History of Hawks NestMake Hawks Nest State Park part of your personalized Ansted itinerary using our Ansted online trip itinerary builder.
The name of this area comes from the osprey ("fish hawks") that once nested on the cliffs. Today, many hawks, turkey vultures, and black vultures are seen soaring above the canyon.
Hawks Nest Dam
The Hawks Nest Dam that can be seen below the Hawks Nest Overlook dates back to the 1930s. This dam was built to provide water for a hydroelectric plant in Alloy. The tunnel averages 30ft. in diameter, travels a distance of 3 miles through Gauley Mountain. Steel grating on the right side of the dam is the entrance. The dam is not park property and is off-limits to the public.
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Hawks Nest State Park reviews
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Lovely area to visit, though I chose a poor time to do so. Upon arrival at the tram visitor center there was a sign stating that the river had been lowered by 25' due to maintenance on the... more »
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We went on a road trip and happened to see this State Park on the map. We realized it wasn’t far off the route we were on and it so worth it! The scenery was spectacular and we were able to see the... more »
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A neat state park. There's honestly not much to it as far as hiking goes that we could tell. The bathrooms are plumbed in and in a cool circular building. The very short trail across the street from the bathrooms and gift shop had a beautiful view. The gift shop had souvenirs and local stuff like jam and honey. If I were back in the area I'd stop here again.
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A super amazing getaway on the New River! This place is a hidden little gem. I was super impressed with how clean everything was. The landscaping was immaculate! Everything was just perfect. I have never seen a state park maintained to such perfection. The staff was very friendly and helpful and the restaurant was delicious and such an amazing view! Ms. Sue and Rick down on the jet boat are both super nice and Rick tells some great stories and jokes on the tour. The trails range from easy wide paths good for the entire family to more technical single person wide hikes. I liked both. Check this place out, I can't wait to go back!
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