A View from the Edge: Hiking to Long Point in New River Gorge

The Long Point Trail in New River Gorge is a popular 3-mile round-trip hike that winds through forest, wildflowers, and rhododendron thickets before ending at a rocky overlook with a spectacular view of the New River Gorge Bridge. The trail is mostly easy with a short, steeper section near the end. The overlook offers a dramatic, unobstructed view of the bridge spanning the deep gorge, making it one of the park’s most iconic and rewarding hikes.

Trailhead elevation 1,961'

Water none

Don't miss the view of Endless Wall to the east just before reaching the edge of Long Point

Hiking to Long Point

It’s a sweltering afternoon in the gorge, with the heat index pushing 110 degrees as I pull into the Long Point Trailhead. I down a bottle of water and hit the trail immediately—sunset at Beauty Mountain is calling, and I want to be sure I’m back in time.

The trail starts off flat and easy, winding briefly through a shaded patch where I spot a white-tailed deer grazing just off the path. At the 0.2-mile mark, I pause at a small platform with a couple of interpretive signs that offer a quick glimpse into the gorge's cultural history. One of the signs notes that this exact spot was once the site of New Camp, one of two residential areas on the gorge rim for Kaymoor coal mine workers. I’d learn much more about Kaymoor’s history while hiking the Kaymoor Miners Trail tomorrow, but this served as a useful reference point.

From there, the trail gently winds through a classic New River Gorge landscape: towering hardwoods, fragrant hemlocks, and thick rhododendron that provide plenty of relief from the sun.

At 0.7 miles, I pass the intersection with the Fayette Trail, and at 1.3 miles, reach a bike rack—this is where cyclists have to turn around.

Beyond that, the final 0.2-mile stretch descends through rocky, rhododendron-lined tunnels toward Long Point itself.

As I step onto the rocky outcrop, I’m greeted by open views and steep drop-offs on either side. The point is around 20 feet wide, plenty of space to feel secure, though parents with kids would be wise to keep them close.

A hundred feet farther along, I stop at a small break in the trees and spot Endless Wall across the gorge—a trail I’ll hike tomorrow morning at sunrise.

Moments later, I arrive at the end of Long Point, face-to-face with the iconic New River Gorge Bridge—the longest single-span arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere. I’ve been here many times, but the view never gets old.

Near the edge, shallow potholes carved into the rock are filled with water and teeming with tadpoles. I settle into the sun-soaked stone, waiting as the crowd slowly filters out. Before long, I have the place to myself—just as I had hoped for.

After soaking in the silence, I begin the haul back to the trailhead, most of the elevation gain waiting for me on the return. It’s a solid start to the weekend—and now I’m off to Beauty Mountain, hoping to catch a beautiful sunset to cap off the day.