February 8, 2021
West Virginia's New River Gorge
Becomes 63rd U.S. National Park
By Lucy Hurlbut
National parks are places that not only bring people to marvel at the beauty of the land; they are also places for learning, exploration, health, and wellness. The New River Gorge in Southern West Virginia (informally called “The New”) is not actually new. In fact, it is one of the oldest rivers on this planet. The New River was established in 1978 as the New River Gorge National River. On December 27th, a COVID-19 relief bill officially re-designated it as the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, making it the 63rd National Park.
Encompassing over 70,000 acres of land, this national park provides enticing opportunities for recreation, and the scenic views are breathtaking. The new status preserves 65,165 acres of forests and Appalachian Mountains, as well as 7,021 acres that surround the river. If you visit, you will see the beauty and richness of its natural and cultural history. The New River runs along the land, stretching for 53 miles from the Bluestone Dam to the Hawk's Nest Lake. The whitewater river is rugged and flows to the north through deep canyons. In the Appalachian Mountains, this river has been and continues to be the longest and deepest body of water.
The New River Gorge in West Virginia / Photo by form PxHere
Beyond the gorgeous landscape is a vibrant forest, whether one is looking from Diamond Point, Grandview, Long Point, or one of the other many viewpoints. This forest contains some of the greatest diversity of flora than any of the central and southern river gorges in the Appalachian Mountains. The National Park Service describes the New River as being “sliced through the mountains, creating a mosaic of habitats: unfragmented forest, cliff and rimrock habitats, forest seeps and wetlands, and mature bottomland forests.” The aquatic ecosystem has also thrived with distinct populations, including mussels, native fish, crayfish, birds, mammals, reptiles, and rare amphibians.
Looking out from just about any viewpoint, one will notice the railroad tracks that, in 1872, introduced this isolated, closed-off land to the outside world. Coal mines can also be found in the gorge. Evidence of 18th and 19th ancestral heritage can be observed from looking at old cars that have rusted, coke ovens that are decaying, and pieces of coal that have been found along the railroad tracks.
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The New River Gorge today is most known and appreciated for its whitewater rafting and rock-climbing activities. In the “Lower New,” there are 13 miles of challenging Class IV and V rapids for experienced whitewater rafters. For rock climbers, there are over 1,400 routes that have been established from hard sandstone cliffs ranging from 30 feet high to 120 feet high. To add to these exciting activities, there are a dozen other recreational activities, including canoeing, fishing, camping, biking, hunting, picnicking, and bird watching. When the long eventful day is done, visitors can stay at one of the seven official campsites on the ground, or at one that is more developed.
Whitewater rafting is one of the many activities available at
New River Gorge / Photo by form PxHere
The uniqueness of the newest national park is that its attractiveness is multidimensional. It highlights the recreation, biodiversity, history, and spiritual aspects of the area. As an official national park and preserve, this site will be better protected and will allow wildlife and native species to thrive.
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With President Biden now in office, promising plans to protect national parks and wilderness are evident. Biden has requested that executive orders from the last four years and new laws be re-reviewed to prevent further harming the environment and public health. He has also asked the Department of the Interior to review what conditions and boundaries there are at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments and Bears Ears, where more than one million acres of protections had been illegally withdrawn in 2017. Furthermore, he has asked that the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument be reviewed, which were opened up to industrial commercial fishing in 2020.
The Biden administration is also committing to the 30 by 30 plan to save nature by protecting 30 percent of land and 30 percent of coastal seas in the United States by 2030. According to a U.S. Geological Survey, 26 percent of U.S. coastal waters are currently being protected, compared to only 12 percent of U.S. lands. To secure this additional land, it will require, as National Geographic notes, “an additional area twice the size of Texas, more than 440 million acres, within the next 10 years.” While the 30 by 30 goal is an ambitious one, it is not impossible. Designating the New River Gorge as a national park and preserve will help increase the land being protected. There is hope that Biden’s administration will continue to help protect national parks in general to improve the health of the environment and public health.