If you are interested in walking the span of the New River Gorge, this is the post for you! Bridge Walk, in Lansing, West Virginia, is the only company that offers tours of the New River Gorge Bridge catwalk.
Bridge Walk | New River Gorge National Park Bridge Walk – West Virginia
What to Expect
The New River Gorge catwalk is open for tours year-round. Visitors can reserve a tour of the catwalk 25 feet beneath the bridge. Visitors are told to expect to spend 2-3 hours on the tour. This includes gearing up and driving to the beginning of the tour trail.
Visitors should arrive for their tour about 10-15 minutes early to sign waivers and use the restroom before beginning. The Bridge Walk facility is located across the road from the New River Gorge National Park Visitors Center.
Visitors are encouraged to wear closed toe shoes and comfortable clothing on the tour. Temperatures may be up to 10 degrees cooler on the catwalk so dress accordingly. Cellphones and cameras are permitted on the catwalk. Backpacks, purses, and bags, however, are not permitted during the tour.
After signing waivers, visitors will meet their tour guide to gear up before loading the bus. The bus takes a short ride across the street to the New River Gorge National Park Visitors Center. From there, visitors unload and walk a short path down to the catwalk. Once at the catwalk, visitors are clipped into a steel cable system and walk single file under the bridge.
The New River Gorge Bridge catwalk is 0.6 miles long and is 856 feet above the gorge at its highest point. The catwalk is 24 inches wide and has handrails on the side.
Once visitors are clipped into the steel cable safety system on the catwalk, the tour begins! Visitors are physically on the catwalk for 1.5-2 hours during the tour.
Afterwards, visitors are shuttled from the opposite side of the catwalk, across the New River Gorge Bridge, and back to the Bridge Walk facility. Visitors then unload the bus and return their gear.
My Experience
I visited the New River Gorge Bridge catwalk in July of 2023 with my mother, brother, and his girlfriend. The day we went was rather rainy and foggy, but we still had a fun time. Leading our trip was a wonderful tour guide named Morgan. Throughout the trip, Morgan shared interesting historical facts about the building of the bridge and history of the area.
During our tour, it was raining rather hard, so much so, that the rain was coming in sideways under the bridge. Even then, the catwalk did not get slick as there are traction points on the metal. In the middle of the catwalk, we were given the opportunity to sit down and dangle our legs from the catwalk. Don’t worry, we remained safely attached to the cable system above during this.
Overall, the bridge walk catwalk was a fun experience with my family. Our tour guide, Morgan, was very knowledgeable about the area and history of the park and bridge. In the end the staff gave us great recommendations for local cuisine and shoppes. Although we wished we had better weather for our tour, we still had a lot of fun and will definitely visit again!
Sign up for your trip!
Visitors should book tours up to 2 weeks in advance during non-peak seasons, and up to a month in advance during peak seasons. Tours can be booked online at the Bridge Walk website.
The traditional bridge walk tour costs $75 before tax. Night tours are also offered for $60. Those visiting during bridge day each October can tour half of the catwalk while rappelers and base jumpers descend over 800 feet into the gorge below. Children 8 and up are permitted to tour the catwalk with an adult.
Ratings
Family Friendly: Yes, Children 8 and older can participate.
Solo Friendly: Yes
Female Friendly: Yes
Pet Friendly: No
Cell Friendly: Yes, make sure to keep a good grip while on the catwalk!
SEE WV 
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