🌉😱 850FT ABOVE New River Gorge National Park on Bridge Walk! | 51 Parks with the Newstates

Explore America's NEWEST National Park as we take you above, below and around the famous bridge of New River Gorge National Park. We'll walk under the bridge on a narrow catwalk 850 feet above the river and take you underground to learn about West Virginia's deep coal mining history.
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Resources and Links:
The Outpost (camping): outpostnrg.com/
Fayette Station Road Tour: www.nps.gov/neri/learn/photos...
Bridge Walk: bridgewalk.com/
Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine: beckley.org/coal-mine/
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00:00 Intro to New River Gorge National Park
01:00 Where we camped: The Outpost
01:25 Canyon Rim Visitor Center & Overlooks
02:32 Hiking the Long Point Trail (dog-friendly)
05:45 Driving Fayette Station Road (audio tour)
07:15 Sneak Peek of Bridge Walk!
10:08 Thurmond, WV
11:45 Bridge Walk (walking under New River Gorge Bridge)
15:55 Bridge Day
17:43 Thoughts on Bridge Walk
20:01 Grandview Area
22:44 Sandstone Falls Area
23:25 Delicious food in Beckley, WV
24:08 Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine (MUST DO!)
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We're Howard and Katelyn Newstate, full-time RVers and travelers exploring around the world since 2018. Whether jet setting or in our Winnebago RV, each week we take you along with us to discover the people, food and culture of every Newstate we explore.

[@NewstateNomads]

📺🏞 Full Playlist: 51 Parks in 52 Weeks! kzbin.info/aero/PL65WeD4x2qTgf6x_ImXLRDnm2WWweeOKb

[@TheOutpostatTheNewRiverGorge]

We didn't even know you guys were doing an episode here. So glad you guys came and love that we made your experience good too! Appreciate the words and look forward to having you back soon.

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks! The Outpost was a great location for exploring the park. Hope to return again in the future! 👍 - Howard

[@susanmartinriecks1843]

Another great video - thank you! You may be tired of this particular comment, but once again, I want to tell you how much I appreciate that you date when the video was made. It's really helpful for people like me who are trying to determine what a visit to the site would be like at a certain time of the year. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@NewstateNomads]

Susan, thanks so much and we agree! Date stamping can really help, particularly because many activities (and ranger programs) only operate during peak months or for a season. Have a great weekend! - Howard

[@sciwolf359]

Hello, I am Mimi, live with my ( who’s holder this acct) born into every coal mining family and lived lots years there off and on. I loved your video and think it was best of the travel utubers I watch. Thank you so much for presenting the area in such a beautiful fun and informative way. There are so many great and loving people in WV and you depicted that so nicely. Thank you so much for sharing this video. I hope good things alway come to you all days kind to you and you have many more joyous travels Mimi ❤

[@virginialemm864]

OH BOY! Are you guys ever brave to tackle that bridge! I am absolutely terrified of heights, I honestly think(I KNOW) it wouldn’t be an adventure for me. The view: YES. Traversing it: NO WAY! Oh to be thirty (or forty!)-something again…probably not even then. But, what a wonderful, interesting and well-thought-out video you’ve given. I love all your additions of your recommended things to def so, and those def not. You two are always so complete in your video and presentation, I so appreciate you and every one of your efforts to give your subscribers the best tour possible. Many, many loving thanks again, Virginia 🩷🥰🩷

[@calledtojourney]

What a FUN time you guys had!! Kudos to Katelyn for facing her fear and walking on that catwalk! You now have us wanting to go on that mine tour to see and hear Don ourselves!

[@barbaraalberts5716]

WOW Katelyn! You crossed that bridge walk in complete fear, but with a smile. I loved every minute of this video. Being from Pittsburgh, it’s kind of our back yard. I’ve crossed this bridge driving south to HHI hundreds of times. Now I’m sad that I missed all these wonderful adventures there. Maybe someday I’ll return and get to see them. The coal mine tour looks so GOOD! This could be my favorite tour that you’ve done. Keep up the great work!

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Scout is so well behaved - our Lab would have pulled me off that outcrop if there was a squirrel around. Katelyn - you are a trooper! I’m not real big on heights either, but this does look doable! I can’t imagine working in that mine 🥺 Awesome video as always!

[@CurieuxNomades]

Great video guys! And congrats to Katelyn for braving her fear of heights. 👏👏This park looks amazing! And it’s not too far away from our hometown. We added to our bucket lists. 🙌 Anne & Eric

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks, you two! Hope we cross paths this winter in Florida! 👍 - Howard

[@CurieuxNomades]

@@NewstateNomads We hope also 🙌

[@93Jubilee]

I love that Katelyn took him there, to that high bridge, despite her fears!

