Trip details · Endless Wall Trail

Endless Wall Trail packing checklist

ActivityDay hike
ParkNew River Gorge National Park and Preserve, WV
NearestOld Rag Circuit, 152 mi

A 2.4-mile trail along the rim of the New River Gorge, through forest and across Fern Creek to cliff-edge views at Diamond Point, with the New River almost 1,000 feet below. Most people walk out to Diamond Point and back for about 2 miles. Cliff edges, small lots that fill, fall hunting season, cold, wet weather, roots and rocks, and no drinking water at the trailhead are the main things to plan for.

Trip details

Distance: 2.4 mi (3.9 km) one way between the Fern Creek and Nuttall trailheads. Most hikers go about 1 mi to Diamond Point and back from Fern Creek, about 2 mi round trip. Walking the whole trail and 0.5 mi back along the road makes a loop of about 3 mi
Elevation gain: 427 ft gain and 545 ft loss over the full trail, with an average slope of 7.9%
Route: From the Fern Creek Trailhead, the trail runs through forest, crosses Fern Creek, then zig-zags along the cliff edge to Diamond Point, the most popular turnaround. It continues along the rim to the Nuttall Trailhead. The trail makes a horseshoe, so you can start at either end
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (park rating), with many roots and rocks. The full loop takes about 1 to 2 hours
Trailhead: Fern Creek Trailhead, 1.3 mi down Lansing-Edmond Road, which leaves US 19 just north of the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. The Nuttall Trailhead is 1.8 mi down the same road. Vault toilet. No drinking water
Fees and permits: Free. The park has no entrance fee and sells no passes
Hours: The park is open year-round. Canyon Rim Visitor Center, the closest, is open 9 am to 5 pm daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
Pets: Allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet
Best season: April to early November. Start early to get a parking spot (our pick)

Source

"Our pick" seasons are our own call.

Packing list

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Before you go

Check conditions and closures. Look at NPS New River Gorge: current conditions the day before. As of Oct 26, 2026, no alert is listed for the Endless Wall Trail or Lansing-Edmond Road. Elsewhere in the park, the Rend Trail is closed, the upper Kaymoor Miners Trail is closed Monday to Thursday through Nov 19, and the Burnwood group campground and Burnwood Trailhead restrooms are closed until mid-November.
Check the weather. Mountain weather is unpredictable here. Skip the hike if thunderstorms are forecast, and expect cold rain in late fall. NPS New River Gorge: weather
Go early. The Fern Creek lot is small and often full. Never park on the road, or you may be towed. Use the Nuttall lot or come back another time. NPS New River Gorge: Endless Wall Trail
Tell someone your plan. Tell a friend or family member where you are going and when you expect to be back. In an emergency call 911. Canyon Rim Visitor Center: 304-574-2115. NPS New River Gorge: safety
Dress for hunting season. Hunting is allowed in parts of the park in fall. Wear blaze orange. NPS New River Gorge: hunting
Know when to turn back. Turn back if a storm is building, if the rock is icy or slick, if anyone in your group is struggling, or if you won’t finish before dark.

This list is a starting point, not a guarantee. Conditions change, so adjust it for your trip and your group.

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Trip-specific: permits and hazards

Cliff edges with a 1,000-foot dropThe trail zig-zags along the top of the gorge’s sandstone cliffs, with the New River almost 1,000 feet below. The park asks you to use caution near cliff edges, stay on the trail, and take extra care at overlooks like Diamond Point. Keep children close and stay back from the edge, especially when the rock is wet or covered in leaves.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS New River Gorge: Endless Wall Trail · NPS New River Gorge: hiking safety
Small lots, and no parking on the roadThe Fern Creek Trailhead lot is small and frequently fills. Don’t park on Lansing-Edmond Road, or your car may be towed. The Nuttall Trailhead lot, half a mile farther down the road, is the other option. The trail is busy and narrow, so the park suggests going early to avoid crowds. If you walk the road to close the loop, it is narrow with little room to walk, so watch for cars.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS New River Gorge: Endless Wall Trail · NPS New River Gorge: trail run at Endless Wall
Hunting season: wear blaze orangeHunting is allowed in parts of the park under West Virginia rules, though not in some park areas or within 500 feet of heavy-use areas. The park recommends blaze orange clothing during hunting season.
Hot Shot Men’s Thinsulate Cuff Knit Hat, Blaze Orange
$4.49 on Amazon
Hunting is allowed in parts of the park, and the park recommends blaze orange during hunting season. A blaze orange knit hat also keeps you warm on a cold fall morning.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS New River Gorge: hiking safety · NPS New River Gorge: hunting
Cold, wet fall weather and stormsMountain weather here is unpredictable and is cooler and wetter than the lowlands. October averages a high of 62°F and a low of 39°F, and November 52°F and 30°F, with frequent rain. The park says to carry rain gear for sudden thunderstorms, and to seek shelter at the first sound of thunder. Know the signs of hypothermia: uncontrolled shivering, clumsiness and slurred speech.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS New River Gorge: weather · NPS New River Gorge: hiking safety · NPS New River Gorge: lightning · NPS New River Gorge: heat and cold illness
Roots, rocks and wet leavesThe trail has uneven ground with many roots and rocks, and it crosses Fern Creek. Wear sturdy shoes with good grip. Fallen leaves can hide roots and make rock slick in late fall.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS New River Gorge: trail run at Endless Wall · NPS New River Gorge: Endless Wall Trail
Ticks and poison ivyTicks live in the park and can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. The park suggests a 10 to 30% DEET repellent and checking for ticks every 2 to 3 hours, and to learn to recognize poison ivy, which grows in the park.
Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent 20% Pump Spray 4 oz
$10.99 on Amazon
A 20% picaridin repellent the maker says works against ticks and mosquitoes. If you prefer DEET, the park suggests a 10 to 30% product.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS New River Gorge: spiders and insects · NPS New River Gorge: hiking safety
Snakes and black bearsCopperheads and timber rattlesnakes live in the gorge. The park lists them as active from late April to mid-October, so you’re less likely to see one now, but never put your hands or feet where you can’t see, and back away from any snake. Snakes are protected here. Black bears are occasionally seen. Keep your distance, never feed them, and keep your food with you.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS New River Gorge: snakes · NPS New River Gorge: camping and wildlife
Narrow park roads, early icePark roads are narrow, with blind curves and possible rockfall. In cooler weather, shaded areas and bridges can ice up before the rest of the road, and deer or turkeys can step onto the road at any time. Lansing-Edmond Road to the trailheads is narrow, so drive slowly.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS New River Gorge: driving on park roads · NPS New River Gorge: Endless Wall Trail
No fee, and pets on a leashThe park charges no entrance fee and doesn’t sell passes. Dogs are allowed on the trail on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Pick up after your dog and keep it back from the cliff edge. The trail is for hiking only, with no bikes.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS New River Gorge: fees and passes · NPS New River Gorge: pets · NPS New River Gorge: Endless Wall Trail

