When I was in high school, my family moved to Charleston, WV. At that time (1973) one had to drive a narrow, winding road east from the city, climbing up to Hawks Nest State Park, overlooking the New River Gorge. Now, in the 21st century, I left Charleston, following that same winding road up into the mountains! North-south drivers can enjoy the high-speed, four-lane US 19 as they zip across the Gorge Bridge, built years after we moved here. The area wasn't even a National River, yet (that came in 1978).

Today the gorge is a full-fledged National Park, and surrounding land extending some 30 miles to the south is part of a National Preserve. The scenery is fantastic. Even the intrusion of the New River Gorge Bridge is hardly detracting, giving it's amazing engineering.

I left the canyon rim area, and followed the "old road" down down down into the gorge, across a wooden bridge and up the other side, after stopping by the riverside to enjoy to sounds and sights. It was the first time I had taken the roads into the gorge, and can fully appreciate the bridge! One minute side to side versus 45 minutes!