[@bigjimslade6250]

Who Dey 🐅. Another enjoyable video. Correction: this may be your best one ever! Howard you will have to bring Katelyn back for Bridge Day for a bungee jump 😮. Thurmond is on the route for the Amtrak Cardinal. We would always stop at Tamarac in Beckley but haven’t been to the exhibition coal mine there. The tour of the mine may very well be the best coal mine tour I’ve ever seen. Looking forward to watching Shenandoah next week.

[@NewstateNomads]

Who Dey, Big Jim (and how 'bout our Bengals today?!!), we're talking about coming back for Bridge Day! Glad you confirmed the Cardinal route, I was pretty sure it was the route that passes through Cincy. 👍 -Howard

[@bigjimslade6250]

The good thing about Bridge Day is that the fall foliage should be great since it’s held in early October. Our Bengals are on a roll even without Joe B., but we’ve got to win some divisional games. BTW, if you go back for Bridge Day, check out Breaks Interstate Park in SW VA & EKY.

[@kevinagullana742]

Giid VLOG - I camped in that area years ago when I went white water rafting!!! Come back in early summer and try white water rafting. 😁😁

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks, Kevin! We're definitely planning a return trip, loved the area! 👍 - Howard

[@jeffpowell8308]

We were there just a week before for bridge day. We did not stay at the outpost but we know Ross the owner. He is a great guy and a terrific host. You guys have to go to bridge day next year. It's amazing. They shut down the bridge and people BASE jump off and repel down from it. They also have a mile of vendors luminous the road leading up to the bridge. It's the largest event in West Virginia every year.

[@tja3495]

You two provide the best information about the National Parks, thanks so much. Gosh, I can't believe it but it has been over 30 years when I rafted New River, so I hope I to be able to go to the National Park very soon. And to have the park allow dogs is amazing! Happy Holidays!

[@carolynknisely2383]

Great job Kaitlyn.

[@shelleymcquillin7329]

Thanks for this very informative video!! You have inspired us to check this park out again. We had visited the New River Gorge area several times in our younger years to go white water rafting. Now we are going back to enjoy the hiking with our dogs. Thanks again!!

[@NewstateNomads]

Glad to hear it, Shelley! New River Gorge is surprisingly dog friendly on the trails, which is rare for NPs. Great to hear you'll be returning for more exploring! 👍 - Howard

[@shelleymcquillin7329]

@@NewstateNomads, Thanks again!!

[@juliefoelker3911]

I truly enjoy all your places and give us so much information but, this IS THE BEST ONE to meee!How many days were you in WV?

[@NewstateNomads]

Wow, Julie thanks so much! We filmed at the park for 3 days total I think. Great area, and lots more to see! 👍 -Howard

[@stephenhall5694]

Great video, thanks. One little correction for Doug the bridge walk guide. What he mentioned and got slightly wrong was the *acceleration* a person (or anything) would feel when jumping off of the bridge. The acceleration due to Earth’s gravity (darned pesky gravity) is 32 feet per second per second, or 32 feet per second squared. So if a person jumps off the bridge starting at a speed of zero (static object like a bridge), after one second of falling, (s)he will be moving at 32 feet per second; after 2 seconds, he will be moving toward the earth at 64 feet per second; after 3 seconds, he will be falling toward the earth at 96 feet per second; and so forth. For reference, 96 feet per second is about 65 miles per hour, so gravity can accelerate you about as quickly as a good race car can do on the ground. Moral of the story: don’t tell your buddy to hold your beer and then jump!

[@NewstateNomads]

Haha, oh I don't think we'll just be jumping off this bridge anytime soon. The Bridge Walk team invited us to next year's Bridge Day, and if we film from one of the platforms we have to wear a parachute (in case we accidentally fall). Jury is still out if we'll take them up on the offer... 😂 - Howard

[@ElaineDavis-dh9qk]

This was an awesome video!!! We have done a river rafting tour on this river!!! Beautiful but it was before it was a NP,, I can’t believe they walked under that bridge!!!

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks, Elaine! Rafting the New River must be quite an adventure. If you can do that, I'm sure you would enjoy the bridge walk! 👍 - Howard

[@davidalanmedia]

The bridge walk is amazing, I had a chance to do it about 5 years ago. Great video.

