Hinton is considered the gateway to New River Gorge National River. For a cultural focus, its railroad history and historic downtown offer concrete points of interest. Bluestone State Park provides a distinct nature focus, with water activities and hiking trails. You can tailor your trip to the topics that interest you most: historic places, recurring events, or time on the water and trails.
Railroad History and Historic Buildings
The Hinton Railroad Museum preserves artifacts from the early years of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. In addition to model railroad displays, it features tools from the time of John Henry, the “Steel Drivin’ Man.” The Hinton Depot was built in 1905 as a division terminal for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (C&O). The museum and depot thus point to different aspects of railroad heritage: exhibited objects and a building with a specifically named function.
Downtown Hinton is a National Historic District with 200 buildings. The Summers County Courthouse, completed in 1898, is at the center of the district. The Campbell-Flannagan-Murrell House was built in 1875. The present-day building of Second Baptist Church is associated with a later historical milestone: it opened and was dedicated for worship on February 13, 1927.
The themes of the African American Heritage Driving Tour also provide context for individual sites: Hinton Depot is stop 19 and covers the migration of African Americans to West Virginia. Second Baptist Church is stop 18; this section of the tour explores the segregation of African Americans. Together with the construction dates, these details help place the historic buildings in context not only as architecture but also in relation to different topics.
River and Hiking Trails
Bluestone State Park is located at the confluence of the Bluestone River and the New River. Activities in the park include boating and fishing. More than eight miles of trails are available for hiking, spread across ten trails. One described hiking route first follows a stream with several waterfalls, then runs alongside the Bluestone River past the campgrounds. Access to this trail may be restricted during high water.
The Almost Heaven Swing at Bluestone State Park offers a view over Bluestone Lake. It can be reached from a parking area directly off Route 20 near Lilly’s Bridge. Batteau Beach at Hinton Landing offers a starting point for hikes, river access, and a kayak launch. These places offer different highlights: a viewpoint, a trailhead, or access to water activities.
Nearby, Big Branch Trail is a challenging 2-mile loop. Along the way are streams and waterfalls, as well as views of the gorge and river. Also nearby, Big Branch Falls can be reached via a 0.7-mile hike from the trailhead. The 0.7-mile hike to Big Branch Falls is shorter than the challenging 2-mile Big Branch Trail loop.
Events and Getting Here
Hinton Railroad Days celebrates Hinton’s railroad heritage every October. The annual Festival of the Rivers features traditional music and canoeing on the New River. Every summer, the WV State Water Festival brings visitors to Hinton; its program includes parades, live entertainment, fireworks, and family activities. The Ritz Theatre hosts films, theatrical performances, and live music. If you want to plan your trip around a festival, check the dates for your intended travel period.
Hinton is accessible via scenic WV Route 20 and is about 10 miles from the Sandstone-Hinton exit 139 interchange on I-64. The distance is approximate. This provides concrete information to help plan your trip, including how to get there and what to explore in terms of railroad heritage, culture, and nature.
Discover more destinations: Jumping Branch, Bluestone River
For the broader travel overview: Summers.
