View of the New River Gorge Bridge spanning high above the river, with dense autumn foliage covering the steep hillsides and reflecting in the water below. The steel arch structure dominates the scene, captured during Bridge Day 2023.

Down in the New River Gorge beneath the New River Gorge Bridge, surrounded by peak autumn color during Bridge Day 2023, where visitors gathered along the riverbanks to watch the festivities unfold.


Bridge Day at the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in Fayetteville, West Virginia, is a festival that encapsulates West Virginia's slogan 'Wild and Wonderful.' This spectacular event occurs annually on the third Saturday in October amidst the scenic Autumn backdrop of the New River Gorge and its iconic Bridge. Not only is it West Virginia's largest one-day festival, but it's the largest extreme sports event in the world. It pays tribute to the world's third-longest single-arch bridge—a marvel of engineering that spans 3,030 feet across the New River Gorge and is the longest of its type across the Western Hemisphere.


A high, aerial view of the New River Gorge in autumn, showing the steel arch of the New River Gorge Bridge crossing above a river lined with dense, multicolored foliage. The surrounding hillsides display a mix of red, orange, yellow, and green trees, with a road or rail line running along the riverbank and soft light breaking through scattered clouds.

From atop the 876‑foot‑high New River Gorge Bridge, the view opens to a sweeping autumn panorama of the New River Gorge, a perspective available only on Bridge Day when traffic pauses for BASE jumping and visitors are allowed to walk across the span.


At an imposing 876-foot above the New River, this towering bridge is closed to traffic for the day, and hundreds of food and craft merchants transform the roadway into a bustling marketplace. This extraordinary spectacle draws a staggering crowd of 100,000+ onlookers and takes pride in being the world's oldest and biggest organized BASE jumping extravaganza.


The thousands of spectators congregate in anticipation, their eyes trained on the daredevils preparing to plunge into the stunning canyon that sprawls majestically below.


A BASE jumper mid‑somersault after launching from the New River Gorge Bridge during Bridge Day, with autumn foliage covering the surrounding hillsides and spectators gathered below near two elevated platforms used for filming and event support.

A BASE jumper somersaults away from the 876‑foot‑high New River Gorge Bridge during Bridge Day, with spectators gathered below and autumn color filling the hillsides.





It is the only day of the year that BASE jumpers can legally leap off the bridge, and the not-so-daring have the unique opportunity to walk across it, taking in the awe-inspiring views over the side while watching the BASE jumpers fly into the gorge below. The event attracts roughly 400 adrenaline-fueled BASE jumpers

A BASE jumper in head‑down free fall above a forested gorge, with dense autumn foliage in shades of red, orange, yellow, and green filling the landscape below.

A BASE jumper drops into free fall during Bridge Day at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, framed against the steep hillsides covered in peak autumn color.

A BASE jumper in free fall above a bridge crowded with spectators, with two elevated platforms positioned below and autumn‑colored trees filling the background under a partly cloudy sky.

On Bridge Day 2023, a BASE jumper drops into free fall after leaping from the 876‑foot‑high New River Gorge Bridge, with spectators gathered on the span and elevated platforms positioned below against the backdrop of peak autumn color.





who journey from every corner of the United States and as far away as China. They create an unparalleled display of this extreme sport, with an astounding 800 jumps executed during the one-day event. That's an average of one BASE jumper taking flight every 30 seconds!

How it Began


Construction on the bridge started in 1974, and on October 22, 1977, the New River Gorge Bridge was completed, solving a significant transportation issue. The bridge replaced a lengthy 45-minute drive through treacherous mountain roads with a crossing that now takes less than a minute and dramatically improved accessibility.


The New River Gorge Bridge is surrounded by stunning fall foliage as people pack the bridge during the Bridge Day festivities.

The New River Gorge Bridge is surrounded by stunning fall foliage as people pack the bridge during the Bridge Day 2023 festivities.


The bridge, an architectural marvel and an engineering triumph, has become one of West Virginia's most photographed landmarks. It was chosen to represent the state on the U.S. Mint's commemorative quarter in 2006 and is featured on a United States postage stamp. It is a National Engineering Landmark and was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service in 2013 due to its historical importance. As recently as 2021, its contribution to making a gorgeous yet inaccessible wilderness area into a popular tourist destination led to the reclassification of New River Gorge National River to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.


The New River Gorge Bridge spanning a deep forested gorge, its rust‑colored steel arch rising above dense autumn foliage in shades of green, yellow, orange, and brown under a partly cloudy sky.

The New River Gorge Bridge ranks among the world’s most significant engineering achievements: the longest single‑arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere, the third longest single‑arch bridge globally, the second highest vehicle‑carrying bridge in the United States, the fifth highest vehicle‑carrying bridge in the world, the third highest bridge in the United States, and the thirteenth highest bridge worldwide.


 Bridge Facts:

It is the longest single-arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
The 3rd longest single-arch bridge in the world.
The 2nd highest vehicle-carrying bridge in the United States.
The 5th highest vehicle-carrying bridge in the world.
The 3rd highest bridge in the United States.
The 13th highest bridge in the world.

A parachute canopy with red, white, and blue panels floats above whitewater rapids in a rocky river gorge, surrounded by dense autumn foliage in shades of orange, yellow, and green.

A parachute canopy drifts above the rapids of the New River, its colors suspended over the whitewater as it moves through the rocky gorge framed by peak autumn foliage.





BASE jumping is an extreme sport in which individuals jump from fixed locations using parachutes to reach the ground safely. The acronym BASE comes from four kinds of fixed locations one might leap from: Buildings, Antenna towers, Spans such as bridges, and natural Earth formations like cliffs.

A parachutist descends beneath a blue and teal canopy against a partly cloudy sky, suspended by control lines with gear visible as the bright canopy contrasts with the shifting clouds.

A parachutist descends beneath a blue and teal canopy, suspended against a backdrop of shifting clouds as the bright colors of the parachute stand out in the sky.

A parachutist descends beneath a bright pink and purple canopy above a hillside covered in autumn foliage, with the jumper suspended by multiple lines against a cloudy sky.

A parachutist descends beneath a bright pink and purple canopy, floating above a hillside covered in autumn foliage as the vibrant colors of the parachute stand out against the cloudy sky.





In this sport, jumpers jump off a fixed location like the New River Gorge Bridge; they might choose to experience free fall before deploying their parachute, which reduces speed for a safe landing. Unlike other parachuting forms where multiple parachutes are used and jumps are made from higher altitudes, the danger increases significantly since BASE jumping is done from fixed structures at typically lower altitudes with only one parachute.

Parachutists with brightly colored canopies descend near a large steel arch bridge, drifting above a river that reflects the surrounding autumn foliage in the valley below.

Parachutists descend beneath brightly colored canopies near the New River Gorge Bridge, drifting above the river and autumn‑covered hillsides as multiple jumpers fan out across the valley during the annual Bridge Day event.


In 1978, Carl Boenish played a pivotal role in shaping modern BASE jumping by filming jumps from El Capitan using ram-air parachutes and the freefall tracking technique. Even though BASE jumps had occurred before this, the El Capitan event marked the inception of what is known as BASE jumping today. Post-1978, these filmed jumps were recreated not for publicity or film stunts but purely for recreation, significantly contributing to BASE jumping's growing popularity among parachutists.


Two parachutists descend beside a large steel arch bridge, one under a black canopy and the other under a red canopy, set against a bright blue sky with scattered clouds and the bridge’s truss structure visible behind them.

Two parachutists descend beside the steel arch of the New River Gorge Bridge, one under a black canopy and the other under a red canopy, set against a bright blue sky with scattered clouds as they drop toward the valley below.


It was clear that the timing could not have been more perfect. BASE jumping was in its infancy, with news reports of a few daredevils leaping off all sorts of iconic buildings and structures becoming commonplace. Naturally, it wouldn't be long before someone decided to make their mark by jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge.


That person was Burton Ervin. A Korean War Army veteran and West Virginia coal miner of 42 years, he took the unexpected leap into history on the night of August 17, 1979. Little did he know that his daring abet illegal parachute jump from the towering New River Gorge Bridge would pave the way for future thrill seekers.


A parachutist descends beneath a red, white, and blue canopy above a forested hillside, with autumn foliage below and a rail line running through the trees to the right.

A parachutist drifts beneath a red, white, and blue canopy above a forested hillside, descending toward a rail line that cuts through the autumn foliage in shades of green, yellow, orange, and brown.


The following year, 1980, witnessed the birth of Bridge Day. This annual tradition has grown into the beloved West Virginia event it is today.


Mr. Ervin, who passed away just two days before the 2017 Bridge Day, was posthumously honored as the "Father of Bridge Day" on July 16, 2022. A sign telling his story is now on display at the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce (310 W Oyler Ave, Oak Hill, WV), just a few miles from where he made parachuting history.


Since its inception, Fayette County has consistently transformed into a bustling hub for adventure enthusiasts, vendors, and interested tourists. The only deviations from this trend were observed in 2001, following the tragic events of 9/11, and the recent years of 2020-2021 due to the widespread impact of COVID-19. Nevertheless, this vibrant festival continues to attract many people who come together to revel in its festivities.