[@Victory1981]

Beautiful video! I’m glad Katelyn overcame her heights fear. That Don was a cool tour guide. I was at the NP in 2021 and was at the same place you’ll were at with the view of the bridge. I also hiked another trail there. I didn’t have much time because I was going somewhere else. When I was a kid on a summer trip back in 1991 with my parents, we stayed at a camping resort in Bluefield, and we woke up above the clouds with an incredible view. We went to Hinton to a Dairy Queen, and we saw a beautiful rainbow over the river. I think there might of been falls, too. But #Goodtimes

[@TerryAnnOnline]

Went there in the Spring. Beautiful.

[@NewstateNomads]

I can imagine, it's a gorgeous area. Thanks for watching! 👍 - Howard

[@meganbowman1686]

This is a great video! We've been here and even grew up kind of close by, but had no idea you could go under the bridge. Also, that coal mine tour looks absolutely amazing and so informative.

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks, Megan and it's a surprise to many about the BridgeWalk! Probably because it's hidden from view would be my guess. Have a great weekend! 👍 -Howard

[@pirizzle26]

we went here last year! so beautiful!! and we ended up with a puppy that someone was giving away in a Walmart parking lot near there.

[@David-jo4gt]

I am not walking under a bridge but I would love to go on the coal mine tour. Great video.

[@NoOverhead]

Don needs his own KZbin channel! Great video, guys!

[@toddramsay977]

I am with you, I don’t like heights either. I didn’t mind this catwalk. It felt safe to me, so, I didn’t have too much issue. I did break out into a sweat at first, but I got comfortable and had fun seeing the sights.

[@BackroadExploits]

Love seeing all the perspectives of the bridge and gorge. Katelyn is so brave to conquer her fear of heights. I share that fear but know when I've gone there, it is rewarding. I really didn't expect the section on the coal mine was going to be interesting but it was. Don was very entertaining and inquiring mines want to know, did you get his autograph? Excellent video as always. What a year it has been for the both of you. Thanks so much for bringing us along.

[@polskieszlaki-pl]

Wow 😳 bridge is amazing. Best wishes 🙂

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! 👍 - Howard

[@travelingcatphotos]

The bridge would have been super cool to me but Harry would have been doing that mine all by himself! LOL! Really cool guide tho! We both agreed the overlook had much better views than the first set of steps you went down too. Certainly looks like the views are the THING at that National Park!

[@NewstateNomads]

Haha, we all have our thing. Sounds like you're a house divided on underground? Glad you could enjoy the episode all the same! 👍 - Howard

[@travelingcatphotos]

@@NewstateNomads Yup, I'm claustrophobic but Harry loves that stuff. He can't wait to explore all the caves that the US has. But we both love bridges so that was super cool!

[@johneason6540]

Very amazing park and the coal mine tour is awesome. I think I will get there next year.

[@phyllischancey1114]

Our beautiful home state ❤. We have done the bridge walk several times! Great views and so many others amazing places to visit in WV.

[@karinjones4380]

One of your best national park videos! I really felt like I got to see the park from all angles, including up high!

[@Thesaltymedic36]

We were there before it was a NP. We did not do the walk but now I want to 😂. We drove over the old bridge and did the audio tour, it was very interesting. Maybe 🤔 we will go back this spring. Bridge days are crazy out there 😂 Sandstone falls was nice too. When we went the road was under construction and dirt. It was a mess.

[@mikenowak2360]

Welcome back . We are so excited. To see where 2024 takes you guys.

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks, Mike! Already have some pretty exciting plans for 2024, and we're glad you're along for the journey! 👍 - Howard

[@missdizziest]

Amazing video yet again, we all need a Don in our life too, what a fabulous bloke.... Hopefully one day we'll get to travel some of these amazing National Parks. 😊

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks so much! Don is an incredible guide, and we only shared a small part of his fantastic tour. Highly recommend! 👍 - Howard

[@daviscrt]

Great information video as always. Thanks Don

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks, Don! 👍 - Howard

[@brrrrrandon]

Thanks for this video! I went here on a Boy Scout trip in the mid 90s and I’ll always remember it! Glad to see Thurmond, WV still has 5 residents. When I went I took a picture of the sign that said “Welcome to Thurmond, WV. Population 8. (7 in the winter).” 😂

[@NewstateNomads]

Haha, 7 in the winter is hilarious, Brandon. Yeah, it's definitely worth another visit, particularly if you're good with heights and can handle the bridge walk! 👍 -Howard

[@timl8302]

Come back in September for the leaf color change. Oh, the Arrowhead Bike Farm diagonally from the Long Point parking lot. They have a small restaurant & Biergarten. There is Whitewater rafting & ziplines around Fayetteville to.

