New River Gorge Bridge Walk: The Ultimate Guide You Need

A trip to New River Gorge would not be complete without conquering the New River Gorge Bridge Walk! Spend a morning here walking under the 3,030-foot-long bridge. The bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the highest bridge east of the Mississippi.

Strap yourself into a harness and get ready for an exhilarating walk! This post is part of our 6-day itinerary at New River Gorge National Park. Read on for all the information you need on this exhilarating experience.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read our full disclosure for more information.

Need to Know Info

• You must secure paid reservations to complete the New River Gorge Bridge Walk. This is a very popular activity at New River Gorge, so get your reservations early here!
• This is the only way to experience the New River Bridge outside of Bridge Day in October. The New River Bridge is CLOSED to pedestrian traffic. Don’t even try it.
• There are size limits for those who want to complete the Bridge Walk. You have to be at least 48 inches tall, 8+ years of age, and have a waist size of less than 52 inches.
• The Bridge Walk will last about 2-3 hours with plenty of time to take pictures and learn about the history of the bridge.
• The Bridge Walk offers tours every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Additionally, there are usually a few dates in the warmer months that offer a night tour on the bridge.

Safety During the New River Gorge Bridge Walk

• You will want your phone/camera!
  • Check out this phone holder! – It’s something you will definitely want.
  • Cameras must be attached to you (neck strap).
• No food, drinks, gum, backpacks, purses, or tobacco are allowed.
• No spitting or throwing objects from the bridge is allowed.
• Secure all pockets! No loose items are allowed.
• Good shoes are required. No flip-flops! You’ll walk about 1-2 miles.
• It is impossible to fall from the bridge while wearing the provided harness. You will be required to sign a waiver before completing the New River Gorge Bridge Walk.

Meet at the Bridge Walk HQ

First, head to the Bridge Walk Headquarters just east of the bridge and the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes prior to your tour time. Don’t forget your cell phone holder at home!

If you have not already done so, check in with the staff and make sure everything is in order. If you have not yet signed your waiver, you will do so at this time.

Next, your tour guide will gather the group together, and you will begin to set up and put on the safety harness that you will wear for the duration of the New River Gorge Bridge Walk. The harness is tethered to the bridge the entire time you are walking, and we’ll talk more about that below.

🏡 Check out the options on VRBO and have an entire place to yourselves during your visit to New River Gorge.

Shuttle to the Starting Point

Second, your tour guide will give everyone one last chance to use the restrooms before heading out to get on the shuttle. Do this now, because you may not get another chance. The shuttle is a quick ride to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center.

Once you arrive, you will walk with the group along a short path that leads to the bridge, where you will enter the catwalk.

Take A Walk!

Get ready for an exhilarating walk on the 3rd-highest bridge in the United States! As you conquer the New River Gorge Bridge Walk and your fear of heights, your tour guide will provide plenty of time to stop and take pictures.

As you continue, you will learn about the history of the bridge. The most interesting fact was that to inspect the bridge for holes or structural issues, a maintenance worker crawls inside the steel beams, where it is pitch black! The only way to see holes is to find any light that is coming through from outside. What a job that would be.

➡️ Read next: Babcock State Park Hiking: How to Visit for 1 Day

When you reach the midpoint of the catwalk, be sure to look down the catwalk from where you came, as you will be slightly higher than where you started. At the midpoint, your tour guide will give you the option to sit down on the bridge. This might seem scary, but the harness will stay attached above, and you are completely safe.

As you take a break at the midpoint, listen for the cars up above as they travel over the bridge. Vehicles are traveling at highway speeds, which is why pedestrian access is not permitted above.

Finally, continue your trek with your tour guide to the other side of the bridge. You might encounter other tour groups along the way as well. As you continue to walk, be sure to look down (if you can stomach it) and see if you can find some white water rafters on the New River.

One last interesting fact is that once the bridge was completed, a 40-minute drive to the other side of the river was decreased to just a few minutes!

Shuttle Back

Lastly, when your New River Gorge Bridge Walk is complete, a shuttle will pick you up from the ending point and take you back to BridgeWalk Headquarters. Check out the store inside for some last-minute souvenirs, and don’t forget to tip your tour guide.

What If I’m Afraid of Heights?

We totally get it! We are not necessarily afraid of heights unless something is majorly exposed with no safety gear or preventative measures in place. The New River Gorge Bridge is very high, but we always felt safe. First off, there is a hand railing spanning the entire length of the catwalk.

Second, you are tethered to the bridge by the longest continuous safety cable system in the U.S. (or so they told us on the tour!) This means that once you are hooked into your harness at the start of the tour and connected to the safety cable system, you are attached to the bridge the entire time until you reach the other end.

You will never be disconnected from this cable system and therefore, completely safe! At no point will you need to unhook and reattach yourself. That being said, sometimes your tether sort of sticks where the cables are attached above, but your guide will help you adjust, and you’ll be on your way.

Can You Walk Across the New River Gorge Bridge?

Absolutely not! The New River Gorge Bridge is strictly for pedestrian traffic only. The bridge is part of a major highway, and traffic is moving at a high rate of speed. Do not attempt to cross the New River Gorge Bridge on foot.

Where to Stay When Visiting New River Gorge National Park

🛏️ Book your stay in nearby Fayetteville, WV. This is a perfect location to use as your home base while exploring New River Gorge National Park.

• Our top pick is to have a place of your own through VRBO. Pick a place right near Fayetteville and enjoy what this cute town has to offer. Check out the options on VRBO!
• Quality Inn New River – run of the mill chain hotel offering free breakfast & a best seller. Outdoor pool on site. Check it out on Expedia or Booking.com.
• The Historic Morris Harvey House Bed and Breakfast – breakfast included! Built in 1902, this 3-story Queen Anne-style inn features five themed guest suites, historic charm, an on-site speakeasy, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Cantrell Ultimate Rafting – Walking distance to the village of Fayetteville and five minutes from the New River Gorge Bridge. They do offer cabins and bungalows for you non-campers out there.

Final Thoughts

The New River Gorge Bridge Walk is 100% worth the experience and cost! There aren’t many opportunities to experience such heights on a small, narrow catwalk under a massive bridge with spectacular views.

If you have any fear of heights, the Bridge Walk might not be for you, but just know that it is completely safe, and your harness and wiring are NEVER unhooked during the walk across the bridge. It is one of the longest spans of continuous wiring ever produced. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you should not pass up!

🛏️ If you are still looking for lodging near Fayetteville, check out the options on VRBO. This is the way to do – trust us on that one!