New River Gorge National Park and Preserve: Grandview Rim Trail (Blog Hike #119)

Trail: Grandview Rim Trail

Hike Location: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Grandview District

Geographic Location: northeast of Beckley, WV (37.83065, -81.06387)

Length: 3.2 miles round-trip

Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: June 2002, June 2014

Overview: A cliff-top walk featuring some of the best views of New River Gorge.

Area Information: http://www.nps.gov/neri/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=717898
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: Take I-64 east of Beckley to County Route 9 (exit 129).  Exit and go north.  In 5 miles CR 9 enters the national recreation area.  Follow signs to the visitors center, where the trail begins.

The hike: The reasons why this section of New River Gorge has earned the name Grandview are well-understood by anyone who has stood on the rim.  It is at this point that the river turns from flowing west to flowing north, and does so in (yes, I’m going to say it) “grand” fashion.  The river makes such a sharp, sweeping turn that one is able to look almost 360 degrees and see nothing but river.  The views of this curve have been photographed more than just about any other views in West Virginia.

These views have been in public ownership since 1938, but visitors began coming here long before that.  The first known settlers, Joseph and Jane Carper, came in 1855.  At first the area simply was called “Rock” for the cliffs that line the gorge here.  Stories of visitors coming to the Carpers and other nearby residents to see the view date to the early 1900’s, when this area could only be reached by a dirt wagon road.

When the state of West Virginia bought the land in 1938, mountaineer farming, lumber harvesting, and coal mining had taken their collective toll.  Nevertheless, the civilian conservation Corps began building shelters other facilities, and the area was dedicated as Grandview State Park.  In 1978, an act of Congress created the New River Gorge National River administered by the National Park Service.  In 1990, the land was transferred from state to federal hands and became part of the national river.

3.5 miles of trails can be accessed from the Grandview Visitor Center.  A couple of short nature trails head east from the visitor center.  The most scenic and popular trail is the Grandview Rim Trail (formerly known as the Canyon Rim Trail) described here.  It takes visitors along the west rim of the gorge for its entire length, connecting two overlooks that made this area famous.

Trailhead across parking lot from Visitor Center

            The trail starts at an information board across the parking lot from the Visitor Center.  Look for signs that direct you to the “Main Overlook,” which is a short walk on paved trail from the parking lot.  From this protected vantage point, one can see the first of several broad turns in the river.  Study first the cliffs across the river.  Trees seem to carpet the slopes, on the surface showing no scars from the land’s industrial past.  Then study the river and rapids that can be seen therein.  Watch for kayakers attempting to ride the river north towards Hawks Nest and Kanawha Falls.  Notice the railroad tracks that at one time would bustle with locomotives carrying coal and timber for sale in Charleston downstream.  Lastly, notice to the right the wilderness known as Glade Creek gorge, which features its own compliment of fine and scenic hiking trails.

View east from Main Overlook

View across river-Main Overlook

            Starting back from the overlook, the Grandview Rim Trail departs to the right as a gravel trail, heading into the forest.  There is a trail brochure that describes some of the sights seen along this trail, and it may be available at this point.  The trail assumes a level course with the gorge ever-present on the right and a picnic area through the trees on the left.  Pass some rock outcrops which serve as unprotected overlooks and in 0.3 miles arrive at the North Overlook, downhill on a short side path to the right.  This is another protected overlook and offers much the same view as the Main Overlook.  Interestingly, neither overlook can be seen from the other.

Trail traffic past this point lessens somewhat, but one of the best overlooks still lies ahead.  Continue on a northwest course through second-growth upland forest consisting of red oak, sugar maple, and a few pines, including hemlock, galax, and red pine.  Much of the understory is taken up with mountain laurel and rhododendron.

At 0.6 miles intersect the park road and angle left as the trail begins paralleling this road.  The trail and road will never stray more than a few yards apart for until the parking area for the Turkey Spur Overlook is reached.  During this time, the trail undulates gently up and down at first, with a couple steeper descents using wood and stone steps at the end.  In all, the trail will lose about 100 feet in elevation from the Main Overlook to the Turkey Spur overlook.

At 1.5 miles the trail rounds a sandstone cliff and arrives at the small paved parking area that serves the Turkey Spur Overlook.  Across the parking area, the short trail to the overlooks begins.  A trail sign states that a total of 150 steps must be navigated to reach the overlook, but there are three platforms to view with separate steps at each, so not all 150 steps have to be climbed at once.  Just begin following one of the boardwalks/steps, and an excellent view will reward your efforts in each case.  Putting all three platforms together, one can almost see 360 degrees, with the river in view most of the time.

View west from Turkey Spur Overlook

            After seeing the views from all three platforms, hike 1.6 miles back uphill to your car at the visitor center.  Alternatively, since the Turkey Spur parking lot is accessible by car, one could arrange a two-car shuttle to whisk you back to the visitor center.