{"id":"nps-blue","slug":"bluestone-national-scenic-river","name":"Bluestone National Scenic River","designation":"National Scenic River","category":"river","categoryLabel":"Wild, Scenic and National River","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"BLUE","designation":"National Scenic River","sourceId":"nps-blue"}],"states":["WV"],"stateNames":["West Virginia"],"location":{"lat":37.56577087,"lon":-80.98366657},"bbox":[-81.03,37.5173,-80.9375,37.6041],"acres":{"value":4403,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"The Bluestone River and the rugged and ancient gorge it has carved is a richly diverse and scenic area of the southern Appalachians. Bluestone National Scenic River is preserved as a living landscape that provides an unspoiled experience for visitors and a haven for a variety of plants and animals. The park protects a 10.5-mile section of the Bluestone River in southern West Virginia.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/blue/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=37.6041&b_tl_lng=-81.03&b_br_lat=37.5173&b_br_lng=-80.9375","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Bluestone%20National%20Scenic%20River","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/blue/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"cover":{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C800E49-1DD8-B71B-0BD0956F0EFE00F0.jpg","title":"Bluestone River","alt":"Bluestone River","credit":"NPS Photo","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/blue/index.htm","tier":1,"source":"National Park Service"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C800E49-1DD8-B71B-0BD0956F0EFE00F0.jpg","title":"Bluestone River","alt":"Bluestone River","credit":"NPS Photo","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/blue/index.htm","source":"National Park Service","cover":true},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C8005C6-1DD8-B71B-0B0EFC0F7BB22F3A.jpg","title":"Leading a hike","alt":"Hiking the Turnpike Trail","caption":"Ranger Richard leads a guided walk on the Turnpike Trail","credit":"NPS Photo / Eve West","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C800FC9-1DD8-B71B-0B66BDF36878F435.jpg","title":"Bluestone Turnpike Trail","alt":"Ranger giving information to park visitor","caption":"NPS Ranger Richard Altaire provides an overview of the park map to a visitor to the Bluestone NSR.","credit":"NPS Photo / Eve West","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C800735-1DD8-B71B-0B89CDFCEB32DDDB.jpg","title":"Enjoying the day","alt":"Youngster enjoying the Bluestone","caption":"A young hiker makes his own connection with Bluestone National Scenic River.","credit":"NPS Photo / Eve West","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/6F37F8DC-C649-5B81-F8C2F239936D4C27.jpg","title":"Bluestone River","alt":"river with trees","caption":"The Bluestone River","credit":"NPS Photo, Dave Bieri","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Biking","Mountain Biking","Boating","Fishing","Freshwater Fishing","Guided Tours","Hiking","Hunting and Gathering","Hunting","Paddling","Canoeing","Kayaking","Junior Ranger Program","Wildlife Watching","Birdwatching"],"topics":["Farming and Agriculture","Animals","Birds","Fish","Forests and Woodlands","Deciduous Forests","Geology","Mountains","River and Riparian","Rock Landscapes and Features","Trails"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Bluestone National Scenic River","description":"The park is accessible year-round at two entrance points, Bluestone State Park and the former Lilly townsite, and seasonally at Pipestem Resort State Park. The park is open 24 hours a day.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"All Day","monday":"All Day","thursday":"All Day","sunday":"All Day","tuesday":"All Day","friday":"All Day","saturday":"All Day"},"exceptions":[]}],"directions":"Bluestone National Scenic River is most easily accessed via Bluestone State Park and Pipestem Resort State Park. A narrow, graveled park road provides access to the Bluestone Turnpike Trail at the former Lilly town site at the confluence of the Little Bluestone River. To reach these parks from I-64, take exit 139, then south on Rt. 20. From I-77 take exit 14 to Rt.20 north. Either direction, Bluestone State Park is 15 miles and Pipestem is 22 miles.","weatherInfo":"Summer: Temperatures range from low to mid 60's at night to middle to upper 80's during the daytime hours. Winter: Temperatures average from the mid 20's to the mid 40's. Snowfall amount varies, but averages 5\" per month Dec. - March. Spring and Fall: temperatures and rainfall variable. Peak fall foliage is usually mid-October.","contacts":{"phone":"304-465-0508","email":"neri_interpretation@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Sandstone Visitor Center","description":"Sandstone Visitor Center is located in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve near Sandstone, WV, and is the primary National Park Service information site for Bluestone National Scenic River. Information can also be obtained at Bluestone State Park and Pipestem State Park, both which border Bluestone National Scenic River.","url":"http://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/sandstone.htm","lat":37.7832,"lon":-80.89778}],"campgrounds":[],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"new-river-gorge-national-park-and-preserve","km":34},{"slug":"jefferson-national-forest","km":39},{"slug":"gauley-river-national-recreation-area","km":71},{"slug":"bear-creek-national-scenic-area","km":80},{"slug":"mount-rogers-national-recreation-area","km":101},{"slug":"seng-mountain-national-scenic-area","km":108}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=blue"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.608Z","alerts":[],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/bluestone-national-scenic-river/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/bluestone-national-scenic-river.geojson"}