The Spectacular View at Grandview

Grandview is not far from Beckley, West Virginia. I hadn't heard of it until recently although I have been to Hawk's Nest State Park which also overlooks the New River Gorge. Remembering that Hawk's Nest has spectacular views, I eagerly looked up Grandview and put it on my list of places to see.

Grandview used to be a West Virginia State Park but in 1990 it was adopted by the National Park Service as part of the New River Gorge National River. It is a day use area (no camping) featuring trails and spectacular views of the gorge.

This overlook is only a short walk from the Visitors Center. I was delighted to hear a train below us. It stopped at a small town in the gorge.

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Grandview's Tunnel Trail

This is my third post about Grandview in West Virginia. It's incredibly scenic!

A man at the main overlook recommended the Tunnel Trail, a short but interesting trail that goes from the overlook area to the ball field. From there you can see the parking lot and walk back to your car. The "tunnel" is apparently not open at present but there are passageways where you can walk between the rocks.

See the Park Service page on Grandview Trails.

Along the Turkey Spur Trail

This is another short trail at Grandview. It connects Turkey Spur Overlook with a viewing structure. Even from the parking lot you get a nice view.

See all my Grandview posts.

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Turkey Spur Overlook

New River Gorge, West Virginia

You can drive to this fine view of the gorge in Grandview. A Park Service sign provides a map and trail information. It also tells us that the "unique outcrop" called Turkey Spur may have been named for the turkey vultures which are abundant here.

Also abundant here are rhododendron bushes, which were blooming when we were here a week ago.

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Two Barns and a Mill

Page County, Virginia

Grandview Farm

We don't see many blue barns so I wanted to take a picture of this one. The very next day we went to an art gallery and saw an artist's statement saying he normally avoided painting red barns! Apparently he feels they are a cliché. Well, some folks say sunset pictures are a cliché too, but that doesn't stop most of use from taking their picture. If nothing else, we want to share their beauty with our friends. 

And so, without apology, my next barn is red. And white too. I like it! And for good measure, I'm posting a red mill. 

Willow Grove Mill is just outside the city of Luray. A Civil War Trails Marker tells us that it was burnt in 1864, as Union forces swept through the Shenandoah Valley burning crops and other resources that could be used to feed the Confederate Army. 

View from the Mill

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Cliff Over Turkey Spur Trail

In Grandview Park at New River Gorge National River, West Virginia

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Colors and Themes

These photos are from Grandview in West Virginia. We were in this beautiful park on a pretty morning, and I took more pictures than I can possibly post. Here I'm focusing on colors and linking to a few relevant memes, starting with a blue sky and Skywatch Friday.

Next we have some green plants growing through cracks between layers of rocks. We were on the Tunnel Trail, which would be a good place to have a geologist along to discuss the rock formations.

Thank you to the young lady for wearing a red shirt! Red never fails to brighten an image and draw the eye. Some photographers dress their children in red or carry a red jacket for their spouse to wear in photos. And red happens to be the theme that Mersad chose  for this week's My Town Shoot Out.

I don't know this person but she was taking a picture while I was taking a picture of her.

We saw a bright shiny motorcycle in the parking lot. It's orange paint qualifies it for a spot on Orange You Glad It's Friday.

I was pleased to see pink rhododendron blooming in the park. The plants are often tall enough that the flowers are at eye-level.  They always seemed a bit magical to me.

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