Location: Hico
Top Things to do in Hico
- 1. New & Gauley River Adventures
- 2. Horseshoe Creek Riding Stable
- 3. Cantrell Ultimate Rafting - Day Tours
- 4. Hawks Nest State Park
- 5. Babcock State Park
- 6. Nuttallburg Mine Site
- 7. Adventures on the Gorge
- 8. Bridge Walk- New River Gorge Bridge
- 9. River Expeditions Whitewater Rafting
- 10. New River Jet Boats
10 Things to Do in Hico That You Shouldn't Miss
Hico is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. Hico is located at the junction of U.S. Route 19 and U.S. Route 60 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Fayetteville. Hico has a post office with ZIP code 25854. As of the 2010 census, its population was 272.
Restaurants in Hico
1. New & Gauley River Adventures
Overall Ratings
5 based on 219 reviews
Small Company. Big Adventure.
Reviewed By Matthew R
Fantastic experience. Laid back but very competent guides. Two on site bars with craft beer. Free PBR on the return drive after rafting. Best for adults, couples, groups of friends who can appreciate a social night life. A truck or SUV is best if you plan to camp in the wooded area. Some cars with low clearance will drag on the road through that area. We did the reverse gauley two day trip. It was a $200 per person saving compared to other outfitters so this company is very affordable. Hoagie was our guide for both days of rafting and has a very relaxed guiding style. He also has a well developed knowledge of local civil battles, especially battles led by General J. Jameson.
2. Horseshoe Creek Riding Stable
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By Lisa L
My husband and I centered a weekend birthday trip around this hourseback ride. Great. Family owned and operated, the stable is far into the country. When I booked the trip I was told they only accept cash, to bring a bag lunch, and to be good to our guide. We were 5 minutes late to the meeting location and panicked. We could not find them, and the Exxon station where we were supposed to meet did not know anything. I called the stable and was informed that they were running very late because someone had left a gate open the night before (later implied probably ATVers) and all of their horses had gotten out during the night. (Later learned they have 60-80 mountain side acres and about 26 horses). Our start time was 1:00 and they said they were still herding the horses back to the stable. If we could spend some time at the New River Gorge bridge or similar nearby tourist thing for an hour or so, they would call me back when they had the horses back and everything ready. Two hours later our adventure finally started, but it was well worth the wait. I had never seen such clean horses. Obviously healthy and loved. Our guide was a really nice older gentleman, Bob, a war veteran and true cowboy. He told us he had the best job in the world. Riding 6-8 hours a day and taking care of the horses.
We paid for a four hour private ride. And it was great. We went on the side of the road to a dirt road/rail trail. At one point we went into a stream to let the horses drink, then crossed over and back. The cool water is good on their hooves, he said. He gave us good advise to get the well trained, doscile horses to do as we wished - we had to let them know who was boss. At several points we went down and then up a very steep part of the trail down to the bottom of the gorge and to an old abandoned train tunnel. Could tell the horses were well taken care of, the way they hauled us (not exactly light) up the steep rocky trail. On the way back we stopped at a pretty, peaceful waterfall for a while to have a snack (we had eaten our lunch before even getting to the stable). Our guide was very respectful and knowledgeable about the horses. It was a beautiful day, and being in the shade the majority of the ride I didn't realize how hot the sun had become. We got back to the stable around 7:00, tired, but very happy with the experience.
3. Cantrell Ultimate Rafting - Day Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 249 reviews
Cantrell Ultimate Rafting is a family owned and operated West Virginia company situated near the village of Fayetteville and the village of Hinton and the best whitewater rafting on the east coast. Cantrell guides are some of the finest in the industry and the customer service is the best! We will give you the highest quality trip possible, not the highest price – this is our guarantee! We have 2 locations in the New River Gorge Region. Out of Fayetteville, WV you can come and visit us at our Gatewood River Access basecamp we have cabins with private hot tubs, rustic cabins, R.V. camping with full hook-ups, bathhouse and onsite laundry facilities and our popular 35th Star Grill & Pub where you can enjoy some of the best entertainment in the region every weekend. Our trips out of this location range from mild to wild whitewater, so if your group is mixed this would be the best destination for you. This location is also perfect for accessing beginner to advanced hiking and biking trails; gravity ziplines to tree-top canopy tours; ATV adventures and a new area attraction - BridgeWalk. From our Hinton location we offer a nice mild family trip that is just right for beginners and gives you a small taste of white water. This location is close to Bluestone State Park and Pipestem Resort State Park.