Two parachutists descend near a large steel bridge, one under a blue and red canopy and the other under a blue canopy, above a river and forested hillsides covered in autumn foliage beneath a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

Two parachutists descend beside the New River Gorge Bridge, their blue and blue‑and‑red canopies standing out against the bright sky as they drop toward the river framed by autumn foliage.

Into the Gorge


A BASE jumper runs along the riverbank beside a partially collapsed black canopy with a yellow stripe, trying to keep it out of the water as autumn foliage covers the surrounding hills.

A BASE jumper runs along the riverbank to keep his black‑and‑yellow canopy out of the water after landing beside the river, framed by autumn foliage on the surrounding hills.




The most popular spot for watching BASE jumpers is undoubtedly atop the bridge. Still, with some prior planning, one can descend into the gorge. To do so, you must buy Into the Gorge tickets from the Chamber office beforehand. Driving down into the gorge isn't allowed during the Bridge Day festival.



A BASE jumper descends toward a circular landing target beside a river, with his feet hovering a few feet above the marked bullseye as a dark purple canopy remains inflated overhead and autumn foliage fills the background.

A BASE jumper hovers just above the marked bullseye, his feet only a few feet from the target as he floats down under his canopy for a precise landing.


You can feel the thrill of the BASE jumpers in the gorge when they achieve an impeccable landing. However, some landings may involve water, while others might not be as successful.


A BASE jumper is suspended in a harness as the Bridge Day rescue team works to lower him safely from a tree, with ropes, crew members, and autumn foliage visible along the riverbank below a steel bridge.

A BASE jumper is assisted out of a tree by the Bridge Day rescue team after becoming tangled in the branches, with the crew working together along the riverbank beneath the bridge. Thankfully, he wasn’t injured.





Something to consider before you purchase those Into the Gorge tickets: Accidents can happen, and being down in the gorge may put you up close and personal to something you might prefer not to see—an important consideration as an extreme sports spectator. Into the Gorge is not for everyone.


Thankfully, this BASE jumper was not injured in this crash but it had the potential to be a serious accident.


A parachutist under a bright blue and turquoise canopy descends toward a riverbank lined with spectators, with autumn‑colored hills rising behind the scene and several rafts floating on the water below.

A BASE jumper under a blue and turquoise canopy descends toward the riverbank as spectators watch from shore and from rafts on the water, framed by rolling hills covered in autumn color.

Want More Adventure?


Bridge Day offers several exciting activities:


The Bridge Walk is perfect for the fearless with no qualms about heights. While it's open throughout the year, on Bridge Day, it provides a unique perspective of the BASE jumpers as you walk underneath the New River Gorge Bridge, treading along the narrow catwalk within its tresses.


The High Line activity is exclusive to Bridge Day and offers an exhilarating experience under the bridge. A trained professional will manage your speed and descent as you zip from under the bridge's catwalk, dropping approximately 700 feet from under the bridge to Fayette Station Road below.


A tandem pair descends under a bright blue canopy toward a riverbank, with autumn‑colored hills rising behind them and a small boat visible on the water below.

A tandem pair descends toward the river beneath a bright blue canopy during Bridge Day, framed by autumn‑colored hillsides as they approach the landing zone.


For extreme thrill-seekers, jumping off the bridge is an option, too! However, due to safety regulations for independent jumps, only experienced individuals can make this leap. But don't worry if you're not experienced but still keen on this daring feat - a professional can accompany you in a Bridge Day tandem jump!


A parachutist descends toward a riverbank backed by dense autumn foliage, while a second canopy drifts low over the water preparing to splash down, with a couple of rescue boats nearby ready to assist jumpers making water landings.

A parachutist drops toward the river against a backdrop of peak autumn color, while a second canopy drifts low over the water preparing to splash down, with rescue boats waiting nearby to assist jumpers making water landings.

Know Before You Go


For more information about Bridge Day, visit the Official Bridge Day website and GoGorge for a digital copy of the New River Gorge Visitors Guide.

Also, check out my other post about the New River Gorge area: 
From Boomtown to Ghost Town: The Rise and Fall of Thurmond, WV


Not every image makes it into my blog. If you enjoyed the photographs in this article, please check out my West Virginia Collection for more photos and information about the rest of the state, or visit my Image Gallery with over 4000 images of locations around the United States.


Framed photograph of the New River Gorge Bridge in autumn, displayed above a beige sofa in a cozy living room. The bridge spans a forested gorge filled with red, orange, and yellow foliage under a partly cloudy sky. The artwork is set in a wood frame with a light beige top mat and burnt‑orange bottom mat, complementing the warm tones of the room’s décor.

A framed photograph of the New River Gorge Bridge surrounded by vivid fall foliage, capturing the harmony of engineering and Appalachian landscape.


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