[@lulamarie6218]

This was such a great video. My family and I lived in the Cincinnati area, and I wish we had made it to New River Gorge. My daughter and I actually had a white water rafting trip planned there but it was completely rained out. I highly recommend the Big South Fork National River Recreation Area on the Kentucky/Tennessee border. There is a mining camp that you can visit that has ghost structures with recorded voices from people who live there. It is so fascinating the area also has hiking, canoeing and kayaking, as well as a really nice campground I think you all would really enjoy it.

[@iamfaithfullyhis]

Katelyn! 😮 Too high you brave girl!!!! No no no! 😂 Shelley🫣

[@codyinthecinema]

If you ever return, Endless Wall trail is another great option. This is one of those parks where all of the trails I've been to have been well maintained and interesting to hike.

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks, Cody! It was on our list, but with the cool temps we decided to just do one hike for this trip. Next time for sure! 👍 -Howard

[@rodneysleith9153]

Katelyn, I admire your bravery. Not sure I could do the bridge walk. Put me in a canoe or raft instead 🙂

[@karlamartins2761]

Thank you for this wonderful video. This park is beautiful! I love the bridge. Great job on the cat walk. The coal mine tour looked wonderful!

[@NewstateNomads]

Karla, thanks so much! We're definitely fans of this park and area. Can't wait to return and explore even more! 👍 - Howard

[@fleabrad]

What a fun thing to do! I would love to do that!

[@NewstateNomads]

It's a lot of fun! Very safe, amazing views. 👍 - Howard

[@gregspence2202]

Another awesome video. Have been there many times...whitewater rafting. Brad Paisley video is quite good. I believe he is from West Virginia. ❤❤

[@ericn906]

Great video of the bridge walk. My left hand made the final cut😂. Come on up to wisconsin and check out Door County sometime

[@tedwilliams1000]

So entertaining. Great job walking the catwalk!!!!❤

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks so much, Ted! Glad I conquered my fears. 👍☺ -Katelyn

[@phillipcraddock8248]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS,

[@karppadiem7014]

I had a really hard time even watching the beginning of this when you were hiking with Scout on the skinny outcrop. Don't think this one is for me. 😂 -Aimee

[@NewstateNomads]

Haha, I can see how that would be concerning 😂 and it was so windy out there!

[@penelopebartell840]

Informative! Thanks! The bridge tour was an out and back, right? They didn't shuttle you back to the starting point. Agree about the date time stamp comment. We can determine the day of the week from that, also helpful.

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks, Penelope! Actually, they DO shuttle you back to the start, so you don't have to go out and back (not sure Katelyn would have enjoyed that too much 😂). We also datestamp the video along with the location inside the KZbin system because sometimes we forget to actually put it on the screen, haha. 👍 -Howard

[@peggysuegiggles9383]

will have to check this one out. never heard to that park

[@53gregb]

Did they have any wind speed restrictions for the walking tour across the bridge? Seems scary enough on a nice calm day. I enjoy your content very much.

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks, Greg! Not sure about wind restrictions, but I would guess there has to be an upper limit where they might cancel tours. Glad you're along for the journey! 👍 - Howard

[@iamfaithfullyhis]

P. S. Merry Christmas! 🎄

[@93Jubilee]

Yet she took you there! Kaitlin is great!

[@NewstateNomads]

Haha thank you!! 🥰🙌

[@WildBlueWanderers]

I used to ride in the one in Portland Oregon year’s ago always a good time. I am not sure if they even do it up there anymore.

[@NewstateNomads]

Never heard about the one in Portland! Was it similar where you are clipped in and go under (or above) a bridge? Do you remember which bridge? - Howard

[@WildBlueWanderers]

I was actually typing this to another video, and the video switched while I was typing so it went to you instead. Lol.

[@Dr.Wander_N_Miles]

Was looking up national parks and you guys popped up. Videos seem real pro and something I've wanted to do with my own NP adventures. What video software do you use?

[@hawk5523]

Great video! Was this November/December?

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks so much! We were there Oct 31-Nov 3. Hope that helps 🙂 -Katelyn

[@phillipcraddock8248]

FREEDOM,

[@dawnie3029]

I’m not a fan of heights either. My palms were sweating watching this video! 😳 Not sure if I would attempt to cross the bridge.

[@NewstateNomads]

Whew 😅 it was tough for sure! It helped to have Doug reassuring me. So glad I did it but also so glad to be back on the ground 🙌❤️

[@Chrxssym]

Is it safe?