Southern West Virginia: The Best Place to Work, Live and Play

Within a day's drive of most major East Coast metropolitan centers lies the New River Gorge, a national treasure for outdoor recreation. World class whitewater roars down the New and Gauley Rivers. Sheer sandstone cliffs line the rim of the New River Canyon beckoning intrepid rock climbers. Small-mouth bass, bluegill, trout, catfish and walleye populate the rivers and lakes. Miles of forested trails service hikers and mountain bikers. Winters in the Appalachians produce some of the best skiing conditions in the Mid-Atlantic region with average snowfall ranging up to 180 inches per year. Exceptional downhill ski resorts in the area include Snowshoe Mountain, Timberline, Winterplace and Canaan Valley.

The New River Gorge Region

Despite its name, geologists consider the New River to be possibly the oldest river in the world. Flowing from south to north against the topology of the Appalachian Mountains, the New River evinces a deep and reverent character carved out over eons. That character is also evident in the historic communities that have thrived in the New River watershed. Centuries old frontier towns developed around the harvesting of natural resources persevere today. Festivals, theatrical productions, museums and galleries featuring unique Appalachian craftsmanship are staples throughout the region. The beautiful downtowns erected during the boom of the coal industry are being re-imagined and reinvented in the small towns throughout the New River Gorge.

The New River Climate

Much of the New River Gorge Region lies on a plateau at roughly 2000 ft in altitude between the Allegheny Front and the greater Appalachian Range. The area experiences four distinct seasons with warm summers and cold winters. The blooms of Spring and the foliage in Autumn are hallmarks of the natural beauty of this region.

The New River Gorge National Park System

Today 53 miles of the New River and 40 miles of its tributaries are preserved as three units within the National Park System: The New River Gorge National River, the Gauley River National Recreation Area, and the Bluestone National Scenic River. The mountains to the Northeast are protected in the Monongahela National Forest.