Canyon Rim Boardwalk – New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia

The Canyon Rim Boardwalk, a wooden staircase with overlooks, clings to the east face of the New River Gorge – two viewpoints, interspersed among the 178 steps, provide spectacular views of the massive New River Gorge Bridge.

To find the boardwalk, make your way to the New River Gorge National River’s Canyon Rim Visitor Center off SR 19 in Lansing, West Virginia – the trailhead is adjacent to the parking area.

Two overlooks, one an easy stroll and the other requiring a bit more effort since its at the bottom of the 178 steps, both showcase excellent views of the bridge.

The first overlook, near the top of the staircase, is reached after a mere 0.1 mile easy walk – this view highlights the bridge through the trees, to see more of the canyon you must continue down the boardwalk steps.

Reaching the second viewpoint is more strenuous, especially if you don’t like climbing stairs (remember you have to climb back out), but well worth the effort – from the overlook’s vantage point you will have a postcard perfect view of the bridge and the gorge.

The New River Bridge is the third largest single-span arch bridge in the world and the longest in the Western Hemisphere – measuring in at 3,030 feet long, 876 feet high, and an arch spanning 1,700 feet, it is an impressive sight.

Enjoy the views of this engineering feat and the beauty of the gorge while gathering the stamina to stepmaster your way back to your car for a roundtrip hike of 0.4 miles.