This West Virginia Town Hosts an Extreme Sports Event at One of the World’s Longest Bridges

Every October, 100,000 visitors descend on Fayetteville, West Virginia, a small town of less than 3,000, for a single-day event unlike anything else. Bridge Day, held annually on the third Saturday in October since 1980, transforms the soaring New River Gorge Bridge into the stage for one of the largest extreme sport gatherings anywhere—and one of the world’s few legal opportunities for BASE jumping.

For one day only, vehicle traffic halts on the 3,031-foot-long bridge and pedestrians stream across. From 876 feet above the New River, hundreds of BASE jumpers—named for leaping off Buildings, Antennas, Spans, and Earth—hurl themselves into the gorge, often landing in the river. Rappelers dangle from the steel arch, thrill-seekers race across a zip line, and spectators cheer as colorful parachutes drift overhead. Some even sign up for tandem BASE jumps, requiring no experience whatsoever.

“Everyone in BASE jumping wants to jump at New River Gorge,” says BASE jumper Chris Finck, who’s traveling to Fayetteville for his first Bridge Day this year. “I’m excited to show the world how safe BASE jumping can be.” Finck, who started skydiving in 2020, now has hundreds of dives, jumps, and wingsuit flights under his belt.

The New River Gorge Bridge’s height and location make it especially coveted among jumpers. “Height is your friend, as is no object close by. The longer you have to think and make sure nothing will go wrong, the better,” says Finck. At 876 feet tall, the bridge, a highlight of New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, nearly doubles the height of Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho—the only other legal BASE jumping site in the U.S.

Another unique aspect of Bridge Day? The event welcomes first-timers. Beginners must log at least 50 skydives or parachute jumps, and take a six-hour First Jump Course, while those wanting a deeper dive (pun intended) can opt for an intensive three-day course. Bridge Day provides an ideal first BASE jump environment for multiple reasons. The bridge’s height provides more recovery time from poor launches, allowing for seven to eight seconds of free fall versus three at Perrine. “It’s hard to describe free fall, but the closest way is if you’ve ever dreamt about falling or flying. It’s very similar,” Finck shares. “It’s a completely weightless moment, incredibly freeing.” Jumpers can also land in the water, where rescue boats await to retrieve them immediately. 

A Town Built for Adrenaline

For Fayetteville, Bridge Day isn’t just about BASE jumping; it’s a full-blown festival. Dozens of food vendors, artisans, and live performers line the bridge approaches on either side. Athletes rappel from or walk across the 24-inch-wide catwalk, while runners dash across in the annual 5K. The night before, Taste of Bridge Day showcases the region’s restaurants and food trucks while raising money for local charitable organizations. Into the Gorge tours take spectators to ground level, and whitewater rafting trips get them on the water, directly beneath the bridge.

“Imagine coming over that last rapid and looking up to see dozens of colorful parachutes floating down,” says Tom Wagner, general manager of Adventures on the Gorge, which offers rafting, zip lining, guided hikes, horseback riding, and lodging, from campsites to glamping tents to luxury cabins. “It’s spectacular—a perfect complement to the end of summer.”

And for many, simply standing on the massive span is thrilling enough. Completed in 1977, the New River Gorge Bridge is the longest single-arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere and the third-highest in the U.S. The setting is equally dramatic: the New River, ironically one of the world’s oldest, carves through Appalachian ridges blanketed in fall color.

The Enduring Allure of Bridge Day

About 400 jumpers participate annually, representing countries across the globe and making Bridge Day not only the oldest, but also the largest organized BASE jumping event in the world. Despite the sport’s reputation as dangerous, Bridge Day is tightly regulated, with multiple safety inspections.

“A lot of people in the BASE jumping world truly appreciate what [Fayetteville] and [the national] park are doing, giving us repeated access to this bridge,” says Finck. “Everyone comes with a safety mindset and wants to have a good time, build a community, and show what BASE jumping is all about.”

Finck also sees his role as an ambassador. He started posting videos on YouTube, where he quickly drew a large audience—he has more than one million subscribers, plus nearly two million on TikTok and 692,000 on Instagram. “People outside skydiving enjoyed it. People loved and thanked me for providing videos of things they’d never get to experience,” he shares. “It motivated me—not just to keep posting, but to keep getting after it.”

As Fayetteville braces for its annual surge of visitors on Oct. 18, 2025, the bridge will once again become both stage and grandstand, where pros, first-timers, and thousands of spectators gather to celebrate the thrill of extreme sports.