Location: Mercer and Summers counties Map
Length: 10.5-mile (16.9 km)
Elevation: 1,637 ft (499 m)
Bluestone National Scenic River Park in the United States. The
Bluestone National Scenic River is located in the county of Summers
County and the state of West Virginia, in the eastern part of the
country, 400 km west of the capital city Washington, D.C. Bluestone
National Scenic River is located 563 meters above sea level.
The terrain around the Bluestone National Scenic River is mostly
hilly. Bluestone National Scenic River is located in a valley. There
are about 10 people per square kilometer around the Bluestone
National Scenic River with a small population. The nearest larger
town is Shady Spring, 18.5 km northwest of the Bluestone National
Scenic River. The area around the Bluestone National Scenic River is
almost completely covered in flowering forest.
The climate is
hemiboreal. The average temperature is 11 °C. The warmest month is
June, at 19 °C, and the coldest is January, at −1 °C. The average
rainfall is 1,280 millimeters per year. The wettest month is July,
with 140 millimeters of rain, and the driest is September, with 75
millimeters.
Because Bluestone National Scenic River lies in a
deep gorge with no immediate road access, getting to the area can be
challenging. The best means of access is at its ends. At the
downstream end, guests can enter through Bluestone State Park. At
the upstream end, visitors can ride the seasonal aerial tram at
Pipestem Resort State Park to reach the bottom of the gorge.
A hiking trail, the Bluestone Turnpike Trail, runs the length of the
National Scenic River at the bottom of Bluestone Gorge. There are
limited opportunities for canoeing and kayaking, with the spring
paddling season most likely to provide adequate water levels. The
Pipestem Tram will transport canoes and kayaks as well as bicycles
for an additional charge.
Fishing is a popular activity along
the Bluestone, with game fish such as smallmouth bass and bluegill
being favored in the area. Hunting is also permitted in Bluestone
Gorge; visitors should wear appropriate blaze-orange clothing during
hunting seasons.