New River Gorge National Park & Preserve

Trail run at Endless Wall

easy_moderate Trail RunnersGorge ViewsMorning Runs
3 mi Distance
120 min Estimated Time
roundtrip Trail Type

What to Expect

This three-mile loop starts deceptively calm — a well-packed forest trail winding through thick Appalachian hardwoods that keep you shaded even on scorching summer days. The footing is mostly smooth single-track with occasional root tangles and rocky steps as you drop toward the rim. Then the trees open up and you're running along the edge of the New River Gorge, eight hundred feet of sandstone plunging straight down to the river below. The trail threads between massive boulders and clifftop overlooks that will stop you mid-stride whether you want them to or not. The Diamond Point detour is the crown jewel — a short spur that delivers a panoramic view worth every extra minute. You'll connect the two trailhead parking areas via a stretch of road to complete the loop. Trail runners who love technical-enough terrain with jaw-dropping scenery as a reward will be in their element here.
Trail RunnersGorge ViewsMorning RunsPhotographersDog-Friendly Runs

Safety Advisory

The trail runs along unguarded cliff edges with sheer drops of several hundred feet. There are no railings at most overlooks, and the sandstone can be slippery when wet — one stumble in the wrong spot is not recoverable. Stay on the trail and slow down near the rim.

If you complete the loop via the road connecting the two parking areas, there is no shoulder and traffic moves fast. Run facing oncoming traffic, wear visible clothing, and stay as far to the edge as possible.

Trail Details

Distance 3 miles round-trip
Difficulty easy_moderate
Estimated Time 120 min
Trail Type roundtrip
Pets Dogs allowed (leash required)
Season <p>The Endless Wall trail provides amazing viewing overlooks into the New River Gorge and is quite lovely all year round. </p>
Trailhead Trail run at Endless Wall

Pro Tips

Trail Tip

Hit this trail before 7:30 AM — Endless Wall is one of the most popular trails in the park, and by mid-morning you'll be dodging hikers, rock climbers hauling gear, and photographers camped out at every overlook. Early morning means you own the trail and the light is better anyway.

Trail Tip

Park at the Fern Creek Trailhead and run the loop counterclockwise so you finish with the road section rather than starting with it — ending on pavement after forest single-track feels like a cooldown, but starting on asphalt when your legs are fresh feels like a waste.

Trail Tip

Do not skip the Diamond Point spur. It adds only a few minutes to your run and delivers the single best gorge overlook on the entire trail — a vertigo-inducing promontory where you can see both upstream and downstream bends of the New River.

Photos

Getting There

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