We had a wonderful afternoon tubing on the river. Paul is a wonderful host who is attuned to the…read moreriver, its history and modern day stories. The route itself is the right mix of easy rapids and languid stretches, surrounded by unspoiled mountains and shoreline. If you're lucky, Paul might very well treat you to a song he wrote about the river. What a character and what an experience!

It's true even if it's cliché. Spending time in the great outdoors can really change your…read moreperspective and give you a hopefulness that things will be alright. We decided to check out Paul's place because it was fairly close and he was so friendly on the phone when I called for more specific info. It's definitely a laid back and rustic environment but I was all in. Paul takes care of his customers and he was very adamant in teaching us the rules of the river before letting us launch. I had $60 in cash and he would only take $40 even thought the price was listed as $50. It's a great deal for you to kayak, paddle board and tube on the gorgeous river. We had it basically to ourselves that day and it was a revelation. The only thing I'd say is there needs to be upgrades to the life jackets. Most of them were child sized. However, all of the other equipment was well maintained. Please go and support this business!

This was the most beautiful spot we experienced in WV. The water was running brisk, sun was out and…read moretemperature was perfect. It is an easy walk to the falls. Also take time to do the loop trail - it was an easy picturesque walk through the woods.

Very beautiful falls about 1hour and 30 minutes from Fayetteville, WV. But worth the drive. Decent…read moreparking available. Unless you are planning to do trail or jump in water, enjoying the falls shouldn't take more than 30 mins. A short video to see what kind of falls are those - Sandstone Falls | New River Gorge National Park | waterfall | West Virginia https://youtube.com/shorts/rmWsuQsRkjQ?feature=share

Craig, the owner, is a prince. He was attentive, super kind, and patient. What a nice guy! We…read morerented three "duckies", inflatable kayaks, and paddle down the river. It was relaxing and delicious. Equipment was in very good condition. Great local business to support. Good option for a group with a variety of athletic abilities. Really beautiful day! Thanks, Craig! (His family runs the Cantrell Ultimate Rafting in Fayetteville. Craig also runs an outdoor adventure company! )

Visiting from Fl with my fiancé and four young adult children. We did two half day floats and had a…read moregreat time! The owners Richie and Nancy have a great operation and really took care of us on our vacation. Beautiful place. Very accommodating and everyone is very friendly. We will be back for sure. Love the place.

Took a Saturday afternoon drive out to Plum Orchard Lake with the fam in our Jeep. It's about 1.5…read morehours from us -- a mix of interstate, toll roads, winding turns, and peaceful backroads that made the ride feel like part of the adventure. When we arrived, the lake did *not* disappoint -- calm water, gorgeous scenery, and just a relaxed, welcoming energy. We didn't even try to explore the whole place (it's huge). We stopped at the first dock we saw, hopped out with our gear, and got straight to fishing. Mealworms on the hook, lines in the water, and good vibes all around. We saw fish swimming past and had a few nibbles, but no actual catches this time. Still, the whole experience was a win. It wasn't crowded at all -- just a few groups scattered around, everyone spaced out enough that it still felt peaceful. No loud music, no chaos, just people enjoying nature. **Pro Tips:** * Bring your own bait, drinks, and plenty of snacks (trust me, you'll get hungry). * There's a port-o-potty nearby *or*, you know\... nature works in a pinch (ask the boys ). * Sunscreen is a must and a hat, perhaps. We're already planning a return trip -- maybe with kayaks or to check out another part of the lake. If you're looking for a quiet, scenic spot to fish, chill, or just unwind without a crowd, Plum Orchard is a solid pick.

I was in the area and on a lark decided to check out the lake. It is truly a hidden gem in these…read morelovely hills! The southern part of the lake had a large layer of lily pads and the water caught the fall colors of the hills perfectly. I wish I had a boat there so I could go out on the water, it was a perfectly tranquil day.

