West Virginia's New River Gorge Is America's Newest National Park

[appalachiablue]

- Visitors have been drawn to WVa. by its mountains, winding roads, & wild rivers, but until last week, America's 35th state had no national park. New River Gorge just became the nation's newest park - and the only national park in WVa. (May 29, 2021).
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- Est. in 1978, New River Gorge National River was redesignated as New River Gorge National Park & Preserve in 2021. The park spans over 70,000 acres of land along 53 miles of the New River from Bluestone Dam to Hawk's Nest Lake. A rugged, whitewater river flowing northward through spectacular canyons, the New River is actually among the oldest rivers on Earth. Hike along park trails, enjoy rafting in the river, bike along an old railroad grade and see spectacular scenery... https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm

[Botany]

1. Nice Country

[appalachiablue]

2. Spectacular vistas, the area is attractive to people

who enjoy nature, wildlife, the outdoors and serenity.

[NeoGreen]

8. I do believe that the rock formation on the left is the Endless Wall of....

...Nuttall sandstone, named after John Nuttall.

https://abandonedonline.net/location/nuttallburg/

[Botany]

9. Downstream from the thriving town of Prince, WV

[WhiteTara]

3. Now say, Thank you Mr. President, Joe

Your state was given a gift of moving into the future and you are still shitting on your duties as a DEMOCRATIC senator.

[Botany]

4. Many of the locals have been fed right wing talking points about the new National Park being bad ...

.... for the people who live there even though this will bring in more money and jobs to the
region. In the fall of 2019 I was there rafting the Gualey and fishing the New and both my
guide and the driver (we were doing a float trip) were very against the park.

[WhiteTara]

6. Joe does a horrible job at countering and offering

hope to the locals.

[Botany]

7. W.V. is beautiful but it has some real problems. I think it leads the nation in % of young .....

.... people leaving it when they graduate college or high school, heroin, pills, and crystal meth
have hammered the state, poor public schools, Christian Evangelicals and generational ignorance
have all taken their toll on W.V.. W.V. is the classic case of a state where people vote against their
own best interest. I hope that Biden's infrastructure plan brings broad band to all of W.V. as a way
to bring in some enlightenment. The National Park might help the New River Region's economy.

BTW I love parts of the state and some of the people there too.

[Freethinker65]

13. Yep. I got the same rant when I went rafting there in 2019.

Beautiful area. Fun raft trip.

[3825-87867]

5. Almost Heaven...

[paleotn]

10. Oldest river in North America.

One of the oldest in the world. Dates from the Permian and Pangea.

[Duppers]

11. A very distant cousin of my husband's...

...runs a big white water outfit on the New River there in Hinton.

White water rafting is rather like eating potato chips - you can't go just once. Been twice & am definitely going back one day!

[happybird]

12. We did the New and Upper Gauley when I was in college

A three day trip with camping, feasting and drinking (provided by the cool guide company.) (Edit to add: I think we brought the alcohol and they hauled it along with the food coolers for the meals they provided).
It was some of the most fun I’ve ever had!

[Duppers]

14. Fantastic!

Wouldn't happen to remember the company?

Our son has never been but he must go! It's a *bucket list* item to me.

He wants to go to Switzerland but I asked why not Glacier Nat'l Park? People do not realize how fantastic our National Parks are but in some way, that's good - they'll stay more pristine.

[happybird]

15. Yes, indeed!

Class VI River Runners.

About a year ago, when moving and going through old boxes, I found the t-shirt from that trip.
It’s in my dresser now, for use this summer.

We went in ‘96 (maybe ‘97?), don’t know if they are still around. I hope so! They were a super cool, chill bunch of folks who really loved what they did.




The front says “In quest of too much fun” over the breast. That pretty much sums up me and my old crew in the mid 90’s.

[Duppers]

16. Wow! And they are still in business!

Great t-shirt!! -

"Get high on hydraulics" - Best slogan ever!


Wouldn't ya like to do it again?

[happybird]

17. That's great to hear they are still in business!

I’d go again in a heartbeat! Heck, I’d go every weekend if I could.

I hope your son follows your advice. There are so many gorgeous spots in the US, our state and nat’l parks are absolute gems.

[Duppers]

18. Thanks!

[Botany]

19. These guys are the best

https://www.gauley.com/

Their fall Gualey River trip in the smaller rafts is really wild.

[Vinnie From Indy]

20. I have enjoyed the area on many occasions.

The river almost ended me on one occasion. I was lucky and didn't die. I will never forget the experience or the beauty of the river systems in WV.