How Many National Parks are in West Virginia? Ooh, I See!

Just three of the six NPS (National Park Service) units in West Virginia have ‘National Park’ in their name. Therefore, these are the only three that I consider actual national parks.

At the end of this article, you will find a list of the five NPS service units in West Virginia. (The sixth is a trail, which is not a ‘national park’ by any measure.)

 

How Many National Parks are in West Virginia?

West Virginia has three national parks. They are: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Park, Harpers Ferry National Park, and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

 

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Park

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park spans the Maryland shoreline of the Potomac River, going from Georgetown in Washington, D.C. and ending in Cumberland, Maryland.

Construction of the canal began in 1828 and was completed in 1924.

There are 74 lift locks along the canal, 11 aqueducts, and a tunnel measuring 3,118 feet. Additionally, there are several historic lock houses.

The Great Falls of the Potomac is located 15 miles north of Washington, D.C. It plunges into a series of beautiful rapids and falls.

The majority of the area isn’t accessible by public transport. However, the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro stop may be used to access the Georgetown section.

The towpath is not for motor vehicles. The falls can be viewed from Olmsted Island Bridge on the Maryland side and scenic overlooks on Virginia’s side.

 

Good to Know: Some Interesting Facts about the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Park

1. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is also known as the C&O Canal.
2. The canal operated between 1831 and 1924. It followed the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., to Cumberland in Maryland. The canal mainly carried coal that came from the Allegheny Mountains.
3. Boatmen used to say that crabs and muskrats caused leaks in the canal, and the canal’s owners responded by offering a bounty on each muskrat of 25 cents.

Did you know? Some folks call the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal the “Grand Old Ditch”.

How rude!

 

Operating Seasons and Hours

The Park is usually open 24/7 throughout the year but has faced some disruption recently due to the pandemic.

The easiest way to discover current conditions at the Park is to visit its official alerts page to find out.

 

Harpers Ferry National Park

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park can be found on US 340 near the picturesque confluence between the Shenandoah-Potomac rivers.

The Park covers 3,823 acres and includes the Lower Town, Maryland Heights and Loudoun Heights, and Bolivar Heights and Cavalier Heights. Short Hill, Virginius Island, and Murphy Farm are also included.

In 1944, Congress established a national monument in the area. The National Historical Park was created in 1963.

The visitor center is connected to the Lower Town by shuttle buses. This is where George Washington convinced the federal government that it should build a national arsenal and armory.

It also marks the spot where John Brown’s famous raid of 1859 took place.

 

Good to Know: Some Interesting Facts about Harpers Ferry National Park

1. Harpers Ferry’s oldest structure, Roger Harper’s 1782 Harper House, is still standing. This home has a lower level that houses an apartment for armory workers.
2. You can find Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in three states, namely, West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland.
3. Many historical events took place on Harpers Ferry National Historical Park’s land, including John Brown’s 1858 Abolitionist Raid, Meriwether’s Corps of Discovery, the Niagara Movement meeting point, and a 1906 gathering by leaders of civil rights movements.

 

Operating Seasons and Hours

The Park is normally open 24/7 throughout the year, but it is closed on certain holidays.

Visit the Park’s official alerts page for current conditions and the latest updates.

 

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve covers over 65,000 acres of stunning terrain that offers lots of fishing and hunting and parkland of over 7,000 acres.

The narrow gorge of the New River, as well as the New River itself, runs through the Appalachian Mountains. They are located near Hinton and the New River Gorge Bridge (U.S. 19), near Fayetteville.

The New River is not named after it. It was part of an ancient Teays River system that originated over 65 million years ago.

The river’s human history dates to 12,000 years back, when Native Americans settled in the area and hunted. However, the river’s portion within the Park was difficult to navigate due to its dangerous rapids and steep walls.

The C&O Railroad, which ran through the gorge in 1873, provided access to the mountain’s rich coal resources.

The area became a bustling industrial hub for the next 80 years. As the mines became profitable, the people started to move out of the gorge’s coal towns.

Since then, most of the towns have been reclaimed by the forest.

The New River is famed for being one of the most popular rivers for small-mouth bass fishing in the state. Anglers can also test their skills with catfish, walleye, catfish, and muskellunge.

Trout are also stocked in some tributaries of the river. The upper section of the New River’s the most popular for fishing. It runs from Hinton to McCreery.

 

Good to Know: Some Interesting Facts about the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

1. Although called the ‘New River’, the river itself is actually quite old. Many scientists believe that the river is older than even the Appalachian mountains, its home mountain range.
2. The New River Gorge Bridge’s a magnificent bridge that has held several world records. For over 26 years, the bridge held the record for being the world’s longest single-span bridge. Although the Bridge has long lost its crown as the highest bridge in America, it is still third-highest. For 22 years, the bridge held the record for the highest vehicle-carrying bridge in the world.
3. The New River Gorge Bridge continues to hold a place in the record books to this day because it hosts ‘Bridge Day’, which is the world’s largest extreme sports event.

 

Operating Seasons and Hours

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve’s open 24/7 throughout the year, without exception. However, if you’re planning a visit, be sure to check current conditions at the Park on its official current conditions and alerts web page.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about How many national parks are in West Virginia

 

How long did it take to build the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal?

It took 22 years to complete the canal, beginning in 1928 and finishing in 1950.

 

Are kayaking and canoeing permitted on the Potomac or Shenandoah rivers?

Short answer: “Yes.” There is access to the Shenandoah River near the River Access Parking Lot. However, the lot is often very busy and gets full, so you are strongly advised to arrive early.

 

Can I bungee off the New River Gorge Bridge?

Unfortunately, no! Bungee jumping is strictly forbidden, even during the Bridge Day festival. However, you can base jump off the bridge during the festival.

 

Conclusion On How Many National Parks are in West Virginia

There are three national parks in West Virginia if you count by areas called ‘National Park’.

However, if you count all those areas managed by the National Park Service (discounting trails which span several states), then there are five:

• Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (Park)
• Harpers Ferry (Park)
• New River Gorge (Park and Preserve)
• Bluestone (Scenic River)
• Gauley River (Recreational Area)