Bluestone River

West Virginia

The headwaters of the Bluestone River begin at an elevation of 3,500 feet on East River Mountain near Bluefield, Virginia, and flow for 77 miles to Bluestone Lake near Hinton, West Virginia. The Bluestone is a tributary of the New River, draining parts of southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia. The responsibility of protecting the Bluestone National Scenic River is shared between the National Park Service, West Virginia State Parks, and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. A section of Bluestone National Scenic River lies within the boundaries of Pipestem Resort State Park, and the remaining portion is also a West Virginia Wildlife Management Area. A major portion of the lands are managed by the state to provide hunting opportunities; wild turkey is the featured species.

Scenic
Leaflet Open Street Map
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Designated Reach

October 26, 1988. From a point two miles upstream of the Summers and Mercer County lines down to Bluestone Lake.

Outstandingly Remarkable Values

Ecology

Several plants have been found within the Bluestone Gorge that curiously do not seem to exist in the other major river gorges in the area (New, Meadow, and Gauley Rivers). These distinctive plants include northern white cedar, downy arrowwood, Allegheny cliff fern, and wild onion. An unusual mix ...Show More

Fish

The Bluestone River is classified as a high-quality warmwater stream by the state of West Virginia. A good diversity of warmwater game fish are found with in the park, including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass, muskellunge, walleye, white bass, rock bass, crappie, several species o...Show More

Prehistory

American Indians called the Bluestone River "Momongosenka" (Big Stone River), supposedly inspired by their travels along ancient pathways through the boulder-strewn lower gorge. Many native prehistoric sites—from nomadic Paleo-Indian hunting camps dating back to the times of Ice Age mammoth and m...Show More

Scenery

The 10.5-mile section of the Bluestone River contained within the park runs through a deep, scenic gorge cut through the surrounding mountains. The rugged gorge offers many inspiring views. A diverse mix of Southern Appalachian forest types, from oaks and hickories on the ridgetops to birch and s...Show More

Wildlife

The Bluestone National Scenic River offers a wide variety of bird habitat along its 10.5 miles. Riparian areas, mixed hardwood forests, old fields, cliffs, and the river provide food, water, and shelter for an array of bird species. Belted kingfishers, great-blue herons, Louisiana waterthrushes, ...Show More

Managing Partners And Contacts

Classification/Mileage

Scenic
Scenic — 10 miles; Total — 10 miles.
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