Mount Nittany & Happy Valley Brewing

August 13, 2023August 30, 2023hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

State College, PA

Okay, okay, I may be a Pitt girlie but boy do I love a weekend in State College! I visited J out here so much when we were in college and I have many fond memories of exploring the area. Shockingly though, one thing we never did was hike Mount Nittany! Well that definitely needed to change. This is a very popular hike and I would suggest tackling it during the summer when school is out or you may have some trouble finding parking. The 940 ft in elevation gained is no joke so make sure to have proper footwear and plenty of water. Afterward, recharge at Happy Valley Brewing, a hip brewpub in a renovated barn. Make sure to look up for one of the coolest brewery ceilings I’ve ever seen!

THE HIKE: Mount Nittany

Length: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 940 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2.5 hours
Trail use: hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Small lot at trailhead, Port-a-Potty, nature table

Mount Nittany is arguably the most popular hike in Centre County. Not only does the mountain share its name with many businesses in the area, but more famously is the namesake for the mascot of Penn State University, the largest college in Pennsylvania. But where does the name “Nittany” come from? It’s a little unclear but it seems to come from an Algonquian word meaning “single mountain”. This would make sense since Nittany Mountain is the lone high peak along the Nittany Ridge, making it an excellent place for views of PSU and the affectionately named Happy Valley.

This area is maintained by the Mount Nittany Conservancy, a nonprofit formed by members of the Lion’s Paw Alumni Association from Penn State. Originally members saved the mountain from the logging industry in the 1940s by raising money to purchase a large section of land on the mountain. But then again in the 1980s, the land was again under threat by developers, so the Conservancy was formed to purchase and preserve more of the mountain. Today, the Mountain Nittany Conservancy cares for over 300 acres of land and works with other landowners towards the long term preservation of the mountain. They also build trails, remove invasive species, conduct clean up days and so much more!

There are over 8 miles of intersecting trail on Mount Nittany, with the most popular being the 0.6 mile hike to the Mike Lynch Overlook. This overlook gives sweeping views of the Penn State Campus including the Bryce Jordan Center and Beaver Stadium. Be prepared for a trek though, this trail gains over 600ft of rocky elevation in half a mile! Unfortunately the views are a bit obscured in my pictures due to lingering wildfire smoke.

For our trek, we wanted to do the full 5 mile loop of the blue and white trails in order to see all the overlooks. Although the map may look confusing, it’s nearly impossible to get lost on this hike due to the incredible work of the MNC to include signs throughout the hike. Each signpost lists the map reference for exactly where you are on the trail and gives GPS coordinates. THere are also several “shortcut” trails if the full loop feels like too much!

When doing this hike, it’s important to remember that it is extremely popular both with locals and students. I would suggest doing it first thing in the morning or planning a sunset hike. But know that you will most certainly be sharing the trail with others. Also, there is only room for 3-4 cars at the trailhead, but there is additional parking down the road. Be sure to follow the signs and do not block anyone’s driveway. This is a residential area so try to be courteous to everyone! There are also portable toilets at the trailhead. One of my favorite aspects of this trail was the huge white board beside the posted map where hikers could add their wildlife observations. How cool! We saw several red efts but still no bears. Sigh.

For the actual hike, start on the blue/white trail which will take you straight up a very rocky hillside. Even for someone fit, this part can be challenging. Bring plenty of water and be aware of the temperature and humidity for the day. I suggest keeping a counter-clockwise journey (aka right turns). Now that you’ve made it up the mountain, the rest of the hike until the descent is quite flat and easy. The first overlook is the Mike Lynch overlook, probably the largest and most popular due to its views of the PSU campus. However, if you keep onward, the best overlook in my personal opinion, will actually be the last one! Continue along the trail, always keeping to the blue blazed trail. You’ll pass other overlooks, some nicer than others. The trail remains easy and the flora is diverse and inviting. Nearing the end of the circle around the summit, you’ll reach the Nittany Mall overlook. This is the last of the overlook and arguably the nicest. There’s a huge rock perfect for sitting and the trees perfectly frame the vista. What more could you ask for! Finally, it is time to head back down the mountain along the same path you came up. It feels just as rocky going down so take your time!

THE BEER: Happy Valley Brewing Co.

Address: 137 Elmwood St, State College, PA 16801
Distance from Trail Head: 1.4 miles, 5 mins
Website: http://happyvalleybeer.com/
Food?: Full Kitchen
Details: Outdoor seating, No pets

Celebrate your victory over Mount Nittany with some brews and a meal at Happy Valley Brewing. This unique brewing is housed in an old barn and all of the details and decor nod to the building’s previous life. They even preserved the old Klinger’s Farm sign and have it proudly displayed over the bar! While you’re looking, take a gaze at the wall papered ceiling and you’ll get a chuckle out of the beer-minded renaissance figures.

Happy Valley Brewing has a full kitchen menu specializing not only on pub favorites but also offering a more sophisticated menu of farm-to-table offerings. Although if you’re like me, after hiking all I want is a big tasty sandwich! I opted for the pulled pork and it was exactly what I wanted. In addition to the upstairs restaurant, there’s also a downstairs lounge that usually has live entertainment and a relaxed vibe.

But what about the beer?? I felt compelled to get the Tailgater Pale Ale which was a delightfully hoppy ale with a slight tangerine flavor. Coming in at a low 4.&% ABV, this made for a perfect post-hike lunchtime pour. I only wish I had time to sample more! But most importantly, we had to save room for a stop at the Creamery. You just have to!

Looking for more Central PA hikes & hops? Check out Peter’s Mountain & ZeroDay Brewing in Harrisburg, Pulpit Rock & 1787 Brewing in Hamburg, and Rickett’s Glen & Back Mountain Brewing Near Benton

Wolf Creek Narrows & Big Rail Brewing

July 23, 2023August 31, 2023hikesandhopsblog 3 Comments

Grove City, PA

Wolf Creek Narrows was an unexpectedly lovely find! Combined with the trail at Miller woods Nature Preserve, this makes for a great afternoon hike. It’s also perfect for a summer day since most of the trail follows along cool streams. The trails meander through woods and fields and are particularly nice for seeing native plant species. Save the section along Wolf Creek for the very end to cool off! Afterwards, head over to Big Rail Brewing in Grove City for a refreshing brew in their rustic outdoor taproom. This is a great hike and hop for the whole family!

THE HIKE: Wolf Creek Narrows

Length: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 200 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Small lot at trailhead, no facilities
H&H: 5/5

The first thing to know about this hike is that it combines two nature preserves and neither of them have great trail maps. Thankfully, they’re both pretty small and there’s little chance of getting lost. Miller Woods Nature Preserve is managed by Slippery Rock University. It is a certified Audubon Society Sanctuary and is often used as an outdoor classroom and lab by the University. In the spring, this is a fantastic area to see wildflowers and its low foot traffic also makes for a wonderful place to see wildlife, especially birds.

*The sign for Wolf Creek Narrows trailhead*

Wolf Creek Narrows is on the opposite side of the bridge from Miller Woods and is managed by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. It features mature hardwood forests, spring wildflowers, and is open for fishing along the creek. Although the WPC acknowledges this as one of their more popular locations, we still found plenty of solitude on a sunny summer day! When looking into this preserve, you may see that the maps only list one short loop. However, just recently an additional route has been added through the woods and then out into a field that almost doubles the amount of trail. Although the field section can be warm, it’s full of native wildflowers, which made for a lovely walk.

To access this hike, park at Miller Woods, off of Miller Road. The parking lot is fairly small, with room for about 8 cars. Be aware that there are no facilities at this trailhead! The trail begins in the back left hand corner of the parking area. Although most maps only slow one loop through these woods, we found that there were a lot of community foraged trails. We stuck to one along the creekside which led us through impressively large trees and a variety of plant life, including some beautiful swamp cabbage patches. At the furthest point of the trail, we found ourselves on a pebbled shore of the creek, which was perfect for skipping some stones. After heading back into the woods, we turned left at a fork and continued away from the creek, passing by some old ruins. From here, we made a bit of a mistake and followed a side trail along a shallow creek bed that eventually seemed like it was leading us off course. So we turned around and found the right trail which quickly linked back up to the path leading back to the parking lot. All together, subtracting our detour, the loop in Miller Woods is about 1 mile.

