New River Gorge: Rainy Days, Puppy Challenges, and Fall Colors

Our next journey took us to New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia, one of the country’s newer national parks, yet rich in history, rugged beauty, and adventure. We arrived just days before one of the biggest events of the year—Bridge Day. We had never heard of it before, but as soon as we started chatting with locals and reading about it, we were hooked. One day each October, daredevils BASE jump, rappel, and celebrate the engineering marvel that is the New River Gorge Bridge. The only problem? We missed it by two days! It sounded absolutely incredible, and we kicked ourselves for the timing. Guess that means we’ll have to go back.

A view of the New River Gorge Bridge. On Bridge day they shut down this bridge for pedestrians only.

Our week in the park was accompanied by some unexpected challenges as well. The remnants of Hurricane Ian moved through, leaving us with plenty of rain. For most people, that means a good raincoat and some soggy hikes. But for Piper, our pup, it was pure misery. Piper absolutely hates the rain. She’d look at us with those pleading eyes like, “you really expect me to go out there?” Eventually, we caved and bought her a little doggy rain jacket so she could brave the weather. Let’s just say she was unimpressed but slightly more willing to step outside.

Piper in her new raincoat trying to survive the remnants of Hurricane Ian

Meanwhile, Indy gave us quite the scare. Out of nowhere, she developed vestibular disease. If you’ve never seen it, it’s disorienting—her little body couldn’t stay upright, her eyes twitched, and she looked like what we jokingly called a “DUI puppy.” It was tough to watch, but thankfully, after some rest and time, she began improving.

Despite the rain and the worry, we still managed to find beauty and adventure. We started our days with morning hikes, where the mist made the fall colors even more magical. The leaves were just beginning to turn, painting the gorge with warm reds and oranges. My husband even ventured off on a solo hike to see an old coal tipple. The trail was steep, and when he reached the bottom, he spotted a bright orange rescue backboard. His immediate thought: “If they need this often, maybe I shouldn’t push my luck.” That little dose of common sense sent him right back up the trail.

The rescue board my husband found before he turned around on his solo hike.

One of the most stunning sights was, of course, the New River Gorge Bridge itself—an architectural masterpiece stretched across the gorge. Standing there, surrounded by shifting fall colors and the river far below, it was impossible not to feel awe.

We also took a day trip to Babcock State Park, home to the iconic Glade Creek Grist Mill. Nestled among vibrant trees and rushing water, it felt like stepping straight into a postcard. The whole scene was so perfect it didn’t even feel real.

Thank you John Denver for such a great song (Country Roads)

One thing we didn’t get to do in the area, but is already on our list for next time, is visiting The Greenbrier. This historic resort is not only luxurious but also famous for its secret Cold War-era bunker—a massive underground facility built to house Congress in case of a nuclear attack. Learning about that history fascinated us, and we’ve promised ourselves we’ll be back to explore it properly.

Our time at New River Gorge was full of ups and downs—missed opportunities, rainy days, worried moments, and plenty of unexpected laughs. But in the end, it gave us fall beauty, quiet hikes, and memories that we’ll carry with us long after the leaves have fallen.