Locally owned. They have a large selection of fishing…read moresupplies. Lots of live bait as well as lures, poles, line. Some clothing, boots and waders. They have kayaked, tubes and inflatable boats available for rental. Pick up and delivery service as well. Very knowledgeable owners and family. Know the area well. They also own Berry's Campgrounds. Ice is cheap and the beer is in the cooler.

Very pretty scenery. Would recommend a bunch!! Love the…read morelittle waterfalls, then the huge lake/pound? The cabins you can stay in are placed in some very pretty woody areas. The swinging bridge was super fun!

Great walking trail. Scenic look outs. Beautiful waterfalls and old mill with a tour- Grist Mill…read more Small shop with souvenirs and restrooms.

Such a beautiful place to picnic and enjoy the beauty of Brooks Falls. Some days you can even feel…read morethe mist from the rapids.

A very nice rest area on the West side of the river There…read moreare many sights to see in the New Gorge National Park like the Sandstone Falls, overlook, the New Gorge Bridge and others. To actually see either Sandstone falls or these falls, you have to drive down to the river, get on WV 20, go south through Hinton and then drive back up north on WV26 (New River Road). Sandstone falls, just to the north of this site, may be a better site to see but this roadside area is very nice and pleasant. It is easy off/on to the park with a restroom, rest area, plenty of parking, and a pleasant view of the falls/rapids that are in the river right next to the area. There were at least 2 picnic tables and one of them had a grill. There is not much shade over the tables or most of the parking but if you want a nice area for a break or to fish, this would probably be a good place for this. I recommend this area for all my fellow travelers to the area. It is not a massive set of falls but it is a gentle set of stepped falls over rocks over the width of the river. If you are adventurous, I would recommend continuing north and seeing the Sandstone falls.

I came to this campground after I looked on line to see if I could fish during the night for…read morecatfish. The answer came back that registered campers could but not general public. Park day use areas close down at 10 PM. According to the Internet, they only close these fishing areas at 10 PM for daytime visitors but last registered campers fish all night. At 10PM, we were asked to leave the fishing pier. I mentioned what the Internet said and the ranger seemed baffled and said that it's not true so we had to leave. He did say he would look into it because it was important to him that people had the right info. Problem is, during the summer, in this part of the country, the water gets hot and the fish go deep. Being a bank angler, it's impossible to catch any catfish during the day, they only come shallow at night. The bass fishing is the same. Fishermen and hunters pay for the bulk of what it costs to keep these parks operational yet when we would like to use them, we get the shaft. This quote is from the VA Outdoors Management : A lot of our funding to help conserve wildlife and habitat comes from public spending on things like fishing and hunting licenses, tags, or stamps, boat registrations, and via a federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition. Those sources of financial support have helped us protect hundreds of species and their habitat for over 100 years, but there's always more we can do for Virginia's wildlife. That's where you come in. You too can become a steward of the outdoors by supporting our work or working with us -- whether you hunt, fish, and boat or simply enjoy the outdoors. So, you can see what I'm saying. It is not right or fair that everyone else gets to do what they want but we flip the bill for it. Then our rights keep getting tanked. They put hiking trails and bike trails and beaches for swimming, but keep taking away hunting and fishing rights and they keep raising the prices. Hunters and fishermen are always on the bottom of the list of whom these people cater to. It's not fair or just. At the very least, we should be able to fish when we want especially when that is the only time those fish will bite!!!

This park is one of those ones that feels like a private to public site; the majestic house at the…read morelakefront has been turned into a visitor center. The visitor center has a room or two of exhibitions on hydrology and wildlife but is not anything big. I came seeking a New Year's hike and expecting some scenery while being unsure if the amount of trails available would be enough. I managed to spend a solid two hours circumnavigating the place. In summer, swimming and boating are more likely the activities du jour, and it appears to be an excellent place for such activities. While the park looks close to the highway on the map, it feels like being at a park and there isn't any road noise. Like most VA state parks, they do charge for parking (waived for New Year's Day).