September Activities in National Parks of Southern West Virginia, Plus Seasonal Visitor Center Hours Change

Living history interpreters demonstrate life-ways of 1700s Eastern Woodland Indians.

Doug Wood

News Release Date: September 1, 2016

Contact: Jodi French-Burr, 304-574-2115

Glen Jean, West Virginia—It's not often that we get to step back in time, but this will happen throughout September in New River Gorge National River and in nearby parks. Many park guided activities highlight the area's rich cultural stories this month. Be it the American Indian living history demonstrations this Saturday, September 3 at Sandstone Visitor Center in Sandstone or special event programs throughout southern West Virginia during the Eighth Annual Hidden History Weekend (September 23 –25), each program offers ways to explore the area's cultural heritage. There are also several programs that focus on the natural world around us and healthy outdoor skills.Some programs do require advanced reservations.See the complete September guided activity schedule at: https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/programs.htm, then go out and #findyourpark.

This weekend also marks the change of seasonal hours at park visitor centers. Here are the September visitor center hours:

• Canyon Rim Visitor Center, Lansing:September 1 –3,9:00 am –7:00 pm, then open daily 9:00 am –5:00 pm
• Thurmond Depot Visitor Center, Thurmond: open daily10:00 am –5:00 pm throughSeptember 5, then weekends only through the remainder of September
• Grandview Visitor Center, Grandview: open daily12:00 pm –5:00 pm throughSeptember 3, then closed for the season
• Sandstone Visitor Center, Sandstone: open daily 9:00 am –5:00 pm

Additionally all the emergency closures that were in place at New River Gorge National River, Bluestone National Scenic River, and Gauley River National Recreation Area after the late June flooding events have been lifted, except for the following: Keeneys Creek Rail Trail, Nuttallburg Conveyor Trail, and the Kates Plateau Trail from Upper Glade Creek Trailhead for approximately 1 mile. These areas sustained extensive damage during the flooding and remain closed. There is no estimate of when or if these three trails will be re-opened.

We look forward to seeing you in local national parks!

Park information and tools to help plan a park visit are online at www.nps.gov/neri, www.nps.gov/gari, and www.nps.gov/blue.