Accessibility

The Sandstone Falls Boardwalk Trail provides easy access to magnificent views of the falls.

NPS photo/Leah Perkowski-Sisk

 

Canyon Rim Visitor Center and the Sandstone Falls Boardwalk have boardwalks to scenic overviews consisting of flat panels compatible with most mobility aids, including wheelchairs.All park films and video exhibits are presented with open captions at all times. At Sandstone Visitor Center handheld assistive listening and audio description devices for park films are on request at the front desk.

Park Brochure

The park brochure is available as an audio described version along with a transcript of the audio description.

Camping

There are accessible campsites at Glade Creek and Grandview Sandbar Campgrounds. Glade Creek Campground also includes an accessible picnic area, fishing area, and a small portion of the Glade Creek Trail.

Visitor Centers:

Canyon Rim and Sandstone Visitor Centers are fully accessible. Grandview Visitor Center has a wheelchair ramp but does not have automatic door openers. Thurmond Depot has a wheelchair ramp and an elevator to the upper floor, but it does not have automatic door openers.

Accessible Trails and Overlooks

Canyon Rim Visitor Center

The 1/10th of a mile boardwalk, compatible with certain mobility aids, offers scenic views of the gorge and New River Gorge Bridge. An easy walk on an accessible ramp leads to the first viewing point. Note: the boardwalk to the lower overlook is not accessible as it descends 178 steps. For more information visit the Fayetteville Area Trails page.

Sandstone Falls Boardwalk

A ¼ mile, boardwalk, compatible with certain mobility aids, crosses two bridges leading to islands and observation decks offering fantastic views of the falls and access to fishing areas. The boardwalk passes through the Appalachian riverside flatrock community, which contains a rare assemblage of plants found in only a few places along several high-energy Appalachian rivers. For more information visit the Sandstone-Brooks Area Trails page.

Long Point Trail

The first 1/4 mile of the Long Point Trail is accessible from the parking lot to an accessible boardwalk viewing area of forest regrowth, providing wildlife viewing. The Long Point overlook of the New River Gorge Bridge is not accessible. For more information check the Fayetteville Area Trails page.

Glade Creek Trail

The first 1/4 mile of the Glade Creek Trail is accessible. This portion of the trail follows the cascading waters of the lower part of Glade Creek. For more information check the Glade Creek Trails page.

Brooks Falls

An accessible viewing deck overlooks the main section of Brooks Falls on River Road.

Grandview

The main overlook has a designated viewing platform for wheelchair users, however the 500 yard path from the parking lot to the overlook consists of large, uneven stones.

Accessible Fishing Areas

There is a wheel chair accessible fishing area at the Glade Creek Campground. The accessible area is on a wooden bridge over Glade Creek, an excellent fishing location (catch and release in this area). It can be reached at the end of Glade Creek Road from the parking area next to the campground entrance. For more information visit the fishing page.

For more information about accessible fishing locations in West Virginia, visit the WV Department of Natural Resources webpage.

 

Boy Scout volunteers help to construct an accessible trail at Glade Creek.

NPS photo

Glade Creek Accessibility Project
In July 2013, over 30,000 boy scouts participated in the National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, adjacent to the park. As part of the community service element of the jamboree, 212 scouts, led by park staff and two accessibility experts, Bill Botten and Dr. JR Harding, competed an accessibility project at Glade Creek. Projects completed included an accessible fishing area, trailhead and trail section, picnic area, and camping and parking site.