Exploring the Endless Wall Trail to Diamond Point and Beyond

The Endless Wall Trail was voted the #1 National Park Trail by readers of USA Today (Endless Wall Trail). And for good reasons. Many stunning vistas of the New River Gorge line the trail. In this post I will highlight the best overlooks and other points of interest in a 2.6 mile loop trail of the Endless Wall.

Endless Wall from Diamond Point

Start at the Fern Creek Parking Area (GPS: Lat. 38.06298, Long. -81.05682) on the Lansing-Edmond Road (County Road 82) just 1.3 miles from its intersection with U.S. 19. The Endless Wall Trail begins by meandering on a flat, well graveled path through a lovely hemlock forest. After a half-mile, it crosses Fern Creek and begins a gradual ascent through a rhododendron thicket. As the trail tops the hill, the Fern Buttress Overlook takes off to the right at the 2/3 mile mark. The vistas are somewhat obscured by trees, but the viewpoint still gives you a sense of the depth of the gorge. On the right (north) side of Fern Buttress, paths zigzag to the top of a steel ladder bolted to a rock, which climbers use to reach the bottom of the Endless Wall cliff.
 

Fern Buttress Climbing Ladder

From the Fern Buttress continue hiking the cliff top trail and look for various paths to the right leading to the cliff edge. These paths lead to small bare rock outcrops with a view to the gorge. My favorite spot on this section of the trail is a spot I call the Idol Point Overlook (GPS: Lat. 38.05408, Long. -81.06075), which sits about 1000 feet east of Fern Buttress. Named by rock climbers, Idol Point is a stunning overhanging rock point at the top of the cliff. It sits mid-way between the Fern Buttress and Diamond Point. 

Idol Point: Endless Wall

Probably the best viewpoints on the Endless Wall trail are at Diamond Point, which is about 0.9 miles from the trailhead. Diamond Point juts out into the gorge and offers sweeping vistas upstream and downstream. It’s a “must-see” view of the New River Gorge. If you’ve packed a sandwich, it’s a great lunch stop, too. 

Diamond Point Overlook

Upon leaving Diamond Point, the trail gradually slopes downhill for about 30 yards. At the base of the downhill stretch look for a sign indicating climbers’ access. This side path leads to another steel ladder that descends into a narrow cleft in the rock. Called the “Honeymooner’s Ladder,” it’s another point at which climbers can access the bottom of the cliffs. If it looks scary, it is! Phyllis and I climbed this ladder once, and once was enough for us! Even if you’re not a climber, though, these Endless Wall ladders are worth a look. 

Honeymooner's Ladder

After the Honeymooner’s Ladder, the trail continues on the cliff top and rises gradually. There are still side trails to the edge of the gorge, but they are not as numerous as prior to Diamond Point. There is, however, one roomy outcrop at the 1.4 mile mark, which was called Falcon Point (GPS: Lat. 38.05634, Long, -81.05242). The Falcon Point trail is no longer marked by a sign, but it’s easily identified by two small pine trees growing together in the middle of the trail. It’s worth a short side trip and has great views upstream and downstream. 

View from Falcon Point

The cliff-side portion of the Endless Wall Trail ends at the 1.75 mile mark at the Miner’s Ladder. Before turning left to follow the trail over a ridge, continue straight ahead for a short stretch to a viewpoint overlooking the gorge. The view downstream is obscured by a rock outcrop with a small pine tree growing on top of it, but the view upstream is grand. While here, check out the climbers’ access ladder in the middle of a rock cleft. 

View from Miner's Ladder

The easiest way back to the starting point is to finish the remainder of the Endless Wall Trail, which wanders downhill through trees and rhododendron for a third of a mile to trailhead parking for the east end of the Endless Wall Trail. From the parking area turn left onto the Lansing Edmond Road; walk a half mile back to the Fern Creek Parking Area, and you’ll be back at the start. You’ll have hiked a loop of 2.6 miles and enjoyed some of the best scenery the New River Gorge has to offer.

Miner's Ladder