WV-20 · Princeton, Pipestem & Hinton

WV-20 from Princeton to Hinton and up the New River: the route rides north through Athens, past Pipestem Resort State Park and Bluestone Dam into the railroad town of Hinton, then follows New River Road north toward Sandstone Falls, turns back about a kilometer short of the boardwalk parking and returns to Hinton the same way. It's 45 miles. Expect coal and logging trucks on WV-20, and fuel in Princeton or Hinton.

WV-20 leaves Princeton and runs north through Athens and the farm country of Mercer and Summers counties, passing the entrance to Pipestem Resort State Park. Near Hinton it passes Bluestone Dam on the New River, finished for operation in 1949, and enters Hinton, a railroad town built along the river. Expect coal and logging trucks on WV-20, and fuel in Princeton or Hinton.

From Hinton the route follows New River Road north along the river toward Sandstone Falls, the largest falls on the New River, about 1,500 feet wide with drops of 10 to 25 feet. The trace turns back about a kilometer short of the boardwalk parking, where the road narrows to a single lane in places, and returns to Hinton the same way. If you want to walk out onto the falls, the last stretch is on your own, slowly and in single file. It's 45 miles in all.