On March 9, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed a bill creating the Appalachian Regional Commission, known as the ARC. The agency’s goal was to bring impoverished areas of Appalachia into the mainstream American economy. While the ARC serves parts of 13 states, West Virginia is the only one that lies entirely within the boundaries of Appalachia.
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If one major travel trend has emerged over the tumultuous months of the pandemic, it’s been the public’s enormous appetite for getting outdoors.
It’s good timing, then, that in December lawmakers added a new unit to the national park system. Buried under legislation for a federal omnibus spending bill was a law naming New River Gorge National Park and Preserve as the country’s 63rd national park.
Spreading across more than 72,000 acres of wooded hills, deep ravines, and Appalachian plateau in rural West Virginia, New River Gorge offers sweeping views of centuries-old oak and maple forest that stretch for miles along steep sandstone cliffs. Along with its stunning topography, its vast array of socially distanced outdoor activities rafting, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking make it a pandemic-era destination par excellence.
As of press time, some trails, campsites, and businesses are closed due to Covid-19 precautions. To check for safety protocols and potential closures, visit the individual websites before you go.
Summer road trips to national parks feel like an American rite of passage. But in winter? That’s when the hardiest travel to our country’s wildest places for snow-covered volcanic landscapes, cool desert vibes, and empty beaches. We’ve put together regional road trip suggestions in various parts of the country to help you explore some of your area’s lesser-known national parks during the least busy time of the year.
New River Gorge Is West Virginia s First National Park aarp.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from aarp.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Why people are happy but worried over the country’s newest national park
New River Gorge National Park is home to some of the country’s best white-water rafting
Keith Dunlap, Digital Content Team, Graham Media Group
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Back in December, West Virginians were the latest to be torn about a treasure of nature.
Thanks to a bipartisan measure by Congress, New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia was designated the 63rd national park in the United States, and the first in West Virginia.
Earning the national park designation is important for a space, because it means it will be preserved and protected for purposes such as providing a habitat for wildlife, recreation and conservation not development.