Hawks Nest State Park
Written: Nov 09 '01
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Pros: Beautiful Hawks Nest State Park
Cons: No cons
The Bottom Line: Wonderful place to spend quality time with family or loved ones.
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| g1933's Full Review: Hawks Nest State Park |
If you ever go traveling and visit this area of West Virginia, do not miss visiting Hawks Nest State Park. It is very beautiful at any time of the year of day.
I live about three miles from the overlook and it just as quiet here as it is as the park.
When you enter into the park you are greeted by a quaint gift shop on one side and the overlook on the other and a historic museum at the top of the hill if you have the stamina to climb the walk up to it, but the scenery from the porch of the museum is worth the climb. There is also picnic areas behind the gift shop to rest and enjoy the quiet and the scenery.
When you go across to the overlook you have an enjoyable walk down to it and steps made of rock lead to the overlook with rod iron rails so one cannot fall over. You can see for miles in either direction. At the bottom in the New River where one can rent paddle boats or take an air boat ride.
One can see the old rail road bridge which is still in use by trains that circle around the mountain for miles, sometimes the end is no where in sight they are so long. Also you can see the old tunnel that was built at the turn of the century where hundreds of workers were lost when they struck silica sand that caved in on them. The tunnel is still in use to make electricity for the surrounding area. Water is pumped into it from the dam and comes out at Gauley Bridge ten miles down river.
The wild life is abundant in the area ranging from deer, groundhogs, bears, birds and of course the ever present squirrels and rabbits.
To rent the paddle boats and ride the air boats you have to drive East on Rt 60 for about one mile, to Hawks Nest Lodge where you can rent rooms for the night, buy gifts, eat lunch or supper for reasonable rates. The food is very good and the view from each room is magnificent.
Also at the Lodge they have a Tram that takes you to the bottom of the gorge where you will find another small museum, gift shop and scenic walkways. Also one can go fishing in the river off the banks of the New River. At the small museum one can rent the paddle boats for the more adventurous and energetic. It is a hard job to paddle those boats against the river current.
But the most thrilling is the air boats one can ride for a small fee. They take you for a ride up the river to the New River bridge where the rapids start, you may pass the rafters coming down. The rafters ride the rapids down the New River and come to rest close to Hawks Nest.
On your trip back up on the Tram you can see flowers that grow on the rock cliff and sometimes wild animals that have wandered into the area.
Back up at the lodge you can rest at some of the benches before you take the walkway down the side to another overlook. This overlook is on another rock ledge where you can see for miles.
The winding roads to this area are beautiful in itself because you can see the majestic mountains and rest areas on the way up where you can stop and see the river below.
If you have never been to the Hawks Nest State Park or Lodge you have missed a beautiful sight. Early in the morning when the mist lingers over the tree tops is magical to the sight.
I have lived up here for six years now and I still think it is the most beautiful place in West Virginia. I would not have missed living here for the world.
If you ever visit here you will probably see me looking over the overlook at the sights. I go down there every chance I get just to relax and visit. Hope to see you there sometime.
Hawks Nest is a must see park and the drive is on a winding road but it is worth the drive to visit.
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Hiking & Trails
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Epinions.com ID:
g1933
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Location: Ansted, W.Va., USA
Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 12 members
About Me:
Am retired, have 5 sons, 1 daughter, 2 stepsons, 18 grand-children, 13 great-grands.
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