Guided New River Gorge Bridge Tours
Walk across the New River Gorge on the under structure of the World famous New River Gorge Arch Bridge!
New River Gorge visitors are now able to walk across the canyon on a 24-inch-wide catwalk, 851 feet above the river. The catwalk is an existing structure underneath the roadbed of the New River Gorge Bridge, which is the third highest vehicular bridge in North America and the third-highest single span arch bridge in the World.
Bridge Walk welcomes all eligible participants who are willing and able to walk 1.5 miles. Bridge Walk participants must be at least 48-inches tall, 10 years or older and have a waist size less than 52-inches.
November 2011 - January 2012 Schedule
Tours are available daily at 10 am, 1 pm, and 3:30 pm. Weekends tours may be scheduled 9 am through 3:30 pm. Tours are dependent on weather conditions (i.e., amount of snow, wind). Winter catwalk views are overwhelming and picturesque. Reservations are needed.
Dress appropriately for the weather! You will need:
- warm comfortable walking shoes
- hat
- gloves
- warm coat
- camera
Catwalk Tours Offered Daily
Catwalk tours are offered daily at just $69 per person. Bridge Walk is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and will also be closed the third Friday and Saturday in October due to Bridge Day weekend activities.
The tours are 2-3 hours in length. After checking in at our headquarters, Bridge Walk participants will be shuttled to the Canyon Rim Visitor's Center on the North side of the Bridge. A short path leads to the Bridge where visitors will enter the catwalk in the midst of the massive iron structure.
The catwalk is 24” wide with a substantial railing. Before beginning the tour, guests will be securely fastened onto a safety cable making it impossible to fall from the bridge during a Bridge Walk tour. Participants will walk the entire 3,030 foot length of the bridge and then ascend a trail to road level where they will be shuttled back to the Bridge Walk headquarters. Bridge tours move along at a leisurely pace and there is plenty of time to stop for photos, and to discuss features of the Bridge, Gorge and Park with your guide.
Natural Beauty meets a Feat of Engineering
The cliff walls of the New River Gorge soon drop away as walkers make their way across the Bridge. Views of the New River Gorge open to reveal continuous cliffs, creeks and waterfalls, and the ever-changing colors of the Gorge. 851 feet below lie Fayette Station Road and the New River, where you may witness whitewater rafters challenging Fayette Station Rapid, or a coal train laboring through the winding gorge.
It is amazing to walk on the actual structure of the Bridge. To be so close to the geometry of the iron beams that create the iconic arch and see it rise beneath your feet while traffic continues up and down Route 19 overhead is an incredible experience. Walking on this immense structure gives a sense of appreciation for the engineering skills that went into creating this iconic West Virginia structure.
Whether you are drawn to the amazing views of the natural wonders of the New River Gorge, or the engineering marvel of the Bridge itself, the New River Gorge Bridge is special to everyone for different reasons.
