Special Characteristics of New River Gorge

Land Use

I am examining the New River Gorge from Hawk's Nest State Park to Babcock State Park which is some of the best whitewater rafting in the country. 

Hawk's Nest state park has about 270 acres of recreational area which includes hiking trails, jetboat rides, and whitewater rafting. It also features a large lodge containing 31 rooms

Babcock State Park is on the other end of my study area and is one of West Virginia's and the New river's most iconic parks with 4,127 acres of great scenery riverside activities. One of the most popular attractions is the Glade Creek Grist Mill which is a fully functional mill and is a replica of the Cooper's Mill. Babcock is also used for hiking, fishing, and rafting. 

Another special land characteristic is the iconic New River Gorge Bridge which is the 3rd highest bridge in the US and is the longest steel span in the Western Hemisphere

• Height: 876 feet / 267 meters
• Length: 3,030 feet / 923.6 meters
• Arch Length: 1,700 feet / 518.1 meters
• Weight: 88,000,000 pounds / 39,916,129 kilograms

Voted one of the coolest small towns in America, Fayetteville is a town right along the new river and has an abundance of recreational activities such as hiking and mountain biking. Their main claim to fame is the great rafting sites that are in the city.

Lansing West Virginia is home to another recreational oasis as they are home to Adventures on the Gorge which is a resort that offers a ton of different recreational activities such as rock climbing, rafting, and zip lining.