Directions
Park Maps and Brochures:
Park Factsheet- Park Map (Park Paddle Map)
- 221 Access Area Drive-to Campground
- 221 Access Area Trail Map
- 221 Access Area Walk in/Canoe in Campground
- Alleghany Access Area Trail Map
- Riverbend Access Area Campground - Canoe-in Only
- Wagoner Road Access Area - Walk in/Canoe in Campground
- Wagoner Road Access Area Trail Map
- Alleghany Access Area Campground Map
Upcoming Events:
A safe water level would be between 700 - 1200 cubic feet per second. You can check water levels by going to https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nc/nwis/uv?site_no=03161000 .
Posted on: Monday, June 18, 2018Please don’t bring firewood with you to the park. If you find or buy wood from the park, please don’t take any back home with you. Burn it all or leave it for other campers. Foreign pests can travel with wood, and carrying firewood from one area to another can be detrimental to the local forest. We have firewood to purchase, or you can collect wood/ kindling from dead and down trees.
Because of the seriousness of a potential infestation from the Emerald Ash Borer, we are requesting that no firewood be brought into New River State Park.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a destructive invasive exotic beetle that feeds on ash trees. Park campgrounds and picnic areas are the most likely areas for EAB introduction into the park. We appreciate your help in protecting the natural resources of New River State Park and our State Park System.
Posted on: Monday, March 27, 2017New River State Park is located in both Ashe and Alleghany counties. The US 221 Access Area is located at river mile 15 and is the location of the Visitor Center and Park Headquarters.
US 221 Access Area/Park Headquarters: Traveling west on I 40 from Eastern North Carolina, take US 421 N at Winston Salem, stay on US-421 N thru Wilkesboro, turn north on US 221 N at Deep Gap. After driving through Jefferson, turn onto US 221/16 N. Continue on Hwy 16N approximately 4.7 miles to Tom Fowler Road. Turn right and go to the stop sign (1.3 miles). Turn left onto US-221, go 2.7 miles, park entrance is on the right.
Traveling east on I-40 from western North Carolina, take US 221 N., after driving through Jefferson, turn on US 221/16 N. Travel north approximately 4.7 miles to Tom Fowler Road. Turn right and go to the stop sign (1.3) miles. Turn left onto US 221, go 2.7 miles. The entrance to the access is on the right before crossing the New River.
From I-77, take US 421 N. Turn north onto US 221 at Deep Gap. Drive through Jefferson, turn onto US 221/16 N. Travel north approximately 4.7 miles to Tom Fowler Road. Turn right and go to the stop sign (1.3) miles. Turn left onto US 221, go 2.7 miles. The entrance to the access is on the right before crossing the New River.
Wagoner Road Access: Traveling from Visitor Center/Park Headquarters, turn left onto US-221. Follow US-221 (2.7 miles) to East Shatley Springs Road. Turn right onto East Shatley Springs Road and stay straight as road becomes Tom Fowler Road. Turn left onto NC-16 S, going toward Jefferson. At the stop sign, turn left onto NC-16S/88E and go approximately 3 miles crossing Walter Sheets Bridge. After crossing the bridge go approximately 1.5 miles and turn left at Wagoner Baptist Church, onto Wagoner Access Road. Follow Wagoner Access Road to park entrance.
Kings Creek Access Area: The Kings Creek Access Area is located at river mile 7. From the Visitor Center/Park Headquarter, turn left onto US-221. Follow US-221 to Hwy 16. Turn right onto Hwy 16 N., toward Mouth of Wilson. Follow 16 North to Overpass Ramp Road. Turn right, then turn right at the end of the ramp, and follow to the Chestnut Hill Road. Turn right onto Chestnut Hill Road, follow to George McMillian Road. Turn left onto George McMillian Road and follow to Kings Creek Road. Turn right across the river, Kings Creek Access is on the left.
Other Park Access: The Alleghany County Access Area at river mile 1, and other state park properties may be reached only by canoe.
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New River State Park
Wagoner Access & US 221 Access
December - February: 7am - 7pm
March, April, October: 7am - 9pm
May - September: 7am - 10pm
November: 7am - 8pm
Closed Christmas Day
Visitor Center & Office
8am - 5pm week days
10am - 4pm weekends
Closed Christmas Day
Kings Creek Access
Closed November 1st thru March 31st. Re-opens April 1st.
Hours of operation are:
April, October: 8am - 8pm
May - September: 8am - 9pm