New River Gorge: Train Derailment at Thurmond Disrupts Part of the Park

If you're planning a trip to New River Gorge, here's something to work into your itinerary right away. A train recently derailed near Thurmond, the old railroad town tucked at the bottom of the gorge, and park crews have been handling the cleanup ever since.

For now, the park is encouraging visitors to head to its other areas while the work is underway. There's no sign of a full closure, but the Thurmond area is disrupted, and it's best not to build your day around it right now. Crews say cleanup is expected to run through Friday, October 10, though that timeline could shift depending on how the work goes on the ground.

The good news is that New River Gorge is huge, and most of what makes it famous lies elsewhere. The famous bridge and its overlook, the rim trails, the river views, and the climbing areas are all still solid bets for a great visit right now. If you'd planned to explore the bottom of the gorge on the Thurmond side, just push that stop to another day or a future trip.

Here's our practical tip. Check on the area's status right before you head out, since things keep changing as the cleanup moves along and any posted date is still just an estimate. Official updates come out as they happen, and a quick look the night before will save you a wasted detour.

To plan the rest of your trip, line up your hikes, and figure out which access points are still open, lean on the New River Gorge park guide. You'll find the highlights worth prioritizing while Thurmond stays under repair, plenty to make the most of the gorge without relying on the affected area. One temporary hiccup shouldn't spoil such a beautiful corner of West Virginia; you just have to adjust the route.