Now that you’re back at the parking lot, leave your car there and head towards the road. This isn’t a busy road, but use caution while walking along it. Make a right out of the parking lot and head across the bridge. On the left side of the bridge, you’ll see the signs for Wolf Creek Narrows. Now starts the second leg of your trek! Upon entering these woods, you’ll notice that the trees seem much older. My suggestion for this trail is to bear to the right at the first fork. There’s a short climb to higher ground and after a few minutes, you’ll see the new section of trail. This starts out in a thick hemlock patch and then opens up to a wildflower field which is also home to a bat house! Following this trail all the way to the road will lead to a new parking lot access for Wolf Creek Narrows. This is an alternative spot to park if Miller woods is full! Continue back along this trail to the woods and when you come to a fork, bear to the right to finish out the loop. After following the trail back down to the creek, be sure to spend some time down in the creek. The water is cool and refreshing and the nearby cliff sides carved out by the water are worth a look! After splashing around, follow the trail back up to the road and back to your car.

We were all pleasantly surprised by this trail and I would happily recommend it to anyone visiting the area. It’s not the longest nor most impressive trail I’ve been on recently, but it was the perfect nature trek to bring my parents on. We walked slowly and enjoyed every new plant we saw and made sure to skip stones and wade into the creek. And I would also highly recommend following it up with a trip to Big Rail Brewery.

THE BEER: Big Rail Brewery

Address: 2158 Mercer Butler Pike, Grove City, PA 16127
Distance from Trail Head: 6 miles, 10 mins
Website: https://bigrailbrewing.com/
Food?: Food Truck or BYOF
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly, Live music, playground

This brewery has been on my radar for ages after seeing it on a list from NextPittsburgh about road trip breweries from Pittsburgh. A hike and hop weekend with my family seemed like the perfect excuse to finally make a trip out here. Big Rail Brewing is the first place I’ve been to have a rustic beer garden as their primary location. Although they are building a large taproom and brewing facility onsite (opening date TBD), they’ve been serving their brews outdoors since 2019! But this isn’t just some picnic tables in the woods. Big Rail Brewing has probably the nicest outdoor set up I’ve ever seen at a brewery. Not only is there plenty of seating but there’s also covered pavilions, firepits, and picnic tables. It’s also incredibly family friendly, even featuring a sandpit area for the kiddos! Most weekends you can also find a food truck and live music. Honestly, I could have spent all day here! It’s everything you could want in an outdoor space. We all felt like we were having a beer in a friend’s backyard! I hope even when the taproom is up and running that they keep this incredible outdoor space.

Fun fact, Big Rail is a nickname for a specific heavy weight rail that was forged to handle the extremely heavy weights of the coal and iron ore carried out of Pennsylvania. The name is a nod to all of the blue-collar workers that hold up our society.

Our Beer:

Treebeard – Brown Ale – 5.7%
Wrought Iron – Red Ale – 6%
Sunshower – Blonde Ale – 5.3%
Johnny Chatters – Amber Ale – 5%
Punchy Rig – NEIPA – 6%
Union Bros Collaboration – IPA – 5%
Old Blue – Cream Ale – 4.5%

Looking for more Hikes & Hops north of Pittsburgh? Check out Moraine & Union Brothers, McConnells Mill & Shubrew, and North Park & Cinderlands

New River Gorge: Grandview Rim to Turkey Spur & Weathered Ground Brewery

July 16, 2023August 31, 2023hikesandhopsblog 2 Comments

Grandview, WV

There’s so much more to see at New River Gorge outside of the Canyon Rim area! Make sure to drive to the Grandview Visitor Center to explore the highest elevation of the park and stunning view of the river. There’s a reason it’s called “Grand View”. Combine the Grandview Rim, Castle, Tunnel, and Turkey Spur Trails to see all the best that this area has to offer! Afterward, take a drive over to Weathered Ground Brewery where you can sit outside and enjoy a brew while listening to live music!

