The New River is the only river the cuts through the ridge and valley province of the Appalachian mountains. Since the river existed prior to the uplift of the Appalachians, it created a 1,000 feet deep canyon bisecting the Appalachian chain. Look on thisThe New River is the only river the cuts through the ridge and valley province of the Appalachian mountains. Since the river existed prior to the uplift of the Appalachians, it created a 1,000 feet deep canyon bisecting the Appalachian chain. Look on this landform map and find the canyon in southcentral West Virginia. Interesting fact: rains that fall in northwestern North Carolina, the headwaters of the New, eventually flow into Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and into the Gulf of Mexico. The gorge exposes a few seams of coal and the now-extinct coal camp of Kaymor is along the New accessible via a long flight of stairs from mid-elevation between the valley floor and rim. Waterfalls can been seen across the gorge. The most thrilling moment was coming upon a mother bear and her 3 or so cubs around dust about 3/4 up the canyon near the abutments of the bridge. We stopped and looked at each for about 20 seconds separated by roughly 30 feet. She was snarfing the air, the dogs were fully alert, and the cubs quickly ran up a neighboring tree screeching in a worrisome way and the mother lumbered off down the canyon.