There is plenty of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve to explore on your own, but if you're looking for a guided experience, ranger-led programs are for you! Whether you're here for an afternoon or multiple days of programming, park rangers are here to help you understand, appreciate, and take care of your newest national park.
Things to know:. Join a ranger for a 30 minute talk at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center and learn more about a variety of park topics including park wildlife, mining history, and the native plant garden. Ask a ranger at the visitor center desk or check the calendar below for the topic of the day and the program starting location. Meet at Canyon Rim Visitor Center. Programs meet at the flagpole in front of the visitor center. Unlike many turn of the century towns in New River Gorge, Thurmond was a railroad town instead of a coal town.
Now, over years since the boom time of Thurmond, the town is all but abandoned. Join a ranger as you walk through the remnants of the downtown district while learning more about this unique place and the people who lived there. This outdoors walking tour will cover approximately 0. Some terrain may become slightly uneven. Good shoes, water, a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent are recommended.
The path through town is located directly next to active CSX railroad mainline; loud freight trains may be encountered during the tour. Meet at the Thurmond Depot Visitor Center. The road to Thurmond is narrow and winding; RVs and trailers are not recommended on this road.
Since parking is limited at the depot, overflow and large vehicle parking is available across the river in the Dunglen area. Visitors in this parking lot can access the town by walking across the road bridge.