THE HIKE: Grandview Rim & Turkey Spur Loop

Length: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 530 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Very large parking lot with bathrooms at visitor center
H&H: 5/5

When exploring outside of the Canyon Rim, the first thing is to keep in mind that the rest of New River Gorge is VERY spread out. We were quite surprised at the driving times between the different areas of the park. For context:

Canyon Rim → Grandview Visitor Center = 40 miles, 50 minutes
Grandview → Sandstone Falls = 35 miles, 50 minutes
Sandstone Falls → Canyon Rim = 55 miles, 1 hour 15 mins

Keep this in mind as you plan your trip around New River Gorge! We definitely made the mistake of visiting Grandview and Sandstone Falls all in the same day so it ended up being a LOT of driving.

The Grandview Area was originally maintained by the WV Parks Service for decades until it was transferred to the NPS in 1990. While the park is open year-round, the visitor center is only open seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This is a popular area for picnicking and hiking, so you’re likely to encounter other day trippers while you’re exploring. There is also a large bathroom with running water that is open year-round.

To follow the same path we did, start at the visitor’s center and head toward the Grandview Overlook. From this stunning view, you can see 7 miles of the New River Gorge at its deepest point. From here, bear to the right to explore the Tunnel Trail. This 0.7 loop will take you along sandstone ridges, for a first taste of the unique geology of the area. From here, cross by the Main Overlook again and get on the Castle Rock Trail. This trail travels for 0.6 miles along soaring cliff sides until it meets up with the Grandview Rim Trail. Aside from the overlooks, this was by far my favorite part of the hike. I loved to scramble over rocks and staring up at the towering sandstone cliffs. It was definitely a section that makes one feel small! After getting on the Grandview Rim Trail, it’s a fairly straightforward meander through the woods beside the Turkey Spur Road. There are plenty of opportunities for view of the river valley, although some of these are probably better seen in the late fall and winter. After following this trail for about a mile, the trail reaches the Turkey Spur Parking Lot. There’s only room for about 5 cars here, so it’s better to hike out. From here, you’ll take the Turkey Spur Trail which is really a series of wooden stairs that ascend to the top of the rock for nearly 360 degree views of the River Valley. I have to give a huge shout out to the volunteers from the Friends of New River Gorge National River for building such an incredible system of stairs and benches so these views can be enjoyed!

Unfortunately, when we visited, it was extremely hot and sunny, so we weren’t able to linger long at these overlooks. To finish out this trail, head back down the stairs and retrace your steps to the parking lot. Get back on the Grandview Rim and follow it all the way back to the visitor center and parking lot. Go to the overlook one last time before heading out!

THE BEER: Weathered Ground Brewery

Address: 2027 Flat Top Rd, Cool Ridge, WV 25843
Distance from Trail Head: 15 miles, 24 mins
Website: www.weatheredgroundbrewery.com
Food?: Full Kitchen
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly outside, Live music

South of Grandview is Weathered Ground Brewery, located in the small town of Cool Ridge. But there’s nothing small about this brewery! Weathered Ground sits on over 30 acres, complete with a large barn that houses the brewing facilities, kitchen, bar and taproom. There’s also ample space to sit outdoors, both on a covered patio and at picnic tables in the yard. On any given weekend, you can find live music at the brewery at either the indoor or outdoor stage. Weathered Ground is a family affair, managed by a husband and wife team, which is evident in how family-friendly the brewery feels. There’s a lot of open space outside for play and yard games for the little and big kids to enjoy. Furry friends are welcome outdoors too, although they must stay out of the taproom since a full kitchen menu is offered. Weathered Ground has been become a staple in Southern West Virginia and you’re bound to see their drafts and cans offered elsewhere too! This is a must-visit spot, especially if doing the Grandview or Sandstone Falls area(s) of New River Gorge!

Our Beer:

Bus Beer – NEIPA – 6%
Tallahatchie – IPA – 6.5%
Bearer of Fruit (Lemon & Blueberry) – Sour – 5%

Looking for more Hikes & Hops in New River Gorge? Check out Long Point & Bridge Brew Works and Endless Wall & FreeFolk Brewing.

