New River Gorge To Become National Park

-

- Advertisment -

Get ready to raft in a new national park.

West Virginia’s New River Gorge is set to become the nation’s newest national park, thanks to legislation passed by Congress this past December. Yes, that means rapids like Lower Keeney and Junkyard Wall are now in an official national park.

According to American Whitewater, the “New River Gorge National Park and Preserve” will become the 63rd national park in the U.S., and will continue to be one of three federally designated landscapes in West Virginia managed by the National Park Service, including the Gauley National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River. The New’s original designation as a national river took place in 1978.

The New River Gorge has 53 miles of free-flowing whitewater, highlighted by the “Lower New,” a 13-mile Class IV-V stretch. Climbers flock to its 1,500 routes, and mountain bikers to its 13 miles of trails. The new designation will create a 7,021-acre park around the gorge, while the remaining 65,165 acres will be designated a national preserve open to hunting. The area has been protected as one of America’s four national rivers since the late seventies.

According to AW’s Evan Stafford, Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) both pursued the national park designation and said they expect visitorship to increase and for the new park to boost economic growth. While the proposal faced opposition from some hunters and anglers, most stakeholders, including rafting outfitters, were behind the designation.

The New River Gorge, the nation’s 63rd national park.

No changes

AW reports that the NPS doesn’t anticipate any changes in how the park is presently operating when it comes to paddling options, with no plans for permits, entrance fees or other new regulations.

But the designation will hopefully draw more visitors and positive economic impacts to the area.

Read more:

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Article/view/article_id/rkhf0bIGMrNVT2dr9eB6R/

Donate to AW here:

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Membership/join-aw/?

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisement -

Latest news

Northern Forest Canoe Trail Silent Auction Nov. 15-30!

Forget Black Friday. Score great paddling gear and other products while supporting the greatest paddling trail in the country...

Grassroots Connect Sets Record for Fall Show; Paddlesports Retailers Report So-So Sales

Grassroots Connect Sets Record for Fall Show In a season of divergent retail trends, in paddlesports and other outdoor categories,...

Blade Runner: Dane Jackson on Werner’s New Stealth and Covert Paddles

With Werner’s recent release of its new Stealth and Covert paddles, designed and tested closely with Dane Jackson and...

Richard Bangs Releases New Book: “The Art of Living Dangerously” (with Special PL Q&A)

In 1973, Richard Bangs founded Sobek Expeditions, the original and now largest adventure travel company in the world, with...
- Advertisement -

Paddling Rigs: Hard Core Paddles Owner’s Chevy Express Van Conversion into an Adventure Rig

The Adventure Rig Mike Nash is known throughout the greater Seattle area and Northwest as a fabricator, paddle machinery designer,...

Oklahoma Gets New $30M Whitewater Park

WOKA is transforming the town of Watts, Oklahoma. Following 2016’s opening of the $45 million Oklahoma Whitewater Center/Riversport Rapids in...

Must read

Bending Branches Appoints New Rev Growth/Innovation Director

Bending Branches, a manufacturer of high-quality canoe and kayak paddles...

Blade Runner: Dane Jackson on Werner’s New Stealth and Covert Paddles

With Werner’s recent release of its new Stealth and...
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you