New River Gorge – Steel Arch Bridge – WV

Located on U.S. 19, just north of Fayetteville, WV and about thirty minutes from Beckley and 70 minutes East of Charleston. On the north side of the bridge, you’ll discover the Canyon Rim Visitor Center with impressive overlooks of the bridge. Spend some time and drive to Fayette Station Road and you will find some outstanding views from underneath the bridge.

The New River Gorge Bridge is near Fayetteville, WV. and is 3030 feet long. It is situated over 876 feet above the gorgeous New River Gorge in the scenic Appalachian Mountains. This steel arch bridge opened in 1977 and has a reported daily traffic of 16,200 vehicles. The arch is 1,700 feet long and is the world’s 4th longest single-span arch bridge. It is the third highest vehicular bridge in the United States. The New River Gorge Bridge is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

On the third Saturday, in October, Bridge Day is celebrated as a quarter of a million people gather to watch hundreds of thrill-seekers rappel and BASE jump into the gorge below. The bridge closes on this day, and West Virginia state tourism makes it clear that this is the only day that jumping from the bridge is permitted. Walks and weddings are performed on the bridge. Next time we go, I’m not sure we are up for Bridge Day, but the bridge walk sounds incredible!

New River Gorge, Steel Arch Bridge WV, Travel WV, RV Travel, Travel USA, Roadschool, Live Simply, Simply Living

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