FAYETTEVILLE EVENTS FIELD GUIDE
Riding the High Line: 600–700 Feet of Bridge‑Day Adrenaline Over the New River Gorge
On Bridge Day in Fayetteville you can join the Bridge Day High Line to glide from the New River Gorge Bridge’s catwalk to State Route 82—a limited, harnessed descent that drops roughly 300 vertical feet.
Riding the High Line: 600–700 Feet of Bridge‑Day Adrenaline Over the New River Gorge.
Bridge Day is West Virginia’s largest one‑day festival, the only day visitors may walk across the New River Gorge Bridge and a rare moment to watch BASE jumpers and rappellers from the span. As part of the celebration the Bridge Day High Line offers the public a controlled, belayer‑managed glide of 600–700 feet from the bridge’s catwalk to State Route 82—an opportunity that requires prior registration and strict participant limits.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Bridge Day: West Virginia’s Largest One‑Day Festival
Held to commemorate the New River Gorge Bridge’s completion, Bridge Day draws vendors to both ends of the span and is the only day the public may walk across the bridge. It’s a concentrated, one‑day spectacle of jumpers, rappellers and craft stalls that frames the High Line experience.
A Controlled 600–700‑Foot Glide
The Bridge Day High Line lets registered riders slide from the bridge catwalk toward State Route 82 for a 600–700‑foot run that includes about a 300‑foot vertical drop; riders’ speeds are controlled by a belayer and spaces are strictly limited.
New River Gorge Bridge: Monumental Launch Point
The New River Gorge Bridge is a commanding steel arch with a 1,700‑foot main span; at 876 feet above the New River it ranks among the highest bridges in the United States and in the world—making it a spectacular, exposed launch point for the High Line.
What the day feels like
What It Feels Like
The High Line compresses festival spectacle and focused adrenaline into a single, belayed run: you step onto the bridge catwalk among the Bridge Day crowd, clip in, and glide out over the gorge—controlled, exposed, and brief enough that the memory is immediate and intense.
THE FESTIVAL
Bridge Day: West Virginia’s Largest One‑Day Festival
Held to commemorate the New River Gorge Bridge’s completion, Bridge Day draws vendors to both ends of the span and is the only day the public may walk across the bridge. It’s a concentrated, one‑day spectacle of jumpers, rappellers and craft stalls that frames the High Line experience.
THE HIGH LINE
A Controlled 600–700‑Foot Glide
The Bridge Day High Line lets registered riders slide from the bridge catwalk toward State Route 82 for a 600–700‑foot run that includes about a 300‑foot vertical drop; riders’ speeds are controlled by a belayer and spaces are strictly limited.
THE BRIDGE
New River Gorge Bridge: Monumental Launch Point
The New River Gorge Bridge is a commanding steel arch with a 1,700‑foot main span; at 876 feet above the New River it ranks among the highest bridges in the United States and in the world—making it a spectacular, exposed launch point for the High Line.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who should—and shouldn’t—consider the High Line.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Bridge Day is held on the third Saturday in October to commemorate the bridge’s 1977 completion; the festival’s modern history dates to the first official Bridge Day in 1980.
Be prepared to fit the operator’s harness; participation requires that you weigh 260 pounds or less and be able to be correctly fitted into the harness.
The High Line launches from the New River Gorge Bridge catwalk and finishes at a landing near State Route 82; operations are integrated into the Bridge Day festival footprint at the bridge.
Individual High Line registration is $198.00 plus taxes; spaces are limited, reservations are first come, first serve, and payment is required at registration with no refunds.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
When is Bridge Day held?
Bridge Day takes place on the third Saturday in October.
How much does an individual High Line registration cost?
Individual registration is $198.00 plus taxes.
Are there refunds if I cancel?
No—payment is required at the time of registration and there are no refunds for any reason.
Are there weight or harness requirements to participate?
Yes—participants must weigh 260 pounds or less and be able to fit in a harness.
Are spaces for the High Line guaranteed?
No—there are limited spaces, registration is first come, first serve, and registration can be closed at a moment’s notice.