The New River Gorge National Park begins, in many ways, at the descent of these falls. South of here, the New River flows north, the river flows through bottom farm land and small towns. North of the Sandstone Falls the river carves a deep V shape valley through the boulders and mountains of the area. The New River dips and splashes over class 3, 4 and 5 rapids, along old coal mines and railroad towns and under the impressive high bridge near to the north end of the park.