Long Point Trail

Long Point Trail: The Secret Guide

Long Point is arguably one of the most iconic trails in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and for good reason. This beautiful three mile hike offers one of the best vantage points to seeing the New River Gorge Bridge. With beautiful scenery and located near  Fayetteville, one of the coolest small towns in the country, what’s not to love about this beginner friendly to moderate trail? I’ll let you in on the best spots to take a selfie, what to bring, and restaurants and local shops you can check out after your hike. Keep on reading this ultimate guide to the Long Point Trail and learn useful tips, neat facts, and secrets only a local would know!

The Long Point Trail is one of the most popular and frequented trails in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. This trail showcases the New River Gorge’s best features and highlights why this national park attracts so many tourists. The Long Point Trail is the perfect trail to hike during anytime of the year. Rain, snow, or shine, the breathtaking panoramic view of the New River Gorge Bridge is a sight to behold year round. One of Long Point’s key features is the New River Gorge Bridge. This epic bridge has become a staple in West Virginia history and remains a hot spot for tourists and locals alike to visit! Construction on the New River Gorge Bridge lasted three years and after 37 million dollars and countless man hours, this 88 million pound mammoth bridge was opened to the public in 1977. Not only did this bridge reduce travel time from forty minutes to an easy forty seconds, it also improved the economy and continues to do so! To really understand why Long Point Trail is so loved, we’ll need to cover why the New River Gorge Bridge is so renowned. Built over one of the most ancient rivers in the world, the New River Gorge Bridge is not only the third longest single-span arch bridge in the world, it’s also one of the highest bridges in the world that actually allows vehicular travel! Designed by the Michael Baker Company and executed flawlessly by the American Bridge Division of U.S. Steel, the New River Gorge Bridge is an engineer’s dream. Made from structural steel, reinforcing steel, superstructure concrete, and substructure concrete, this epic bridge can support some serious weight! It’s a good thing too, considering on the third Saturday of every October over 100,000 people show up to participate in Bridge Day. This West Virginia holiday is arguably the most loved tradition and has been for over forty years. Bridge Day is a special day dedicated to Mountaineer pride! The New River Gorge Bridge is open to the public and allows locals, tourists, and everyone in between to actually walk on the Bridge! During Bridge Day you’ll find food vendors, local artwork, handmade jewelry, and countless goods from small businesses. Bridge Day is also the only day base jumping is permitted. Enjoy delicious food, local goods, and a view of base jumpers soaring from the 1,030 foot New River Gorge Bridge!

Now that you know all about the New River Gorge Bridge’s fascinating history, it’s easy to see why so many love to get the perfect view of it. The Long Point Trail ranges from easy to moderate and even allows for bike riding! You can enjoy a bike ride on this relatively flat hike for nearly the whole trail! There is a small portion with a steep decline and rough terrain that requires you to carry on, on foot. This section of the trail is about .2 miles from Long Point’s trailhead and is considered the most difficult portion of the hike. If you aren’t accustomed to the New River Gorge’s trails you may want to bring trekking poles! Hiking shoes are also a must on this trail. Bringing a backpack or fanny pack is never a bad idea when hiking, especially during warmer months. A few key items to include in your hiking backpack is plenty of water, granola bars, bug repellent, sunscreen, and a thin windbreaker! Don’t worry if you forgot a few or all of these items, ACE Adventure Gear, located minutes away from Long Point, has all the hiking essentials. Now that you know what to bring, let’s talk about what’s really important, the best spots to capture the most instagram worthy photo. The overlook is the most popular and for obvious reasons. It allows for the best view of the New River Gorge Bridge and is known for having some pretty epic sunsets. The trailhead, however, is not the only instagram worthy spot! Fern Creek Falls, located to the right of the trailhead, showcases three awe-inspiring falls. Another great spot for photos is what looks like an archway of Rhododendron. Make sure to snap a pic under this tunnel of West Virginia’s state flower! No matter what section of the trail you’re on, you’re sure to get some spectacular views and photos.

When you’ve hiked to your heart’s content, what’s better than grabbing a bite to eat at a local restaurant? Fayetteville prides itself on being home to a diverse variety of restaurants and being run and operated by their awesome locals! If you’re in the mood for something cozy and laid back, try checking out Cathedral Cafe! Located in Fayetteville and minutes away from Long Point Trail, Cathedral Cafe serves soups, salads, sandwiches, and delicious coffee beverages. Lined with bookshelves and stained glass windows, this former church is a blogger or instagrammer’s dream! If you’re in the mood for a refreshing smoothie or acai bowl, the Raw and Juicy Juice Bar is located on the second floor of Cathedral Cafe. This cafe offers something for everyone and is a must for anyone stopping through the Fayetteville area. 

Another great option is Wood Iron Eatery! This delightful and quaint restaurant serves delicious foods with unique twists and variety of coffee, making for the perfect pick me up! Fuel up with one of their handhelds or a granola bowl before enjoying a beautiful hike in the newest National Park! While you’re in Fayetteville, don’t forget to check out The Station Market and Bistro! This charming market uses local and fresh ingredients so their menu is constantly changing and always delicious! You can also shop for local art, photography,  jams and jellies, and so much more.

After a refreshing hike and tasty bite to eat, shopping locally is just the icing on the cake!  Fayetteville is a treasure trove for the best small businesses! Whether you’re looking for the best adventure equipment around or just browsing local artwork or jewelry, Fayetteville is the town to hit up. Great Googly Moogly is a crystal lover’s dream! Packed with a wide variety of crystals, incense, books, hand-made jewelry, and so much more, this small shop is a must see. If vintage items are your style, The Hobbit Hole and New River Antique Mall are packed with trinkets, jewelry, books, and almost anything you could possibly think of.

If you enjoy hiking and the outdoors, you are sure to love ACE Adventure Gear! This local shop is jam packed with all your outdoor essentials for every recreational activity! From hiking shoes to the best kayaks on the market, ACE Adventure Gear has something for everyone. New to the outdoors and not sure what exactly you’re looking for? That’s not a problem! ACE Adventure Gear’s employees are pros when it comes to outdoor activities and can offer more than enough advice to any customer! Finish off your day on the town by stopping by Studio B Gallery and Gifts and browsing their extensive wine and cheese selection. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect small town, Fayetteville is the perfect place for you.

Long Point Trail is one of the most loved trails and now you can understand why! Located near one of the coolest small towns, this unique and breathtaking trail is a hike that should be on everybody’s bucket list. No other hike in West Virginia captures panoramic views of the beloved New River Gorge quite like the Long Point Trail. With so much beautiful scenery, it’s understandable that it remains one of the most frequently visited trails in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. While planning your hiking trip, be sure to take into account that you may have to wait to get a good view of Long Point’s trailhead. Don’t worry though, there are plenty of other magnificent views to enjoy while you wait your turn! The New River Gorge, currently the newest national park, is a worthwhile trip for anyone. Be sure to check out Long Point and explore more of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve!