Everything you need to know about America's newest national park

New River Gorge in West Virginia is the 63rd U.S. national park.

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. -- With lockdowns closing businesses and athletic seasons getting canceled, Americans took to the outdoors in 2020 -- they walked, they ran and they picked up sports like golf and tennis. Many also visited public lands. A report from the Outdoor Foundation found more than 8 million more Americans went hiking in 2020 compared with 2019, a trend that's continued into 2021 with attendance at national parks reaching record numbers. The New River Gorge in West Virginia was named the country's 63rd National Park as part of the December COVID-19 relief bill, and although always well-known regionally, it's quickly become popular nationally. "We have seen an uptick this year since the designation," Park Superintendent Lizzie Watts told ABC News. "We hope that uptick is tied to two things: that COVID gave a lot of people the opportunity to learn how safe being outdoors are, and [also] encouraged families to take hikes and go outside where we can actually do things."