Hawks Nest State Park, West Virginia. Have you heard of it? It’s just ten miles north of West Virginia’s most iconic attraction, the New River Gorge Bridge, but it’s well-worth a stop in its own right. Views… aerial tram… jetboat rides… yes, all this and more awaits at Hawks Nest State Park in West Virginia.
Hawks Nest is well known for beautiful birds-eye views of the New River from a picturesque stone overlook and other historic structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
It’s also well known as a spot to get yet another perspective on the famed New River Gorge bridge. But it has so many other, lesser known attractions as well.
There’s the comfortable, recently renovated 31-room lodge. There’s an aerial tram. There’s a nature museum.
There are hiking trails. There’s whitewater rafting.
And, perhaps most thrilling and least known, there are jetboat rides.
A ride on a jetboat courtesy of New River Jetboats is an absolutely epic way to experience some of West Virginia’s best fall colors in one of West Virginia’s most scenic natural wonders.
Boat rides are available on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays through October. Tickets for a boat ride are available at the tram office at Hawks Nest State Park Lodge, or you can call 304-658-5212 with any questions. The jetboats operate on the hour from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The ride includes a van shuttle to the boat dock in the New River Gorge and the boat ride.
The total time for the excursion is approximately one hour. Guaranteed with every boat ride are spectacular views of the New River Gorge, the New River Gorge Bridge and Hawks Nest Lake Dam.
Not one for the water? The views from the aerial tram are pretty spectacular as well (the tram is closed for renovation until spring of 2023).
To learn more about reserving a spot on a New River Jetboat ride at Hawks Nest State Park in West Virginia, visit New River Jetboats online or on Facebook. Hawks Nest State Park is located right along the historic Midland Trail that runs through West Virginia, so make a big road trip out of a stop here!
Address: Hawks Nest State Park, 49 Hawks Nest Rd, Ansted, WV 25812, USA
