Clockwise from left: Cooling off in the rapids below Sandstone Falls. Sandstone Falls – a little dry in summer, but worth the visit. Headhouse and portal of the Nuttallburg mine once owned by Henry Ford.
down-river panoramas. The place teems with rhododendron, and in the spring, it’ s a riot of lush pink.
At this point, I was less than halfway along my journey; the goal was the southern end of the park through Hinton to Sandstone Falls. I continued another 10 miles to State Route 20 with a brief stop at the Sandstone Visitor Center. Although a modest center, the friendly rangers provide a wealth of local guidance. Another 11 miles south on SR-20 brought me to Hinton. This section of the park is no
longer a gorge; the valley is wider, the river comparatively slow and shallow. Being far from the main areas of the park, Hinton has seen better days. It, too, has an active rail station and was once a vital terminal for the C & O Railway. It now struggles economically. Most folks, myself included, merely pass through to other destinations.
I crossed the river and headed back northward for 11 miles on State Route 26, ending at Sandstone Falls, the largest waterfall on New River. The falls span approximately 1,500 feet with drops up to 25 feet. During this dry-season visit, however, the falls were less than impressive; the river flow being one-fifth of normal. Downstream from here( confusingly northward), New River begins to narrow into a steeper gorge. The Sandstone name comes from the geology of nuttall sandstone – a distinctive formation within the gorge area, far different from the red western rocks. It is a gray, resistant sandstone composed mainly of quartz grains, thus very hard and durable. It forms prominent vertical cliffs and ridges along the gorge and attracts climbers nationwide.
Departing the falls, I returned through Hinton and headed back north on SR-20. After 35 miles of great riding, I came through the small town of Meadow Bridge. Amazingly, there is a genuine drive-in theater still in operation here. Seeing that Meadow Bridge has only 500 people at the most, it surely draws from all around.
I continued on State Route 31 to another small town, Danese, then turned east onto State Route 41. This SR-41( aka Quinnimont Connector) plies east-west through the middle of
Bottom left: The Hinton Amtrak station. Bottom right: At the far southern end of the park, Hinton is seen from across the river.
26 / SEPTEMBER 2026 / RIDERMAGAZINE. COM