New River Gorge with kids is an absolute blast.
It’s one of my favorite National Parks to visit with kids!
From hiking to rafting to sightseeing, there are so many fantastic adventures in New River Gorge with kids!
New River Gorge National Park is the newest national park, created in 2020. And totally worth the hype! We’re already dreaming of when we can return.
We visited as part of a six-park roadtrip in 2025. We stopped at Great Smoky Mountains, Congaree, Hot Springs, Shenandoah, Mammoth Cave, and New River Gorge national parks — and New River Gorge was one of our favorite stops on the trip!
Here is everything you need to know to have a great trip to New River Gorge National Park with kids.
Raft the New with Kids
My absolute favorite thing to do in New River Gorge with kids is to raft the New River!
There is no better way to explore the river than to get *on* the river!
Ironically, the New River is one of the oldest rivers on Earth! It offers trips for both young kids or experienced adult adventurers.
We spent a full day rafting the Upper New River with ACE Adventure Resort.
ACE’s Upper New trip is open to kids ages 6 and older. My parents watched our 3-year-old so my husband and I could take our 6- and 8-year-olds on their first rafting trip!
We geared up at ACE, road a school bus to the launch spot, and loaded up. It was a big group of people, we waited a bit. (There are bathrooms at the loading and landing points.)
My husband and I both chose to paddle a “ducky,” like an inflatable kayak, with a kid each, because they were nervous about riding in the big rafts.
The trip goes over several very easy rapids, but the kids loved it! Along the way, we stopped to cliff jump and play in calmer spots in the river.
For lunch, the guides set up an amazing buffet of hot dogs, burgers, macaroni and cheese, veggies, brownies, and more. It was delicious! You can request vegetarian and gluten-free options beforehand too.
At the end of the trip, we clamored back on the bus and got back to the resort around 3 p.m.
For a more advanced rafting trip, check out the Lower New River. My parents rafted the Lower New, and their experience was similar to ours, though with more bumps! Kids must be at least 10 years old for the Lower New.
My Favorite Hikes in New River Gorge with kids
Endless Wall Trail to Diamond Point (2.1 miles, moderate)
The Endless Wall Trail was my favorite hike in New River Gorge with kids!
The scenery was stunning and there was just enough adventure thanks to the rock climbing ladders (read more below)!
The full Endless Wall Trail is 5.4 miles, and it’s one of the most popular trails in New River Gorge National Park.
We only hiked to Diamond Point and back, about 2 moderate miles.
Diamond Point has stunning views of the river below, the mountains, and the severe cliff walls that make up the “Endless Wall.”
The parking lot for the trailhead is small, so plan to get here early. That said, early morning fog lingers over the gorge and obscures your view. Pack breakfast and eat it at the parking lot or at Diamond Point as you watch the mist dissipate.
Sitting at Diamond Point, marveling at the clearing mist, was a highlight of our trip to New River Gorge with kids!
However, the overlook has very steep drop-offs. Very.
We let our 3-year-old hike most of the trail, but put her in the backpack carrier as soon as we neared Diamond Point. We kept our older two kids very, very far from the edges.
Bonus: Climb the ladders into the Endless Wall
A secret is hidden in the rocks along the Endless Wall Trail: climber’s ladders!
The ladders are primarily used by climbers to access the rock climbing trails further down in Endless Wall.
We took a side trail off the Endless Wall Trail (I believe it was Fern Point) and found some ladders for a neat little side quest!
The ladders were several rungs tall, but nothing my 6- and 8-year-old were nervous about. We put our 3-year-old in the hiking backpack. But, I wouldn’t attempt the ladders in rain or ice.
We climbed down the ladders, reveled in being “in” the Endless Wall, then climbed back up and continued the trail.
Sandstone Falls Boardwalk (0.4 mile, easy)
For a much less adventurous hike in New River Gorge with kids, check out Sandstone Falls Boardwalk.
The Sandstone Falls Boardwalk trail is a perfect hike for toddlers. There are very few dangers and tons of fun!
The trail is a raised accessible, boardwalk that travels across the river to observation decks looking out at the biggest waterfall in New River Gorge National Park!
Sandstone Falls stretches 1,500 feet across!
At the end of the trail, we saw dozens of people climb over rocks to wade in a shallow spot in the river. If we had brought our swimsuits, we could’ve splashed for awhile here! But we didn’t, so we just dipped our toes in.
Tunnel Trail & Grandview Overlook (0.7 miles, easy)
For one of the most iconic views in New River Gorge National Park, visit the Grandview Overlook Visitor Center.
From the Visitor Center, walk down to overlook to see the hairpin turn in the river.
Marvel at the dense vegetation that now coats the steep cliffs. Not even a century ago, the mountains here were largely bare, stripped for mining and railroad tracks. After the miners left, the trees began to return. Now, the second- and third-generation forests are beautiful and dense.
Next, head to the Tunnel Trail to walk among ferns and steep sandstone rocks.
The trail is 0.7 miles and easy, but there are some steep steps.
This enchanting trail makes it seem like you’re on a mountain fortress!
Explore the Canyon Rim Visitor Center
New River Gorge has three visitor centers, but the best is arguably the Canyon Rim Visitor Center.
The building has a great interactive exhibit with kid-friendly history of the region and its recreational offerings.
Catch the park video in the visitor center for information about its history.
There’s a small gift shop here too, and a lovely patio with views of the gorge. But the best views are arguably down a short boardwalk near the visitor center.
Admire the New River Gorge Bridge
You can’t visit New River Gorge without taking in its famous bridge!
The New River Gorge Bridge is closed to pedestrian traffic except for one day a year. Visitors ages 8 and older can book a Bridge Walk through a private company to cross on a catwalk under the bridge.
Or, you can admire it from afar like we did after a short walk (and many stairs) away from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center.
Drive the Fayette Station Road
For truly spectacular views of the bridge and a glimpse into the history, drive the Fayette Station Road.
The narrow, windy, 8-mile road passes *under* the bridge!
We listened to an NPS audio tour for information and history on the road and the region.
At the bottom of the road, cross the river via the reconstructed Fayette Station Bridge. The bridge was once one of the few ways to cross the gorge until the construction of the New River Gorge Bridge in 1977.
Take the Junior Ranger Oath
If you’re visiting New River Gorge with kids, then you have to become Junior Rangers!
Pick up a free Junior Ranger activity book at any visitor center. Complete the activities and turn them in for a junior ranger badge!
Where to stay near New River Gorge with kids
We stayed in a cabin at ACE Adventure Resort, and I highly recommend it!
The resort has cabins of all different sizes, from more rustic choices to spots with full kitchens. Most have hot tubs too!
The resort is also home to an amazing water park that kids of all ages will love! We had an absolute blast slipping and sliding across the obstacles, climbing and jumping off inflatables, and just splashing around.
The waterpark has a beach and shallower areas for littles. You could easily spend a whole day here!
ACE also has an aerial adventure park to climb, and several different tours and rafting trips leave right from the resort. We can’t wait to return someday!
Where to eat in New River Gorge with kids
We primarily cooked meals in our cabin at ACE Adventure Resort. However, we also ate yummy pizza at the resort’s main restaurant after a long day on the river.
My mom loved the grape & gorgonzola pizza, and my husband and I devoured the street corn pizza.
I hope you have a great trip to New River Gorge with kids!
Leave a Reply