West Virginia’s New River Gorge is having quite a year. It skyrocketed to national fame over the past few months after being named the nation’s newest National Park. Suddenly, it seems it’s on everyone’s radar – in America, at least.

And rightly so. The New River is one of the world's oldest rivers, and the New River Gorge is a ruggedly fitting cradle for this ancient natural wonder.
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Together, the two make a power pair that's hard to beat.
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And now, the New River Gorge has just received another major honor: a place on Time Magazine's list of The World's 100 Greatest Places Of 2021. That's right - greatest in THE WORLD. 
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But hey, no surprise to us. West Virginia has recognized and honored the New River Gorge for decades.
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The Sandstone Falls area, for example, was settled and subsistence farmed generations ago.
We've loved it. We've visited it. We've hiked it. We've mined it. We've celebrated it. We've camped in it. We've floated down it. We've bridged it.
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And not just with any bridge, by the way. We've bridged it with the New River Gorge Bridge, one of the longest single-span arch bridges in the world.
So we know what we've got. We know it well. Now we're just here to sit back and enjoy all these accolades as the nation - and the world - finally discovers this amazing natural wonder that's been hiding right here West Virginia all along.
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Lay it on thick, America. Keep the compliments coming, world. Our gorge can hold her own against any other spot on this amazing earth, and she deserves all the praise you can throw at her - and then some.
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To see what other attractions made Time Magazine’s list, head here. To explore the world-class New River Gorge for yourself, start with this overview. Or this scenic drive. Or this hike. Or this overlook.

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