NPS Fayette Station Road TourFrom Canyon Rim Visitor Center begins one of the most popular driving roads in the park. This 100 year-old road of hairpin turns was once the only way to cross the gorge. It winds down to the bottom of New River Gorge, across a narrow bridge, and up the other side. After the completion of the New River Gorge Bridge, there was no longer any need for the road. Today, Fayette Station Road is a one-way road enjoyed by many visitors every year. The drive is enjoyable any time of year. Driving Fayette Station RoadFayette Station Road begins from Canyon Rim Visitor Center and ends on US-19 near Fayetteville, WV. The road tour is 8 miles long and takes about 30 - 45 minutes to complete. It is narrow and winding at times with several sharp hairpin curves. The road is fully paved except for the lower wooden bridge. Driving Advisory: Due to a low clearance railroad bridge, vehicles over 12 feet in height cannot complete the tour. Trailers may have difficulty crossing the railroad tracks and navigating hairpin curves. Large vehicles, RVs, and trailers are not recommended. Ask a ranger at the visitor center desk if you are unsure if your vehicle can drive Fayette Station Road. There are several pullouts along the way with more information on wayside exhibits. A parking lot at the bottom offers beautiful views of the river and the New River Gorge Bridge. Three trails begin off of Fayette Station Road. These include the Kaymoor Trail, Fayetteville Trail, and Bridge Trail. The Kaymoor trail offers access to Wolf Creek Falls. Coal Heritage Trail: Fayette Station Road is a spur of the Coal Heritage Trail, which traverses five Southern West Virginia counties between Fayetteville and Bluefield. Fayette Station Road Audio TourAn audio tour is available for Fayette Station Road. It carries visitors back in time to when coal was king and more than forty coal mining towns lined New River Gorge. No physical copies of this tour are available. Download the audio tour below or use the NPS Mobile App. Since cell reception is spotty, downloading the tour to your phone is recommended. A transcript of the audio tour is also available. Fayette Station Road Tour - Produced & written by Penny J. Sander, Cambridge Seven Associates, Cambridge, MA Recording engineered by Brian Depaul Carey, Dexter Media, Boston, MA Packaging designed by Radoslav Mateev, Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc. Narrated by Jeffrey Holmes Music: "Hel Amongst the Vetica," Mark Simos & Friends, Clifftop Notes Vol. 1 (5-String Productions © 2001 Mark Simos/Devachan Music (BMI) /Administered by BUG. www.devachan.com Interpretive planning by The LA Group, P.C., Saratoga Springs, NY © 2006 New River Gorge National River,P. O. Box 246, Glen Jean, WV 25846 All rights reserved.Manufactured in the USA. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
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Last updated: September 28, 2023