State Park · West Virginia
A 276-acre park perched 585 feet above the New River with one of the most dramatic gorge overlooks in the eastern United States, a 31-room cliffside lodge, a recently rebuilt aerial tramway, and direct access to the river for jet-boat tours and fishing.
Field briefing
Hawks Nest State Park starts with access, not mileage.
Before you go
Stay at the 31-room lodge to watch the gorge change color at dawn and dusk, then take the tramway down to the marina for a jet-boat tour on the New River. Pair it with a day at nearby New River Gorge National Park for whitewater and longer hiking. No camping in the park; book a lodge room through the WV State Parks system or through the lodge directly.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Cool and green with the New River running high and fast; rhododendron blooms along the gorge in May and June.
Pack Rain shell, layers, and sturdy footwear for the gorge trails and the wet tramway landing.
Warm and clear, the prime window for the tramway, jet-boat tours, and the gorge overlook.
Pack Water, sun protection on the exposed overlook, and reservations for the lodge if staying overnight.
Spectacular hardwood color frames the New River Gorge, making the overlook one of the finest fall views in West Virginia.
Pack Warm layer, camera, and lodge or nearby campground reservations locked in well ahead for the color peak.
Cold and quiet; the lodge and restaurant stay open year-round but the tramway is seasonal.
Pack Insulation, traction for icy overlook paths, and the lodge as the primary base rather than outdoor activities.
New River Gorge overlook
The park's centerpiece: a viewpoint 585 feet above the New River offering one of the most dramatic river-gorge panoramas in the eastern United States. Hawks, eagles, and peregrine falcons are frequently spotted on the updrafts from the gorge.
Aerial tramway
The recently rebuilt tramway drops 800 feet in elevation over 1,100 feet of cable from the lodge level to the marina and river. Seasonal operation; check current dates. Connects the park's upper and lower areas where jet-boat tours and the marina operate.
Cliffside Trail and gorge hiking
Moderate trail options along the rim and through the hardwood forest above the New River, including the Cliffside Trail and the Lovers Leap Trail, plus the easy Hawks Nest Rail Trail running from Ansted along Mill Creek with seasonal waterfalls.
Put permit timing ahead of ambition, then build the route around what is actually approved. For one day in Hawks Nest State Park, make New River Gorge overlook the non-negotiable, add Aerial tramway only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Cliffside Trail and gorge hiking as the flexible finish.
Turn Hawks Nest's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around access
Plan the transfer before the trail list.
Plan your trip
2 quick tools, already seeded for Hawks Nest State Park. Tune the route, pack weight, weather margin, and overnight setup after the access plan is real.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Hawks Nest State Park packing list
0 of 15 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
15 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Hawks Nest asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Hawks Nest State Park Lodge is the primary lodging: 31 rooms with canyon views, a restaurant open for three meals, free breakfast and WiFi, and parking. Reserve through the West Virginia State Parks system or directly by calling 1-800-CALL-WVA. No camping is available inside Hawks Nest; nearby Babcock State Park offers the nearest state park campground.
Camping reservations
The park has a 31-room lodge but no campground. For camping near Hawks Nest, Babcock State Park is the nearest West Virginia state park campground. Book the lodge well in advance for fall color weekends.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Lodge rooms are bookable through West Virginia State Parks at wvstateparks.com or by calling 1-800-CALL-WVA. Book fall color weekends (October) as far ahead as possible.
Where to book or verify
Official WV State Parks page for the Hawks Nest Lodge; also call 1-800-CALL-WVA.
Main WV State Parks portal for nearby campgrounds including Babcock State Park.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Make the transfer plan before the trail plan.
Weather windows, boat schedules, flight buffers, and backup days shape what is realistic.
Getting there
Arrival note
Hawks Nest State Park is on U.S. Route 60 in Ansted, Nicholas County, West Virginia, about 20 miles east of Oak Hill and 50 miles southeast of Charleston.
Access note
The park sits adjacent to the New River Gorge National Park area; both are accessible on the same Route 60 corridor.
Car strategy
A car is required; the lodge, overlook, and tramway are concentrated at the main park entrance.
Pair this with lodging: the best base is the one that protects the departure window, pickup point, or weather buffer.
No. Hawks Nest has a 31-room lodge but no campground. The nearest state park camping is at Babcock State Park. For camping inside the New River Gorge area, the national park has several campgrounds nearby.
The recently rebuilt tramway carries passengers 800 feet down in elevation over 1,100 feet of cable from the lodge level to the marina and river, where jet-boat tours, fishing, and a nature center operate seasonally.
Yes. The park borders the New River Gorge National Park area and sits above the same river. The two complement each other: Hawks Nest for the lodge, overlook, and tramway; the national park for whitewater, longer hikes, and the famous New River Gorge Bridge.
Fall, October in particular, when the hardwood forest frames the gorge overlook in color. The tramway operates spring through fall. Summer is the busiest window. Winter is quiet but the lodge stays open year-round.