New River Gorge - Long Point

 

Long Point Trail was Wayne's favorite of our trip, because the views at the end were incredible. The hike itself was pretty cool also. Long Point Trail (#12)  is a there-and-back 3.2 mile trail, but created our own loop/figure 8 by adding the Butcher Branch Trail (#7), portions of the Fayetteville Trail (#5), and the Timber Ridge Trail (#7) for about 7 miles total. (Read the individual descriptions here.)

First - Long Point Trail. This is well traveled, shady, mostly flat and quite wide, but a bit muddy on the morning we went.

Once you reach the bike rack, the trail narrows, becomes more rocky, and starts descending steeply. Be careful! You'll know you've arrived when you find other people.

Second - Butcher Branch Trail. More shade, a pretty creek, and a sidetrip to a beautiful waterfall.

Third - Fayetteville Trail. This took us down into a valley, crossed a creek, back up the next hill, down to a larger creek (Wolf Creek), and up to the intersection with Park Loop (#6).

Fourth - Timber Ridge Trail. A mostly flat walk along an old dirt road back to the parking lot, and the end of our morning hike.