A Weekend in the New River Gorge National River - Day One

We had originally planned this trip for the late Spring/early Summer.  Five days of rain in the forecast changed our plans back then to head up to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  Rain was in the forecast again for this trip, but we figured we would get a day and a half of decent weather and the fall foliage was on, so we went for it.  I was super excited as I had been to West Virginia only one other time... in February... and did nothing outdoors whatsoever.

Sunday morning we left Cbus for the Gorge.  Plan was to head right for Babcock State Park in Clifftop WV to get photos of the grist mill there surrounded by fall color.  Once we got to West Virginia, the GPS took us down US Route 60, and I am super glad it did.  We got some additional site seeing in on the way along with some nice photos.

First was Kanawha Falls in Glen Ferris, WV.  There is a park with public access to the falls right off the road.  We saw the falls as we passed and had to turn around to check them out.  The park is not much more than a rough boat ramp and fishing access, with a breakwall kind of thing you can walk out onto to get closer to the falls.  But you aren't getting close to them, and that is ok.  These falls are best viewed from a distance.  There is a power generation plant adjacent to the falls... like I mean, built right into the falls...  but doesn't detract from them at all.  In fact, the building sort of adds to the falls.  Down the road on the way is Cathedral Falls, but no water was flowing here, so we didn't stop.

US Route 60 took us right by Hawk's Nest State Park.  There is an overlook on one side of the road and a really cool visitor center/gift shop on the other.  Now, when I say real cool, it is not like I actually went inside.  I mean it looks really cool.  We didn't check out any other areas of the park, but the overlook view is spectacular, and worth the stop.  I mean, it is right on the side of the road, so how can you not?  With a view of the New River blow with a bridge and a damn, it is picturesque... add the fall color and it was awesome.  We are putting this state park on our list of things to check out in the future.

We were nearing Babcock State Park, when a farm field caught my eye.  We turned around and took a few photos.   Some of my favorite of the trip, partly because it was not one of the tourist destination spots.  Just an organic photo.  Driving down the road minding our own business when the scene jumps out at you and you just have to turn around and take a few pictures.  So grateful that we both like photography and we both will just stop and turn the vehicle around to get a good shot.

We finally made it to Babcock State Park.  I have seen many of Kerry's photos of the grist mill and was really looking forward to shooting it.  We pulled in and the parking lot was full.  You have to expect it on a Sunday afternoon.  Nonetheless it was awesome and I thoroughly enjoined our time at the mill.  It was kind of fun to try and shoot without getting people in the shots, and in most of them you wouldn't know that some guy was hanging out in front of the mill with his dog, in the stream, for no apparent reason.




We didn't spend that long, and planned to come back the next morning when the light would be better and there would be fewer people.  But on the way out we saw the park sign for the scenic overlook and actually had to turn the car around again for the fourth time.  Man was it worth it.  The park road rose up the ridge through a beech, maple, hickory forest just in full golden yellow color.  There was one overlook on the way and a second at the end of the road at the top of the ridge.  Breath taking. In the end, we didn't come back to Babcock this trip.  This State Park is definitely one we are coming back to explore.   We only saw a small portion of Babcock, and there are miles of trails to be walked. I think a weekend cabin rental is in our future.

We left Babcock and headed to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, which is adjacent to the New River Gorge Bridge.  We went in to get our proofs of visit as tradition now dictates... vehicle sticker for me and hiking pin for Kerry.  Daylight was at a premium and we wanted to actually hike a little since the weather was going to be ify for the rest of the trip.  Get to getting while the getting was good.

Kerry had always wanted to do the Endless Wall Trail and it was right around the corner.  With a map in hand we found the Fern Creek Trailhead and started off.  The trail is about 3 miles long in the shape of a shallow horseshoe, stopping and starting on opposite sides of a large bend in the road.  You can walk the whole thing, then walk the road back to the car, or, about half way out is Diamond Point, then turn around from there.  Since light was fading and the idea of walking a very narrow road back to the car in the dark was not appealing, we chose to turn around at Diamond Point. The walk was easy, considering the surrounding terrain.  Most of it was through a rhododendron thicket, still green of course, with an over story of maples and hickorys wearing their brilliant yellows and reds of Fall.  Over a neat foot bridge, up a not too tough ridge, flattening out to Diamond Point.  Again, breath taking.  Awe inspiring.  Not enough words to describe it.  This was by far our favorite part of the whole trip and we will do this hike every time we return to explore the area.

Day one was in the books.  Off to the hotel in Oak Hill.