklore Tales, and a talk on wildflowers, which are part of a WV Master Naturalist Certification Class.

When you visit New River Gorge National Forest, you’ll find plenty of adventure while you get back to basics and enjoy nature. Along with the listed activities, you could also enjoy some hunting, fishing, and backpacking. There are also opportunities to view some spectacular sunsets and spot some stars and constellations in the night sky. If you’re ready for an outdoor adventure, consider flying into Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) and spending a few days in New River Gorge National Park in the Appalachian Mountains.