Sight · New River Gorge National Park
Class II McCreery Rapids begin right at the put-in.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
New River Gorge Tour Guide
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
McCreery River Access“McCreery River Access is coming up near Prince, a public launch where Class Two rapids begin right at the put-in. Stop here if you're planning a paddle; it's mainly a boat launch rather than a sightseeing stop.”
Plays as you drive up to McCreery River Access in the Parkwolf New River Gorge Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“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
McCreery River Access is a public boat launch on the New River, off WV-41 near Prince. It is a practical place to start a paddle, with Class II McCreery Rapids right at the put-in. This is a functional river stop, most useful if you are launching rather than looking for a general sightseeing stop.
Two described trips start here but end at different places: about 11 river miles to Stone Cliff River Access, or 15 miles to Thurmond. The longer Thurmond section is described as Class II-III, with room to avoid hazards. Set your take-out and shuttle before launching; the endpoint changes the distance and the plan.
Paddling guidance gives April through October as the general season, while this stretch usually has summer flow unless the year is very dry. Treat that as a pattern, not a promise: seasonal timing alone does not tell you what the river is doing on a particular day.
Wildlife
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.
Keep exploring
ModerateTerry Top Trail3.4 mi · 2 hr · 1.4 mi awayA quiet ridge walk ending at a nineteenth-century family cemetery.
ChallengingLittle Laurel Trail2.6 mi · 2 hr · 1.4 mi awayAn old road drops from Grandview toward Royal's coal-town remains.
EasyBig Buck Trail0.9 mi · 30 min · 1.5 mi awayAn easy loop through Appalachian forest, with tree signs along the way.
EasyWoodland Loop Trail0.6 mi · 18 min · 1.5 mi awayAn easy forest loop from Grandview Shelter #2.
ModerateGrandview Rim Loop3 mi · 2.5 hr · 1.6 mi awayRiver views, exposed coal seams, and a rocky loop back.ModerateGrandview Rim Trail3.2 mi · 2 hr · 2 mi awayA wooded 1.6-mile route between two overlooks, with hills near Turkey Spur.
ChallengingCastle Rock Trail0.6 mi · 45 min · 2.1 mi awayWalk beneath layered walls and exposed coal along a strenuous gorge path.
ModerateTunnel Trail0.5 mi · 30 min · 2.1 mi awayA short, shady walk beneath Grandview’s broad sandstone overhang.
Campground · 0.7 mi awayArmy Camp CampgroundFree, primitive camping where the New River loops around.
Picnic area · 1.5 mi awayGrandview Picnic AreaA meal stop among Grandview’s picnic shelters, playgrounds and trails.
Sight · 1.6 mi awayTurkey Spur OverlookA steep staircase climbs to wooden platforms above the river.
Sight · 1.8 mi awayNorth OverlookA river bend framed by Grandview’s flowering rhododendrons.
Sight · 1.9 mi awayCliffside AmphitheaterA 1,200-seat stage for live summer drama at Grandview.
Visitor center · 2 mi awayGrandview Visitor CenterMaps, a small shop, and a walk to a seven-mile river view.
Sight · 2.1 mi awayGrandview Main OverlookSeven miles of river and gorge from one short overlook.
Campground · 2.2 mi awayGrandview Sandbar CampgroundWooded campsites put you beside the New River.Parkwolf’s New River Gorge ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