New River Gorge: Long Point/Kaymoor Miners & Bridge Brew Works

July 8, 2023August 31, 2023hikesandhopsblog 3 Comments

Fayetteville, WV

Another must-do hike in New River River Gorge is the Long Point Trail. This trail gives you incredible views of the gorge and huge bridge spanning it. For an extra challenge, add on the Kaymoor Miners Trail for some serious elevation gain and a history lesson of the industry in Fayetteville. Afterwards, you’ve definitely earned a pint at Bridge Brew Works where you can enjoy a Belgian-style brew in their rustic, yet rustic outdoor biergarten.

THE HIKE: Long Point to Kaymoor Miners Trail

Length: 5.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 1470ft
Difficulty: Difficult
Time: 3-3.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking Only (Long Point open to bikes)
Parking: Large Lot, pit toilets
H&H: 4/5

Long Point Trail is another of the most popular hikes in New River Gorge. It is located on the Fayetteville side of the park, about 5 miles away from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. Although it has a larger parking lot than Endless Wall, I can still foresee it filling up on super busy days. There are several different trails that can be accessed from this parking lot, including Timber Ridge Trail.

Since we did a combination of trails to make a larger loop, I’ll talk about the two main trails individually and then recommendations on how to combine them. Truthfully, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing these two trails together as the Kaymoor Miners Trail is fairly difficult on its own. But if you’re up for a challenge and have plenty of water, go for it!

The Long Point Trail is a 3.0 mile out and back trail with little elevation changes and some more technical rocky parts. It is open for hiking, leashed pets and mountain biking but bikers should be aware that the last 0.2 miles of the trail is closed to bikes. Conveniently, there is a bike rack placed so that bikers can still walk out to see the viewpoint. Which you are definitely going to want to see, this is arguably the most incredible view in the entire park. It’s an amazing feeling to walk out of the trees and suddenly be on an outcropping surrounded by so much blue sky and so many trees!

This trail is fairly easy and we encountered many families enjoying the hike. The trail starts out very wide and there are some wildlife viewing platforms that look out over grassy fields. Soon though, the trail dips into the forest. There are plenty of interesting interpretive signs along the route to teach about ecology. Along this trail, you will encounter some offshoots for other trails, but if you are heading to the lookout, you can stay straight. One of the great things about this trail is that you don’t have to hike up a mountainside for the view! In fact, the trail actually slopes downward as it heads towards the view. The most difficult hiking is nearest to the overlook, with some rocky steps that people with ability restrictions might find difficult. However, I still give this trail a moderate difficulty rating.

Make sure to really take your time at the overlook and see it from all angles! Also please be patient as you may have to wait your turn for a quintessential picture with the bridge in the background. After you’re ready to continue, start back along the Long Point Trail. After about 0.7 miles, you’ll come to a branch in the trail. Staying on the Long Point Trail takes you back to the parking for an out and back of 3.2 miles. However, if you want to continue to the Kaymoor Miners Trail, bear to the left to get on the Butcher Branch Trail which heads down into a valley. You’ll find much more solitude on the section of the trail. Eventually, this trail will end at the Kaymoor parking lot where there are pit toilets but no running water. Continue through the parking lot and the Kaymoor Miners Trailhead will be on the left.

Before heading out on this part of the trail, please don’t let the short distance fool you. This is a strenuous hike with nearly 1000ft of elevation gain and trekking up and down 821 steps. I highly encourage you to check it out because the history is fascinating but please only undertake this if your fitness level is up for it, you have proper footwear, and are carrying enough water. From the trailhead, the path immediately starts downhill. The wooded path is narrow and you will encounter a lot of others on the trail. Remember that hikers coming uphill have the right of way! As you climb down the mountainside, there are some beautiful spots of flowing water. About halfway down, you’ll encounter a larger trail called the Kaymoor Trail which is a long point to point trail that intersects with the Kaymoor Miners trail. This is a great spot to catch your breathe and read up on the history of the spot. From here, you’ll descend down the 821 steps, following along the old mining route to abandoned ruins of the mining site. Please be aware that this area is not maintained by the park service and you should exercise caution while exploring. The official trail ends at the end of the stairs but there are clear community foraged paths around the structures. Personally, I found the building to be rather spooky so I didn’t get too adventurous poking about. A warning, this trail does NOT go all the way to the New River and there is an active railroad at the bottom. Please do not ever walk on active rail lines!

