Parking
From US 19 in Fayetteville, follow WV 16 south through town and turn onto Gatewood Road toward Kaymoor and Cunard. After about 1.9 miles, turn left on Newton Road; the trailhead parking area is about 50 yards on the left.
Overview
About Long Point Trail
Why go
- The sandstone point gives a direct view of the New River Gorge Bridge.
- A mostly gentle forest walk leads to a short, more rugged finish.
Heads up
- The final approach is rocky and steeper, with an uphill return.
- The viewpoint has unprotected cliff edges.
Long Point Trail is a 3.2-mile out-and-back from the Newton Road trailhead to a bare sandstone point above the New River Gorge. The park’s 1.6-mile figure is one way. You get a direct view of the New River Gorge Bridge and the cliffs of Endless Wall across the gorge, reached by a wooded walk with an open field along the way. Allow about 1½ to 2 hours for the walk and time at the point. The approach is mostly gentle, but the last stretch is rockier and steeper, and the return climbs the same route. This is a good choice for the park’s signature bridge view; it is less appealing if unprotected cliff edges make you uneasy or you want an entirely level stroll.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the New River Gorge map
Full mapElevation1,681–1,963 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
5 active New River Gorge alerts
- 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
- ClosureKaymoor Miners Trail weekday closureThe upper Kaymoor Miners Trail is closed Monday–Thursday through November 19 for trail rehabilitation.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
New River Gorge Tour Guide
Your drive to Long Point Trail, 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 trailhead
Long Point's Bridge View0:00 / 0:22
“You're coming up on Long Point Trailhead, with a three-point-two-mile round trip to a straight-on view of the New River Gorge Bridge. Allow an hour and a half to two hours.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf New River Gorge Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Arrowhead's Clovis Loop
- Kaymoor Top and the Mine Descent
- The Tulips Above Your Head
- Wolf Creek and Kaymoor Mine Falls
- 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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Long Point Trail
Follow the ridge, then stay straightStart at the Newton Road parking area.
Start at the Newton Road parking area. The first stretch is nearly level along the forest edge, then crosses a former field where a wooden deck and interpretive panels explain how farmland returns to forest. The deck looks over the field, not the gorge. Past it, the dirt path runs through hardwoods along a gently rolling ridge. At about half a mile, stay on Long Point Trail at the signed Fayetteville Trail junction. Near three-quarters of a mile, Butcher Branch Trail joins from the right; continue straight. These side paths lead elsewhere, so follow the Long Point signs rather than turning at a junction.
The rocky last stretchMost of the route descends gradually toward the point.
Most of the route descends gradually toward the point. Around one mile in, a bicycle rack marks the start of the final 0.2 mile, where bikes are not allowed. The tread narrows among rhododendrons, with more exposed rock and the steepest part of the hike. Small openings offer glimpses into the gorge before the main overlook. This is where the footing changes most; save a little energy for the climb back to Newton Road. Dogs are allowed on park trails, but must stay on a physical leash no longer than six feet. There is no drinking water at trailheads, so bring what you and your dog need.
At Long PointThe trail levels among pines on a broad, bare-rock outcrop.
The trail levels among pines on a broad, bare-rock outcrop. The New River Gorge Bridge spans the view, with forested slopes and the cliffs of Endless Wall opposite. A wide rock ledge can anchor a photo of the bridge, but the point has unprotected edges; keep back from the drop and supervise children. The bridge opened in 1977. Its single steel arch is 3,030 feet long and stands 876 feet above the New River, a scale that is easy to appreciate from across the gorge.
A useful stop nearbyA vault or composting toilet is listed at the trailhead, but visitor reports about its…
A vault or composting toilet is listed at the trailhead, but visitor reports about its availability conflict, so do not count on it without checking. For a separate meal near the park, Arrowhead Bike Farm’s Handle Bar + Kitchen serves fish tacos and West Virginia pork brats, with local craft beer. It is a separate stop, not a facility on the trail.
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.
