Road trip to West Virginia -2)New River Gorge National Park- Long Point Trail

The Long Point Trail in New River Gorge National Park is one of the area’s most popular hikes, offering incredible views of the New River Gorge Bridge. The trail is approximately 3.2 miles round trip and is rated moderately difficult, making it a great option for both casual and experienced hikers.

Steve and I chose this trail for our hike. After a short drive from the visitor center to the trailhead near Fayetteville, we set off on a path that winds through lush forests of oak and pine. The trail begins with a paved section before leading us into the woods. The terrain is mostly flat, with a few gentle inclines. As we walked, we enjoyed the peacefulness of the forest.

The highlight of the trail is the Long Point overlook, a rocky outcrop that extends over the gorge, offering a stunning panoramic view of the New River Gorge Bridge, the river below, and the surrounding Appalachian Mountains. The view from Long Point is one of the best in the park, perfect for photography and quiet reflection.

Along the trail, we met a young woman who was a talented photographer and eager to take photos of Steve and me, leaving us with some memorable shots.

The national park did an excellent job posting clear trail markers and points of interest throughout the park, along with providing a detailed map for visitors.

Road trip to West Virginia - 1)New River Gorge National Park-Visitor Center

Upon arriving at the visitor center, we walked to two of the viewpoints for stunning views of the famous New River Gorge Bridge and the gorge below. The New River Gorge Bridge, an iconic landmark in West Virginia, was completed in 1977. At the time, it was the longest single-span arch bridge in the world and remains the third longest in the U.S. today. The bridge stretches 3,030 feet across the New River Gorge and towers 876 feet above the river, offering breathtaking vistas of the gorge and the surrounding Appalachian Mountains.

Visitors can admire the bridge from the Canyon Rim Visitors Center, which features an observation deck with panoramic views of both the bridge and the gorge. A new wooden staircase leads down to a lower viewing platform, providing an even closer perspective.

Road Trip to New River Gorge National Park-the Drive from Frederick, Maryland to NP

In 2022, the U.S. government designated the New River Gorge as a National Park. Since it's within driving distance, I had been eager to visit, and in September this year, my wish was finally fulfilled.

Although it wasn't peak fall foliage season yet, the drive from Maryland to the park still offered glimpses of vibrant colors and beautiful countryside along the way.  

In the past, I’ve visited West Virginia a couple of times, primarily for hiking trips. I recall that West Virginia is among the poorest states in America. On my journeys, I saw run-down houses along the road and locals with yellowing teeth. Yet, I what I remember the most is its stunning mountains and scenic hiking trails. These memories made me long to return, this time to explore the newly established National Park.

West Virginia is often referred to as the "Mountain State" because it lies entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range. The state's terrain includes steep hills, dense forests, and scenic rivers.

On the way drive there, Steve took a little detour from the Google map suggested route and we got to experience more of West Virginal Road.  

On this route, we took I-68 and passed through Cumberland, Maryland. Along the way, we watched some beautiful puffy white clouds against the blue sky, vibrant fall colors, charming farms, and fields of goldenrod wildflowers. We passed the Savage River State Forest and the historic Penn Alps restaurant. We spotted windmills perched on the mountaintops in the distance.

We drove through winding roads with their ups and downs made for a fun and enjoyable ride.

From I-68, we headed south on Route 219 (detoured from the Google Map), passing through Accident, Maryland, and then made our way to Deep Creek Marina and Deep Creek Lake State Park, where the farmland was just as beautiful.

We passed through Oakland, Maryland.

Along the way,  we saw some large Trump/Pence signs along the road.

It was on this ride, I first learned about salt houses built along the roadside. They are used to store salt for road treatment in the winter.

Next, we entered Route 50 West.  Through route 50 we drove through from one mountain to another on single winding line where you have to be very careful not to drive off the road.  While the speed limit sign says speed limit is 55 mph, you may have kept it 35 mph! One time we saw abandoned house off the road.  Steve says he wants buys it and live there, so we had discussion of what to do if he really lives there. 

From route 50 we returned back on I-79south, we saw trees with colors, trees on the rocks while driving through many valleys of mountains, 

From there our last starch is got on south 19 before we finally arrived at the National Park!

Cumberland, Maryland

Frostburg, Maryland

Salt Houses off the road

An Abandoned House of route 50  in West Virginia

Joshua Tree National Park

Located in Southern California, Untied States, Joshua Tree National Park is a stunning natural preserve spans over 790,636 acres of desert landscape, with two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert, intersecting within the park's boundaries.

The park is famous for its unique rock formations, vast expanses of desert wilderness, and its namesake Joshua trees.

Right after Thanksgiving, we visited this park for a brief time and enjoyed it immensely! Here are some photos documenting our visit.  

An Autumn Day at Great Falls National Park

 A popular place for any day of the year.  Great Falls National Park is a great place for relaxing and reviewing the majestic falls, hiking, kayaking and rock climbing.  The park can be accessed from both Maryland and Virgina.  These photos were taken from an excursion at the Virginia site.  Enjoy!