36. Bluestone National Scenic River, West Virginia

               Hello and welcome back to our blog on the National Park Service!  In this post we are traveling to the first of three rivers in the National Park Service located in southwest West Virginia.

Bluestone National Scenic River has no NPS entrance sign.  This is the entrance sign to the adjacent state park.

BACKGROUND:

               The Bluestone River in southwest West Virginia cuts through deep gorges in the southern Appalachians, flowing into the nearby New River, a tributary of the Kanawha River, and thus also the Ohio River, all of which are a part of the Mississippi Watershed.  Originally authorized during the Great Depression, the Bluestone Dam was completed in 1949 as a flood control measure and turning much of the Bluestone River’s course at its confluence with the New River into a lake.  In 1988, ten miles of the Bluestone River south of the dam were designated a unit of the National Park Service as a National Scenic River.

The lower Bluestone River, near the entrance to the state park.

THE SCENIC RIVER:

               Bluestone National Scenic River is located in southwest West Virginia, south of New River Gorge National River, in the vicinity of Beckley, West Virginia.  The River is operated by the NPS in cooperation with two West Virginia State Parks, Bluestone State Park and Pipestem State Park, which the NPS boundary overlaps with.  The park has no NPS visitor center and all NPS visitor services are handled through New River Gorge National River.  As such, the nearest NPS visitor center is the Sandstone Visitor Center, near the southern end of New River Gorge National River.

               Aside from a dirt road which leads to a boat ramp, there is no road access in the NPS boundary.  There is a small lodge next to the river at the bottom of the gorge which is operated by Pipestem State Park.  The only way to reach the lodge is an aerial tram from the top of the gorge, or by hiking down a trail.  Further accommodations include a second hotel within Pipestem State Park, cabins of various sizes with modern amenities at Bluestone State Park, and campgrounds at both state parks.

The aerial tram that leads from Pipestem State Park to the Bluestone river at the bottom of the gorge.

TRAVEL TIPS:

               Bluestone National Scenic River is about a half hour drive from Beckley, West Virginia at the junction of Interstates 77 and 64.  There is no fee to enter the river, unless you wish to take the aerial tram from Pipestem State Park.  Passport stamps can be found at the Sandstone and Canyon Rim visitor centers in New River Gorge National River.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

A reverse view of the aerial tram from the bottom of the gorge.

The upper Bluestone River.  In the background, park goers can be seen enjoying fishing.

A view of the Bluestone River gorge from atop the bluffs at Pipestem State Park.

One of a number of cabins at Bluestone State Park.

The Bluestone Dam along the New River which created Bluestone Lake at the confluence of the Bluestone and New Rivers.