New River Gorge National Park: A huge bridge, a ghost town, and Gauley/Bluestone Rivers, Lansing, WV

In 2020, the New River Gorge was designated as a national park and preserve, becoming America's newest national park. The New River Gorge is a prominent natural and recreational area located in the Appalachian Mountains of southern West Virginia. The gorge is known for its steep cliffs, lush forests, and the rugged terrain of the Appalachian Plateau. Despite its name, the New River is considered one of the oldest rivers on earth, with a geological age of around 320 million years. It flows northward, making it one of the few major rivers in the US that flows in this direction.
The New River Gorge is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It offers a wide range of recreational activities, including whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, and fishing. The area is particularly renowned for its world-class whitewater rapids.
One of the most iconic features of the area is the New River Gorge Bridge. It is one of the longest single-span arch bridges in the world and spans the canyon at a height of 876 feet. The bridge is not only a vital transportation route but also a popular spot for BASE jumping and a major symbol of West Virginia.
Part of the New River Gorge NP is the ghost town of Thurmond. During its boomtime, it had two hotels and two banks. The downtown area had restaurants, clothing stores, a jewelry store, and dry-goods stores. The town even had a movie theater. There were many business offices for the telephone company, lawyers, and more. The town continued to thrive through the early decades of the 20th century.
We awoke in the Gauley River National Recreation Area and drove to the canyon rim where we took in the dizzying heights of the bridge at the National Park. Shortly after we made our way up to one of the coolest ghost towns in America, Thurmond. It's an abandoned traveler's dream, we poked around the old buildings and after we had our fill, moved along to Bluestone National Scenic River to finish the day.

Edgen - Traveling the Lands

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