New River Gorge National River consists one of West Virginia's heritage. It was established as a unit of the national park system. It is located in the Appalachian Mountains of Southern West Virginia, including over 72808 ac (295 km²) of land along 53 mi (85 km) of the New River from Bluestone Dam to Hawks Nest State Park.
New River Gorge National River is one of the most popular and oldest rivers in the continent. Every year, this spot is being visited by many people, who are interested in something out of the ordinary. Visiting this spot offers you the chance to enjoy yourself either by admiring this natural heritage or by taking part in one of the most exciting and popular activities, like rock climbing.
Nowhere else can you find such an amazing place for this activity. Within the 63000 ac (254.95 km²) of New River Gorge National River over 1,400 climbs are ideal for rock climbing. The cliffs are formed by very hard sandstone and range from 30 to 120 ft (9.14 to 36.57 m) in height. The rock is very featured with plenty of crack and face routes. Most of the routes are addressed to advanced and expert climbers. The majority of routes are 5.9 range and harder, and most sport routes are in 5.10 – 5.12 range.
The climbing season at New River is from April through November. The peak season is from late April to mid-June, and mid-September to late October. On Route 82, one mile past Bridge Buttress, and at Canyon Rim Visitor Center, fresh water is available.
