New River State Park Is an Underrated North Carolina Park That Will Impress You This Fall

North Carolina in the fall is when the state truly shines. Don’t get me wrong—North Carolina is downright dreamy year-round, but there’s nothing that compares to those beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in the fall. While popular state parks like Grandfather Mountain, Hanging Rock, and Pilot Mountain State Park are all top-notch destinations for viewing the fall foliage, New River State Park in the fall is a bit of a hidden gem! Adding this state park to your fall itinerary is a great idea, and here’s why:

History of New River State Park

While the park itself was established in 1976, the river it’s named after is much older. In fact, the New River (despite its name) is one of the oldest living rivers in the world. It’s impossible to give an exact age, but geologists believe that the New River is between 10 million and 360 million years old. 

The river was named by English cartographer Edward Bland in 1651 while he was mapping out the colonial Carolina and Virginia regions. The river had never been seen on any map before, so Bland just named it “New River.” From 1654 to 1754, it was known as Woods River, named after Colonel Abraham Wood. Later, Peter Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson’s father, renamed it the New River in a similar fashion to Bland—the river was left off of the map Jefferson was using, so he just called it New River.

Both Woods River and New River were used interchangeably until about 1770, when the New River became the official name. 

Humans have lived near the river for roughly 10,000 years. Archaeologists have unearthed spear points (arrowheads), stone axes, pottery, and other relics from the past that date back to Kanawha, Cherokee, Shawnee, and Creek tribes. 

The park was established in 1975, following local opposition to a power company's application for a license to build a dam across the New River for hydroelectric power in 1965. It took a decade, but local opposition to the project won, and the New River State Park was officially established in 1975. Not only that, but the section of the New River from Dog Creek to the Virginia state line was declared a National Wild and Scenic River, giving it more protection for the future. 

Things to do at New River State Park

New River State Park is truly a place for nature lovers. It doesn’t get nearly the crowds as its neighbors, which means you’ll have all the peace and quiet you could ask for. During the summer, the New River is a favorite spot to launch a kayak or drop an inner tube and float along the river. In the fall, New River State Park is a perfect place to hit the trails. 

New River State Park has nine miles of hiking trails. The longest is the New River Riverbend Trail, which clocks in at about six miles. 

Most of the trails at New River State Park hover around a mile, and it’s fairly easy to combine the trails to make for a longer adventure. 

The park’s thriving second-growth forest is truly magical in the fall. If you can get your timing right and experience the park during peak fall foliage, it’s simply mesmerizing! 

Camping at New River State Park

Fall is an ideal time to go camping, and there are several options for camping at New River State Park. Primitive tent sites include backpacking areas as well as paddle-in sites. For campers with a trailer/RV, the state park has campsites with electric, water, and sewer hookups. The park also features a dump station and firewood for sale. 

There are no admission fees to visit New River State Park for day use. Fees are only charged for camping or certain events. Visit the official website for New River State Park to learn more.

Read on to learn about our favorite places in North Carolina to visit in the fall, which covers all the popular spots, including the Blue Ridge Parkway. Or start planning your own trip to New River State Park with Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner.