U.S. News & World Report Magazine has named New River Gorge National Park & Preserve a Best Underrated Travel Destination, an honor announced by West Virginia state officials during a press event at the park on Tuesday.

The recognition marks a significant milestone for the nation's newest national park, cementing its rapid ascent from a regional favorite to a destination of national acclaim. For a state actively cultivating a new economic identity around tourism and outdoor recreation, the award provides a powerful endorsement, signaling to a generation of travelers that one of America's oldest rivers is the site of its next great adventure. The immediate consequence is a heightened profile for the park ahead of peak travel seasons, promising to transform its "underrated" status into a well-earned reputation.

What We Know So Far

  • New River Gorge National Park & Preserve has been named a Best Underrated Travel Destination by U.S. News & World Report Magazine, according to multiple officials.
  • The announcement was made Tuesday by Governor Patrick Morrisey and the West Virginia Department of Tourism at a news conference held at the park’s Canyon Rim Visitor Center.
  • According to wdtv.com, the publication’s travel editors evaluate more than 1,500 destinations, using a methodology that includes expert analysis and reader votes.
  • The park was officially redesignated from a national river to the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve in December 2020, making it the country's 63rd and newest national park.
  • The park was rated the number one best underrated travel destination in the country, according to a report from woay.com.

Why New River Gorge National Park is America's Top Underrated Gem

There is a particular calculus to being "underrated." It implies a quality that has, until now, evaded the algorithm of mass appeal—a secret held by a discerning few. For New River Gorge, that secret is now officially out. The designation by U.S. News & World Report is not an accident of discovery but the apotheosis of a nascent reputation that has been building since its status was elevated in 2020. The park earned its top spot for a specific combination of assets that resonate with the modern traveler's palate.