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“Excuse me but could you tell me how to get to Endless Wall?”

It’s almost Memorial Day weekend! That means the park will be very busy with visitors, large and small. Some advice will help you make the best of it.

· Memorial Day weekend is traditionally one of our busiest weekends here at many parks, including ours. Be prepared for crowds.

· Endless Wall and Long Point are the most popular trails in the park. Avoid peak crowds by going in the morning or afternoon.

· Parking at trailheads often fill up! If a parking lot is full, don’t park on residential roads. This is not only disrespectful to our local residents but, in some places, will likely lead to a tow truck taking your car away. Save yourself the trouble by being flexible and returning to the trail when crowds have diminished.

· Have a plan for where to stay. While there are campgrounds in the park, they are all first come first served. We expect that they will all be full. Park visitor centers do NOT allow overnight camping.

· Backcountry camping is allowed inside the park, but it must be more than 100 feet away from developed trails, historic ruins, park structures or water sources. If you are ever uncertain, err on the side of caution and check in with a park ranger at the visitor center.

· If hiking out with pets, make sure they are on a leash. That protects both your pets' safety and our wildlife as well.

· Leave no trace when out in the park. Take your trash with you when you leave. Leaving everything behind that you found in the park.

By keeping these points in mind, we can all have a more enjoyable, safer holiday weekend!

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #MemorialDayWeekend

It’s that time of year where wildlife and visitors both get more active in the park! That increases the chances that the two will meet. While glimpsing some of our wildlife can be an awesome part of our national park experience, here are some tips to help make sure those encounters stay memorable for the right reasons.

· Stay on the trail. This is the most important tool we have to keep ourselves safe. Whether it’s ticks, snakes or bears, staying on trail minimizes our chances of having negative encounters with our native wildlife.

· Our most common negative wildlife encounters in the park this time of year are with ticks. Please make sure to check yourself after you spend time outdoors.

· Give nature space. Whether it’s a squirrel, a snake or a black bear, never approach wildlife. Always, give the creature more space than you think it needs.

· Black bear encounters in our park are quite uncommon. Good #BearAware habits can keep bears from seeing visitors as a source of food. When camping, keep food and trash in bear approved containers or in your vehicle. If you use one of the park’s picnic shelters, please always take trash and food scraps with you at the end of your visit.

By keeping these ideas in mind, we can all help make sure to keep our time out in our park safe, both for ourselves and the nature around us.

Image Description: A closeup of a black bear looking towards the camera with leaves in front of them.

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #Safety

Interested in a seasonal entry level position working for the National Park Service? New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is currently accepting applications for a Visitor Services Assistant (VSA) at the GS-4 level. VSAs serve as representatives to answer questions and offer guidance to park visitors, monitor sites and maintain relations with park partners, and assist rangers with a variety of duties.

Open to the first 50 applicants or until 05/17/2026 whichever comes first.

Note in the vacancy announcement that this position is being filled using the Local Hiring Authority, so applicants must live within a 50-mile commuting distance from the duty station at 83 Burnwood Campground Rd, Lansing, WV, to be considered. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration. Go to: USAJOBS - Job Announcement for more

Image Description: Close-up shot of NPS Ranger standing in front of historic structure

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS

Roadwork has begun within Bluestone State Park near the Old Mill Campground.

The road will remain closed until repairs are completed. This will, for a time, block access to the northernmost trailhead for the Bluestone Turnpike Trail, which runs through Bluestone National Scenic River. We do not have a timeframe for completion at this time. The Bluestone Turnpike remains accessible from both the NPS Lilly parking area and via the chairlift at Pipestem Resort State Park. We will provide further updates as we receive them, but we appreciate your patience while this work is completed.

Image Description: A shallow river runs over rocks as it winds between green trees.

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #BluestoneScenicRiver #Roadwork

It’s Earth Day. What better day to highlight conservation work happening here in our park?

Earlier this month, thanks to our partners at Green Forests Work through the American Chestnut Foundation, we received 250 seedlings of American Chestnuts. Employees and volunteers planted them in the War Ridge area of the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve as part of surface mine restoration. American Chestnuts (Castanea dentata) were once a foundational species in forests across the Eastern United States. Their lumber was used in many different ways, while their fruits were important to many people’s diets. In the late 1800s, a fungus commonly known as chestnut blight led to the near extinction of the American Chestnut across its range. Through the work of foundations such as The American Chestnut Foundation and partnerships with the National Park Service, the work of restoring the American Chestnuts continues on!

Image Description: A group of National Park Service Employees stand with equipment with trees in the background. Image 2: an employee crouches with a sapling in its protective stand.

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS

It’s Earth Day. What better day to highlight conservation work happening here in our park?

Earlier this month, thanks to our partners at Green Forests Work through the American Chestnut Foundation, we received 250 seedlings of American Chestnuts. Employees and volunteers planted them in the War Ridge area of the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve as part of surface mine restoration. American Chestnuts (Castanea dentata) were once a foundational species in forests across the Eastern United States. Their lumber was used in many different ways, while their fruits were important to many people’s diets. In the late 1800s, a fungus commonly known as chestnut blight led to the near extinction of the American Chestnut across its range. Through the work of foundations such as The American Chestnut Foundation and partnerships with the National Park Service, the work of restoring the American Chestnuts continues on!

Image Description: A group of National Park Service Employees stand with equipment with trees in the background. Image 2: an employee crouches with a sapling in its protective stand.

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS

Are you going to the Sandstone Visitor Center or Sandstone Falls in the next few months?

The Eastbound I-64 exit ramp at Exit 139 is closed from now through late October 2026 to complete the final phase of a bridge rehabilitation project. During this closure, eastbound motorists should continue on I64 for approximately 4 four miles to Exit 143 at Green Sulphur Springs, then reenter I64 westbound back to Exit 139. The estimated travel time for the detour is 10-15 minutes. While the bridge undergoes repairs, the Sandstone Visitor Center will be open 9:30 a.m - 5:00 p.m. daily.

Image Description: The Sandstone Visitor Center is glimpsed through the garden with an interpretive sign in the foreground.

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #RoadWork

Road Reopening

Cunard Road will reopen on Monday, April 6 after the completion of this winter’s work. The road will once again accommodate two lane traffic down to the Cunard river access and the Brooklyn campground.We appreciate everyone’s patience while this phase of much needed road work was completed.

Image Description: A group of rafters lower their raft down a metal ramp with stairs on either side towards the river.

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS

Join us during Women's History Month and America's 250th for “Amazing Aprons: Women of the New River Gorge,” a program celebrating the women who have called the New River Gorge home. This one-hour program will cover how nurses, homemakers, farmers, and other women have influenced life in this region. The second and final run of this program will be hosted at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center Auditorium tomorrow Saturday March 21 at 1 p.m.

Image Description: 1 A woman stands on the wooden porch of her home with dogs. 2 Three women in nurses uniforms stand in front of a brick building. 3 Two women sit on their porch preparing vegetables.

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #WomensHistoryMonth

Join us during Women's History Month and America's 250th for “Amazing Aprons: Women of the New River Gorge,” a program celebrating the women who have called the New River Gorge home. This one-hour program will cover how nurses, homemakers, farmers, and other women have influenced life in this region. The second and final run of this program will be hosted at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center Auditorium tomorrow Saturday March 21 at 1 p.m.

Image Description: 1 A woman stands on the wooden porch of her home with dogs. 2 Three women in nurses uniforms stand in front of a brick building. 3 Two women sit on their porch preparing vegetables.

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #WomensHistoryMonth

Join us during Women's History Month and America's 250th for “Amazing Aprons: Women of the New River Gorge,” a program celebrating the women who have called the New River Gorge home. This one-hour program will cover how nurses, homemakers, farmers, and other women have influenced life in this region. The second and final run of this program will be hosted at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center Auditorium tomorrow Saturday March 21 at 1 p.m.

Image Description: 1 A woman stands on the wooden porch of her home with dogs. 2 Three women in nurses uniforms stand in front of a brick building. 3 Two women sit on their porch preparing vegetables.

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #WomensHistoryMonth

“I am glad that I will have the pleasure of casting my vote for the suffrage amendment and also to praise the fourteen fellow members of the senate who have stood together solidly to hold the special session together until my arrival.” – WV Senator Jesse Bloch March 10, 1920

West Virginia’s ratification of the 19th Amendment was perhaps the amendment’s most dramatic step on its way to become part of our constitution.

When West Virginia’s legislature was called to special session to vote on the 19th Amendment a stalemate quickly developed with the Senate splitting 14-14. State Senator Jesse Bloch, a pro-suffrage Senator, was the tiebreaking vote on West Virginia's ratification of the 19th Amendment.

He was on vacation in California when the Governor, John Cornwall, called the Legislature into special session to take up the amendment. When pro-suffrage groups were made aware of his status, they donated funds to help him travel by train from California to West Virginia. His overland journey by train took him 5 days and newspapers around the nation tracked his progress. In the early morning hours of March 10, he arrived in Charleston and helped West Virginia become the 34th state to ratify the Amendment.

This cartoon titled "He's on his way", from the Wheeling Intelligencer on March 8, 1920 depicts Bloch’s long journey home.

Image Description: A black and white cartoon titled "He's On His Way" shows a man running back to save the suffrage amendment from a man with horns

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #WomensHistoryMonth #History

Join our team here at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve as a new American Conservation Experience (ACE) intern. The South District of the park seeks new interns for the summer season. Interns will work with the park’s interpretive team at the Sandstone Visitor Center for 12 weeks. The interns will work with the public and will assist regular programming. To review qualifications and to submit your application, visit the American Conservation Experience website: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/1283585

Image Description: A visitor Center Building is glimpsed through trees and shrubs

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #Hiring #AmericanConservationExperience

Join us during Women's History Month and America's 250th for “Amazing Aprons: Women of the New River Gorge,” a program celebrating the women who have called the New River Gorge home. This one-hour program will cover how nurses, homemakers, farmers, and other women have influenced life in this region. The program will be hosted at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center Auditorium on Saturday March 14 and Saturday March 21 at 1 p.m.

Image Description: 1 A woman stands on the wooden porch of her home with dogs. 2 Three women in nurses uniforms stand in front of a brick building. 3 Two women sit on their porch preparing vegetables.

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #SpecialProgram #WomensHistoryMonth

Join us during Women's History Month and America's 250th for “Amazing Aprons: Women of the New River Gorge,” a program celebrating the women who have called the New River Gorge home. This one-hour program will cover how nurses, homemakers, farmers, and other women have influenced life in this region. The program will be hosted at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center Auditorium on Saturday March 14 and Saturday March 21 at 1 p.m.

Image Description: 1 A woman stands on the wooden porch of her home with dogs. 2 Three women in nurses uniforms stand in front of a brick building. 3 Two women sit on their porch preparing vegetables.

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #SpecialProgram #WomensHistoryMonth

Join us during Women's History Month and America's 250th for “Amazing Aprons: Women of the New River Gorge,” a program celebrating the women who have called the New River Gorge home. This one-hour program will cover how nurses, homemakers, farmers, and other women have influenced life in this region. The program will be hosted at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center Auditorium on Saturday March 14 and Saturday March 21 at 1 p.m.

Image Description: 1 A woman stands on the wooden porch of her home with dogs. 2 Three women in nurses uniforms stand in front of a brick building. 3 Two women sit on their porch preparing vegetables.

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #SpecialProgram #WomensHistoryMonth

Spring is slowly arriving here at New River Gorge National Park & Preserve!

Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are often the first blooms of spring. The origin of the common name snowdrop first appeared in John Gerard's Great Herbal in 1633. The plant is grown primarily in gardens across northern Europe, but is naturalized in many areas throughout North America.

If you're visiting the New River Gorge in the upcoming weeks, be on the lookout for the early signs of Spring through the snowdrop!

Image Description: A close up of Delicate white flowers hanging from dark green stems

#NPS #NewRiverGorgeNPS #Spring #Wildflowers