The Ten Essentials (NPS)

Water: about 1 liter per personThere is no drinking water at the trailheads, and stream water can carry Giardia, so carry what you need. For the 2-mile walk to Diamond Point and back, we suggest about 1 liter each, and 1.5 to 2 liters for the full 3-mile loop or a warm day. Fill up at a visitor center, which has water fountains and bottle fillers.
Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth 32 oz
$17.62 on Amazon
Holds about 1 liter. Fill it at a visitor center, since there is no drinking water at the trailheads.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS New River Gorge: pets · NPS New River Gorge: hiking safety
Food and extra foodBring snacks, and lunch if you plan to linger at the overlooks, as the park suggests. Pack out all food and trash, and never feed wildlife.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS New River Gorge: hiking safety · NPS New River Gorge: camping and wildlife
Navigation: map and compassThe park says to bring a trail map, which you can get at any visitor center, and that a compass or GPS is a good idea. The Endless Wall Trail is easy to follow, but download or print the map before you go in case you lose signal.
Suunto A-10 Compass
$24.00 on Amazon
The park says a compass or GPS is a good idea along with a trail map. A simple baseplate compass doesn’t need a battery or signal.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS New River Gorge: hiking safety · NPS New River Gorge: maps
HeadlampFall days are short, and the full loop takes 1 to 2 hours plus time at the overlooks. A headlamp gets you back to the car if you stay for sunset. Your phone isn’t a headlamp.
Petzl Tikka Headlamp
$34.95 on Amazon
For an early start to get a parking spot, or a late walk back from Diamond Point on a short fall day.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS New River Gorge: trail run at Endless Wall
Sun protectionMost of the trail is in the forest, but the overlooks along the rim are open rock. Bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
Banana Boat Sport SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray, 6 oz (2 pack)
$13.86 on Amazon
The rim overlooks are open rock with little shade.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS New River Gorge: Endless Wall Trail
Insulation and rain layerThe park says to always pack a sweater or jacket, a warm hat, rain gear, and extra dry clothes and socks. With fall lows near 39°F and frequent rain, bring a fleece or insulated jacket and a waterproof shell. Avoid cotton, which stays cold when wet.
FROGG TOGGS Ultra-lite2 Rain Jacket (men’s)
$23.47 on Amazon
The park says to carry rain gear because sudden storms can happen at any time. This jacket packs small. Wear a warm layer under it.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS New River Gorge: heat and cold illness · NPS New River Gorge: hiking safety · NPS New River Gorge: weather
First aid kitFor scrapes, blisters and sprains on a rooty, rocky trail. Learn the park’s snakebite advice: stay calm, keep the person quiet, and get medical help even if there is no reaction yet. In an emergency, call 911.
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .5
$31.95 on Amazon
For scrapes and a turned ankle on a trail full of roots and rocks, and blisters on the road walk.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS New River Gorge: snakes · NPS New River Gorge: safety
Fire starter and emergency shelterAn emergency bivvy and a lighter can keep someone warm if they’re hurt and have to wait for help on a cold, wet day.
SOL 90% Emergency Bivvy
$25.49 on Amazon
Holds in body heat if someone is hurt and has to wait for help on a cold, wet fall day.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS New River Gorge: heat and cold illness
Knife or repair kitFor quick gear fixes, cutting tape or trimming a blister pad.
Opinel No. 08 Stainless Folding Knife
$16.79 on Amazon
For quick gear fixes, cutting tape or trimming a blister pad.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)

Prices and stock checked on Amazon on Oct 26, 2026, and may have changed.

Photos

The New River winding through a deep, forested gorge, seen from Diamond Point on the Endless Wall Trail — Photo: National Park Service · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Whitewater rafts running a rapid on the New River, seen from high above at Diamond Point — Photo: National Park Service · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons