New River Gorge National Park

The newest (and one of the best) National Parks in the USA is to be found in West Virginia! The New River Gorge Park was created out of the National River in 2021 and contains some of the most dramatic scenery to be found in West Virginia, obviously topped off by the famous bridge completed in 1977. For 26 years, this bridge was the largest single span arch bridge in the world at 1700 feet and it looks as impressive today as the day it was opened. My first visit was just before sunset and I raced down the steps to the overlook with camera in hand as I had a great feeling that the sunset would be just right. I wasn’t disappointed, and it just goes to show how great pictures are sometimes just being in the right place at the right time!

It is interesting to note that this particular “grab shot” has been used worldwide over 1400 times in magazines, newspapers, websites and even on the local telephone directory delivered to my home!

We stayed in the area and the next morning we thought a sunrise shot over another of the famous overlooks in the park would be perfect. Nothing like getting up well before dawn in the summer and seeing this:

Not the best start to the day! However, after a breakfast, we went back and started to see what this place with the Grand View was all about:

Underneath the New River Gorge Bridge

As the day developed, we went back to the bridge and drove the small and winding road that takes you down to the old bridge across the river. You can imagine the time it used to take to drive south in this area! On the way down you pass the ironwork that supports the bridge – I believe it was treated in a way that it would form a natural rust surface that would never need painting and it seems like it worked!

Finally, down at the river level, you can see the sheer scale of the bridge and also catch some rafters making best use of the rapids in the New River.

What I like about this image in particular is the subtle lighting. It is generally quite dark although the destination (the rapids) is more brightly lit with the sun, and the raft in blue is quite sharp and clear. It gives you a real feeling that you are there!

Finally, the sunrise

I went back to the area later in the year with some friends from the camera club and again made the predawn trek to Grand View. What a difference! This time, there were some high clouds on the horizon and the sun was able to rise unobstructed!

A great start to another day of photography in the area – but that will have to wait for another West Virginia story!

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