Approach and facilities
From Route 19, head south on Route 16 through Fayetteville, then follow the Gateway, Gatewood and Cunard Access Road signs to the river. NPS lists auto parking and a vault/composting toilet at the adjacent trailhead.
Overview
About Cunard River Access
Why stop
- Public access to the Lower New River and the Southside Trail
Heads up
- Commercial raft trips share the launch area
Map
Where it is
Loading the New River Gorge map
Full mapPlan your stop
Before you go
Approach and facilities
5 active New River Gorge alerts
- InfoCunard Road closure scheduled for NovemberMentions this placeCunard Road is currently open, but is scheduled to close from November through March between just beyond the Brooklyn Mine Trail parking lot and Cunard river access as road repairs resume.Official details
- ClosureRend and Church Loop trails closedRend Trail is closed from both trailheads through approximately December 2027; Church Loop Trail is also closed because its only access is from Rend.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
New River Gorge Tour Guide
Your drive to Cunard River Access, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for New River Gorge National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the New River Gorge audio tourRecorded for this place
Cunard River Access and Brooklyn0:00 / 0:32
“You're approaching Cunard River Access, a working launch for rafting trips and private paddlers on the Lower New River. Stop if you want to fish, get onto the water, or explore the nearby coal-town remains.”
Plays as you drive up to Cunard River Access in the Parkwolf New River Gorge Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- A Ballplayer's Mining Job
- Freight Boats Before the Trains
- Two Sides of Short Creek
- The Vulture’s Nose
- 92 audio storiesacross New River Gorge’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, White-tailed Deer, Pileated Woodpecker, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 49 trails, 55 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
More about Cunard River Access
A launch, not an overlookCunard River Access is a public put-in on the Lower New River, used by commercial rafting trips…
Cunard River Access is a public put-in on the Lower New River, used by commercial rafting trips and private paddlers. Come to get onto the water, fish, or start the Southside Trail; this is a working river access rather than a purpose-built overlook.
The Lower GorgeDownstream, the Lower Gorge has rapids from Class III to V, with powerful currents and…
Downstream, the Lower Gorge has rapids from Class III to V, with powerful currents and hydraulics. That is the river's general character, not a report of conditions on the day you visit.
A trail through old mining communitiesThe Southside Trail leaves from this shared access and follows the river on an abandoned…
The Southside Trail leaves from this shared access and follows the river on an abandoned railroad for seven miles one way, passing the former communities of Rush Run, Red Ash and Brooklyn. The first mile from Cunard is open to motor vehicles, so that stretch is not hiking-only.
Wildlife
Wildlife in New River Gorge
18 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
126 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
25 sightingsPileated WoodpeckerMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
15 sightingsBarred OwlMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
14 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
58 sightingsCopperheadMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across New River Gorge. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
