• New River flowing through the gorge

    New River Gorge

    National River West Virginia

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New River Gorge Bridge

New River Gorge Bridge
 

When the New River Gorge Bridge was completed on October 22, 1977, a travel challenge was solved. The bridge reduced a 40-minute drive down narrow mountain roads and across one of North America's oldest rivers to less than a minute. When it comes to road construction, mountains do pose a challenge. In the case of the New River Gorge Bridge, challenge was transformed into a work of structural art - the longest steel span in the western hemisphere and the second highest in the United States.

On the third Saturday of October, the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce hosts "Bridge Day," the only day that visitors may walk across the bridge. The event lures hundreds of parachutists, cheered on by thousands of spectators, to float the 876-foot drop to the river below. For more information, visit the Official Bridgeday website

The New River Gorge Bridge is one of the most photographed places in West Virginia. The bridge was chosen to represent the state on the commemorative quarter released by the U.S. Mint in 2006.

New River Gorge Bridge brochure.

 
bridge with fog

Directions
The New River Gorge Bridge is located on U. S. Route 19, just north of Fayetteville, WV. It is easily reached from Interstates 64, 77, & 79 and from U. S. Route 60 (Midland Trail). It is approximately 30 minutes north of Beckley, 70 minutes east of Charleston, and 70 minutes south of Interstate 79.

For years crossing the New River gorge meant long detours, or carefully winding your way down narrow mountain roads. It was not until the completion of the New River Gorge Bridge on October 22, 1977, that this travel problem was solved. However, the solution was not an easy one. Many technical problems had to be overcome. The bridge reduced a 40-minute drive down narrow mountain roads and across one of America's oldest rivers to less than one minute.

On the third Saturday in October, the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce hosts "Bridge Day." On this one day a year, the New River Gorge Bridge is open to pedestrians, where a variety of activities draw up to a quarter of a million people. Great views, organized walks, parachuting and rappelling demonstrations, music, and a variety of vendors are all part of the Bridge Day events.



 
BASE jumper landing in river

Bridge Day: Learn more about this yearly event held the third Saturday of October.

Did You Know?

Historic Logging Railroad at Garden Ground

The New River Gorge was logged extensively thoughout the past century. The landscape is now recovering, with the park ecosystem returning to its more natural state, but there are still plenty of signs of the past activities.