Hiking The Long Point Trail In New River Gorge National Park
The Long Point Trail is located in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia.
This pet and family friendly hike is around 3 miles long and has a little over 300 feet of elevation gain. I think most of that elevation gain is in the last 0.2 miles of the trail that takes you to Long Point.
The trailhead (38.04151, -81.07789) for this out and back trail has a gravel parking lot with a pit toilet.
Most of the trail is an easy, and somewhat boring, stroll through the forest. There are some informational kiosks located along the trail to learn more about the area during your hike.
Many parts of this trail are quite muddy.
Even though some raised beds and walk around paths have been created, there’s still a good chance you’re shoes are gonna be caked with mud by the time you’re finished.
Eventually you’ll reach a sign that says “No Bicycles Beyond This Point” and that’s when the real hike begins. I can assume you figured out from that last sentence that bikes are allowed on this trail too up to that point.
The last 1/4 mile of the trail has you climbing through rhododendron thickets until you reach the rock outcrop the hike gets it’s name from. Rhododendron roots are notorious for growing across the trail so be careful not to twist an ankle.
There are a lot of slippery rocks in this section too so watch your step.
Once you reach Long Point you will be greeted with panoramic views of the gorge and the New River Gorge Bridge. This is the spot to get one of those iconic shots the park is known for.
Remember that this point is surrounded by unprotected cliff edges so keep a close eye of your children and pets. Also, be sure not to stumble off yourself while taking pictures or getting that perfect selfie.
We got there before 9 AM on a dreary, cloudy, rainy day so we didn’t have the clearest skies or any sun. The hubby loved the cloud coverage though and thought they made for some cool pictures.
I didn’t mind, but wish the sun would of peeked out for at least a moment.
I found most of this hike boring, but the reward at the end is worth it.
The epic views of the bridge and surrounding gorge once you reach the point are pretty great and worth the trek through the forest.
A number of different trails intersect with the Long Point Trail so you can make this hike a much longer event. Timber Ridge Trail also starts at the parking lot.
Fun Fact: When your standing on Long Point staring at New River Gorge Bridge if you look to your right you just my see a waterfall or two in the distance.
