Fayetteville is a small town beside a very large hole. The New River Gorge, a deep canyon cut by one of the oldest rivers in North America, is just outside town, and spanning it is the New River Gorge Bridge, a steel arch of about 876 feet above the water, completed in 1977. Every October, on Bridge Day, the road is closed to traffic and BASE jumpers leap off, parachuting into the gorge while thousands watch. The surrounding land was made a national park and preserve in 2020, the newest in the country at the time.
The gorge is a place of wild water. The New River, despite its name, is ancient, and the rapids below the bridge, along with those of the nearby Gauley River, draw rafters from all over. The sandstone cliffs around are also a major rock-climbing area. Fayetteville's small downtown, with its courthouse square, gear shops and cafes, caters to the adventure crowd, and the whole place has a young, laid-back feel despite its size.
The history is of coal and railroads. The gorge was once a bustling industrial zone, with coal mines, coke ovens and company towns along the river, and the ruins of Nuttallburg, a mining complex, are preserved. The railways that carried coal followed the river, and the long iron bridges are still visible. Now the hills have regrown, and the whole area is a green, forested bowl.
For riders, the roads around Fayetteville are wonderful: US 19 crosses the bridge, and from the viewing area at the visitor center, the old road, Fayette Station Road, drops in a series of tight turns to the river and climbs back. Beyond, West Virginia's mountain roads, many with fast curves and ridge views, offer endless variety. Surface quality varies, and trucks and gravel are common. Fayetteville has fuel, groceries and plenty of food, with Oak Hill, a short ride south, offering more. Early October is peak season, with Bridge Day crowds, and spring is quiet and green. Watch for deer and slick leaves in the fall.