Reviewed By kschultz71
I selected Cantrell based on It's TripAdvisor reviews, and I'm so glad I did. I had only rafted once before, many many years ago, so I would call myself a beginner. Our guide Eddie made us feel very comfortable, and his 28 years of experience was evident in his expertise and confidence on the river. Every member of the staff that we had the pleasure to meet was super friendly and helpful. Our ride down the river was a blast and I look forward to doing it again, definitely with Cantrell.
4. Hawks Nest State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 166 reviews
Reviewed By Pamela N
My sister and her husband were in for a family reunion from Colorado. I drove them to Hawks Nest and we had a great time walking around and looking at all the beauty there. If you have the chance to stop there and walk or hike you won't regret it. I will be back this fall for the foliage.
5. Babcock State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 147 reviews
A state park known for its dark and enchanting forests.
Reviewed By grasswidow85 - Crawfordsville, IN
Fun drive to get to the park. Mill setting is beautiful. Drive around the park and stop at the overlooks. Beautiful views of the valley.
6. Nuttallburg Mine Site
Overall Ratings
4 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Skeney57 - Sydney, Australia
Followed what appeared to be the narrowest road in WV & met no one else bar a work party assessing the flood damage ! Had the whole site to ourselves & loved every minute ! That Henry Ford had some smarts , as did the original mine operator and this place produced a lot of Coal in its day. You use your imagination for some of the relics but there is still still some great relics of the time. Not too sure how busy it could get but well worth the small effort to get there !
7. Adventures on the Gorge
Overall Ratings
5 based on 600 reviews
A world-class adventure resort located on the rim of the New River Gorge in West Virginia-offering activities, lodging, and dining.
Reviewed By Sleeper2012 - Happy, Texas
Did the Lower Gauley River rafting. Had the Beast time. The class 5 and 4 rapids are wonderful. The guides really know their way through them to make the trip exciting. The Lunch was a Big surprise for the quality of the food and different items. I going to do the Upper Gauley River my next trip.
8. Bridge Walk- New River Gorge Bridge
Overall Ratings
5 based on 171 reviews
Reviewed By Mike K - Huntington, West Virginia
Absolutely one of the most unique attractions in the world. An easy walk UNDER the New River Gorge Bridge.
The guide offers insight into construction and the continued
Maintenance of structure.
At it highest point, guests are allowed to sit and dangle feet over the gorge.
An event you will talk about for a long time!
9. River Expeditions Whitewater Rafting
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 202 reviews
Join us as we celebrate 50-years of rafting in West Virginia! You're invited to explore, paddle, soar, connect and share the joy of adventure. Discover the charm and history of the New River Gorge, as well as its vibrant, dynamic spirit and rugged beauty. River Expeditions is the area's only family-owned adventure outfitter. Guests come first because we don’t answer to shareholders and we believe size should never outrank service. Find the best value for your vacation and feel confident about your travel decision, whether you stay a week, a weekend or just an afternoon. We never miss an opportunity to "wow" you! Stay on site at our beautiful basecamp with cabins, campground, RV park, outdoor pool, saloon, restaurant, zipline, lodge, complimentary Wi-Fi and a host of other amazing amenities. Let our talented, energetic staff sharing their passion for adventure and host your next vacation. You'll enjoy your visit - and especially the memories you create. #almostheaven
Reviewed By jdcBoston_Ma - boston, ma
I went with my son for a father son outing and it was fantastic. Staff is amazingly helpful, facilities rustic but good, and the cost is very fair! We are going back for a longer visit next fall!
This is a great way to "hang" with family, have fun, and be treated very well.
10. New River Jet Boats
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By dmwnc1959 - Clarksburg, West Virginia
Make sure to call ahead to check that days' scheduled departures. There was a small group of kids with their parents that got there just before 11am (when the ticket booth opened) and had apparently pre-arranged their tickets and jet-boat tour. Since they occupied the first jet-boat departure of the day (as well as the first four gondolas), the next jet-boat @ 11:45am was the first one available to the general public. The descent to the bottom takes about three minutes, and the side windows of the tram gondola are best for taking your pictures from as the rest of the plexiglass is scratched and faded.
There's a very small gift shop and nature display. You're instructed to wait at the head of the pier prior to going down as a collective, and only after an instruction on life-jacket use.
The ride itself was fun - the 'captain' cracking jokes and treating us to his dry and witty sense of humor - and starts off by going under the railroad trestle to the dam area, then backtracks before heading to the New River Gorge Bridge area. The total r/t ride was about 35 minutes, with about five minutes spent idling in the rapids a distance from the bridge. The jet-boat seats approximately fifteen people. Best seat in the house in my opinion was on the back row, left-hand side of the boat.
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