Grandview Rim Trail – New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia

The Grandview Rim Trail, the longest trail at Grandview, is a rewarding trail that meanders through a mature forest of hardwoods, hemlocks, and rhododendron groves on its way from the Main Overlook near the Grandview Visitor Center to the Turkey Spur Overlook—the trail provides numerous views of the New River from its cliff-top vantage points, at nearly 1,400 feet above the river, this is the deepest section of the New River Gorge.

Grandview Rim Trail is an out and back hike of 1.6 miles each direction, 3.2 miles roundtrip—despite being a wide, mostly flat trail, the National Park Service lists this as a moderately strenuous hike, since it has a few short, moderately steep sections and then at the end, the 150 steps that lead to the Turkey Spur Viewpoint. Since the Grandview Rim Trail follows the gorge's edge, it will offer numerous opportunities for great rocky outcrop viewpoints—be sure to enjoy the view from each overlook.

The trailhead is located across the parking lot from the Grandview Visitor Center—follow the signs to the paved path that leads out to the scenic Main Overlook. From this lofty vantage point, you are rewarded with a spectacular view of a bend in the New River, commonly referred to as the Horseshoe Bend of the East. To get back to the trail, retrace your steps then take a right onto the wide, easy-to-follow Grandview Trail—be careful not to take the more strenuous Castle Rock Trail, unless that’s your plan, that provides an alternative hike along the base of the cliffs.

The final ascent to Turkey Spur requires climbing 150 steps to the top—from the summit you can enjoy a breath-taking 360-degree panorama at the end of a long, high geographic spur. The views at Turkey Spur allow you to take in, from the same vantage point, three of the New River’s nearly 180-degree bends—which often trick visitors into thinking that there are three different rivers in the area.