So now the fun part: getting back up the stairs. Let me tell you, I don’t care how fit you are, this is going to be a challenge. Take as many breaks as you need, there’s no shame! Thankfully, we had this section of the trail to ourselves so no one had to listen to our ragged breathing. Once you get to the top of the stairs, take a nice break because the elevation just keeps climbing until you get back to Kaymoor parking lot. If you only hiked the Kaymoor Miners trail then congrats, you’re done! If you parked at Long Point, I hate to say it but you’ve still got more to go. Head to opposite end of the parking lot and get on the Fayetteville Trail. Take this for 0.6 miles until it meets back up with the Long Point Trail. From there, it’s only 0.4 miles back to the parking lot. Thankfully the section of trail from Kaymoor to Long Point parking lots is fairly flat and easy!

All in all, this loop combines the best viewpoint in the park with the fascinating history of coal mining in Fayetteville. These are must-do hikes while in New River Gorge, but definitely require sturdy footwear and plenty of water and snacks. This is also a hike that I strongly recommend having a change of socks and shoes in the car!

THE BEER: Bridge Brew Works

Address: 335 Nick Rahall Greenway, Fayetteville, WV 25840
Distance from Trail Head: 4.7 miles, 8 mins
Website: www.bridgebrewworks.com
Food?: BYOF, Food Trucks
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly

If you find yourself a little parched after that hike, I’ve got the perfect place for you! Just under 5 miles away, is the small brewery Bridge Brew Works. While they’ve been producing beer since 2010, they were able to open their space to the public in 2018. This is a unique brewery space because it’s entirely outside with a huge covered patio and a large uncovered patio with lawn games and firepits. While we were visiting, they were also working on another covered patio space! Because of the backyard vibe of the brewery, they are only open March thru December. Bridge Brew Works makes a lot of different types of beer, but they specialize in Belgian-style brews while also making seasonal favorites. Their two headliner beers that can be found on tap all season, as well as in local distributors are the Mountain Momma Pale Ale and the Long Point Lager. I love being able to have a beer named after the hike I just did, so the Long Point was a no-brainer choice! We also enjoyed the Mountain Momma and the New River IPA which paired perfected with kicking back in an Adirondack chair next to a firepit.

I really wish we had more time at this brewery because its laid back charm was right up my alley. This will 100% be on my list for our next trip to Fayetteville!

Our Beer:

Mountain Momma – Pale Ale – 5.5%
New River – IPA – 6.6%
Long Point Lager – Lager – 4.6%

Looking for more Hikes & Hops in New River Gorge? Check out Grandview Rim & Weathered Ground Brewing and Endless Wall & FreeFolk Brewing

New River Gorge: Endless Wall Trail & FreeFolk Brewery

June 27, 2023August 31, 2023hikesandhopsblog 4 Comments

Fayetteville, WV

So excited to finally share the first of many Hikes & Hops guides to New River Gorge! First up is the stunning Endless Wall which is an easy loop not far from the park’s main visitor center. This trail is so full of stunning overlooks that you won’t want to put down your camera. The trail is one of the best places to get a photo of the Gorge. Keep in mind that this is a very popular hike and you’ll want to get there early to get a parking spot. After a day exploring the park, head over to Freefolk Brewery which has a delicious lineup of beer, a full menu, large indoor and outdoor space, and frequently has live music. What more could you want?

