Campground · New River Gorge National Park
Four walk-in tent sites by the New River, with trains close by.
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 tourMore 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
Thayer is a four-site, tent-only campground beside the New River near the community of Thayer. It suits tent campers looking for a simple riverside night; there are no drive-in sites, and RVs, camper trailers and car camping are not allowed.
Every site is a short walk from the parking area, and all four are first-come, first-served with no reservations. With so few sites and a remote approach, don't make the drive without a backup plan, especially in busier months.
This is primitive camping. The park lists no drinking water, toilets, showers, electricity, hookups or trash service here, and markets are several miles away. Picnic tables and fire rings are available; use existing fire rings and burn only dead wood found on the ground. Alcohol is prohibited at Thayer. Plan as if there is no toilet; the park lists none.
Follow the park's Route 25 directions from Glen Jean toward Thurmond; the last stretch becomes unpaved, and the final approach descends at Thayer Church and crosses the railroad tracks. Freight trains and horns can interrupt sleep. The river is close, but swimming is strongly discouraged because of powerful currents, rocky banks, shoals and sudden drop-offs.
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
ModerateStone Cliff Trail2.7 mi · 1.5 hr · 2.7 mi awayA shaded New River road ends near a rare old-growth stand.
ModerateTerry Top Trail3.4 mi · 2 hr · 3.6 mi awayA quiet ridge walk ending at a nineteenth-century family cemetery.
ModerateGrandview Rim Loop3 mi · 2.5 hr · 4 mi awayRiver views, exposed coal seams, and a rocky loop back.
EasyRend Trail6.4 mi · 3.5 hr · 4.2 mi awayFive railroad trestles turn a gentle creekside walk into a gorge story.
ModerateChurch Loop Trail1.8 mi · 1 hr · 4.2 mi awayA short Rend Trail outing to Thurmond’s historic Black church.
ChallengingLittle Laurel Trail2.6 mi · 2 hr · 4.9 mi awayAn old road drops from Grandview toward Royal's coal-town remains.
EasyWoodland Loop Trail0.6 mi · 18 min · 5 mi awayAn easy forest loop from Grandview Shelter #2.
Campground · 2.7 mi awayStone Cliff CampgroundFive sites on sand, two under the trees.
Campground · 3.3 mi awayGrandview Sandbar CampgroundWooded campsites put you beside the New River.
Sight · 4 mi awayTurkey Spur OverlookA steep staircase climbs to wooden platforms above the river.
Picnic area · 4.2 mi awayDun Glen Day Use AreaA handy river access point with a permit-required picnic shelter.
Sight · 4.3 mi awayRed Ash Community and Mining RuinsSee an unusual bread-loaf coke-oven design on the Southside Trail.
Sight · 4.3 mi awayDunloup FallsA quick roadside waterfall with a steep scramble for a closer look.
Sight · 4.5 mi awayRed Ash Island CemeteryA wooded island cemetery ties miners’ losses to everyday community life.
Sight · 4.6 mi awayThurmond Historic DistrictA preserved coal town beside an active rail line.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.
