5 Ways to Take in the Fall Foliage From Above in the New River Gorge

Fall in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is beautiful from every angle. But if you’re looking for a view like no other, take your leaf-peeping adventure to new heights! From walking across the New River Gorge Bridge to soaring through the sky, here are five ways to experience the fall foliage from above. 

Attend West Virginia’s Most Exciting Event

Bridge Day is West Virginia’s largest single-day festival and the only day of the year when pedestrians are allowed on the New River Gorge Bridge! This annual event takes place on the third Saturday of October, coinciding with the area’s peak foliage. 

The fall views provide the perfect backdrop, 876 feet above the Gorge, as professionals BASE jump and rappel from the span. The bridge itself is the longest single-arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere, stretching 3,030 feet across the Gorge.  

In addition to fall foliage and extreme sports, Bridge Day features 200 vendors selling everything from handcrafted art to delicious food, as well as signature events like the Taste of Bridge Day, the Bridge Day 5K and the Bridge Day Chili Cook-Off. Check the Bridge Day website for schedules, shuttles and festival details. 

Take A Bridge Walk Tour

If you’ve already checked walking across the New River Gorge Bridge off your list during Bridge Day, add a walk on the catwalk directly beneath it! Get a new perspective of the Gorge in all its fall glory on a Bridge Walk tour. This guided experience takes you across the 24-inch-wide catwalk beneath the bridge, stretching its full length and standing 850 feet above the New River. 

The tour is made even better by professional guides who share the area’s history and fun facts about the bridge’s construction along the way.

Zipline Through the Colorful Canopy

For a little more speed, soar through the brightly colored canopy on a guided zipline trip! Feel the crisp fall air as you glide along ziplines through dense, golden treetops, or test your balance on a ropes course with aerial obstacles. ACE Adventure Resort, Adventures on the Gorge and River Expeditions all offer aerial courses. 

Climb the Sandstone Cliffs

Climbing is a popular year-round activity in the Gorge, but the views from atop our sandstone cliffs during autumn are especially beautiful. With sandstone cliffs reaching up to 120 feet high and more than 3,000 established climbing routes spanning 60 miles of cliffline, the Gorge is the place to go for climbing. 

While many routes are geared toward avid climbers, newcomers can still participate in this fun sport! Local guiding companies offer beginner-friendly trips with professional instruction, equipment and support tailored to each participant’s skill level.

Fly Over the Gorge

For an experience you’ll never forget, take a biplane ride in a fully restored World War II Stearman biplane over the Gorge! Wild Blue Adventure Company offers flights over the New River Gorge, including the New River, Endless Wall and Hawks Nest State Park and Dam, as well as Summersville Lake and Kanawha Falls. Book the one-hour flight to experience it all. For an added rush, add aerobatic maneuvers to your flight! 

Make It A Full Getaway

End your fall leaf-peeping adventure with a cozy stay. Choose from cabins tucked into the woods, campgrounds beneath star-lit skies or convenient hotels and inns close to all the fun. 

Request a free travel guide to start planning your fall getaway to the New River Gorge.