THE HIKE: New River Gorge NP: Endless Wall Trail

Length: 2.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 400ft
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Time: 1-1.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Small lot that fills up quickly, pit toilets
H&H: 5/5

New River Gorge is the nation’s newest national park and it’s only about 3.5 hours away from downtown Pittsburgh. It’s a great weekend trip from Ohio, Western PA, and Virginia. Or make it a stop on a road trip to other Eastern national parks, like the Great Smoky Mountains (TN/NC), Shenandoah (VA), or even Congaree (SC)! New River Gorge is a sprawling park that encompasses over 70,000 acres of land along a 53-mile stretch of the New River in West Virginia. The main visitors center (along with the iconic bridge spanning the gorge) can be found in Fayetteville, WV which is a haven for outdoor lovers. Although only designated as a national park in 2021, this area has been protected by federal law since 1978. For many years, it has been a destination spot for outdoor lovers, especially those seeking the thrill of white water rafting or rock climbing. There’s even one day a year where the bridge is closed to traffic and daredevils are allowed to BASE jump into the gorge!

The most popular area of New River Gorge is the area surrounding the main visitor center, Canyon Rim. This is a great place to start your visit. You can see views of the bridge, get acquainted with the map, chat with the rangers, and, of course, stamp your national park passport! From there, the Endless Wall trailhead parking lot (called Fern Creek parking) is just a quick 5 minute drive (1.9). However, this is a very popular spot for hiking, so be prepared to share the trail and the parking lot! If you can, try to arrive early to avoid the crowds. There is parking for about 20-25 cars in the main lot and be aware that you cannot park along the road, even if you see people doing it! If the first lot is full, just head down the road about 0.5 mile and there’s another, larger parking lot. It appears on Google Maps as Nuttall Parking lot. You can start the trail at either lot, just know that you’ll need to do some road walking to complete the loop. Thankfully, the shoulder is very wide and the road isn’t busy. You could also just turn around and do the trail in the opposite direction if road walking doesn’t appeal to you!

This is an easy to moderate hike that is good for people of all ages. There’s moderate elevation change (~500ft) but it comes gradually. Expect to encounter some minor obstacles on the trail like roots and rocks but there’s no scrambling. Best to leave the stroller in the car though! All the trails in New River Gorge allow leashed pets.

The beginning of the trail leads through dense forests of hemlocks and rhododendrons and mountain laurels which are stunning in the spring. We just missed mountain laurel season, but managed to see a few late bloomers. After a bit, you’ll cross a small bridge to pass over Fern Creek. From here you’ll meet up with the rim of the gorge. The trail is peppered with rocky outcroppings that offer beautiful views of the surrounding area. Even though this trail is popular, it’s likely that you’ll still find a small place to yourself to enjoy the views. If starting at the Fern Creek parking lot, the main overlook is the last one you’ll encounter. There’s a large rocky outcropping where you can see both up and down the river (not quite to the bridge though). Make sure to really take your time here, it’s a spectacular spot! This is a good place to turn around if wanting to head back to the Fern Creek parking lot via the trail or you can continue on for a bit longer to the Nuttall lot and then walk along the road back to your car. The one advantage of completing this as a loop is not going against the crowd back to the parking lot.

Endless Wall is just the first of many awesome hikes that we did in this area so stay tuned!

THE BEER: Freefolk Brewery

Address: 1690 Court St, Fayetteville, WV 25840
Distance from Trail Head: 5 miles, 9 mins
Website: http://www.freefolkbrew.com/
Food?: Full Menu
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly outside

Freefolk is an awesome brewery in Fayetteville, WV less than 10 minutes from the Canyon Rim Visitors Center. They’ve got a large space with indoor and outdoor seating, with stages for live music in both. In addition to a large taplist, they have a small kitchen menu with filling pub treats like gyros and pepperoni rolls. We particularly liked their outdoor space, which seemed like a great place to bring your family and/or pets. The vibe is very laid back and after a long day of hiking, it was honestly hard to get ourselves to leave! Also make sure to check out the wall art around the building, it’s pretty rad. If checking out this brewery, just be aware that the parking lot is across the street!

In addition to the Fayetteville location, Freefolk also opened a larger brewhouse about 12 miles north in Hico, which also has a taproom, although no kitchen here. Some fun stuff about Freefolk: they have a mug club where you get your own handcrafted ceramic Folk stein with a whimsy face on it! I was very tempted….