Photo courtesy of the New River Gorge Convention and Visitors Bureau A B.A.S.E. jumper parachutes from the New River Gorge Bridge during a past Bridge Day event. The annual celebration of the bridge is held the third Saturday in October, which is Oct. 21 this year.

At 3,030 feet in length and 876 feet high, the New River Gorge Bridge is the longest steel span in the western hemisphere and the third-highest vehicle-carrying bridge in North America. But being in a vehicle is hardly the only way to cross or experience it.

Bridge Walk offers daily tours on which people can traverse the structure of the bridge on a catwalk beneath the driving surface. It’s open year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas day and the third Friday and Saturday in October for Bridge Day activities.

On Bridge Day, Oct. 21 this year, traffic is shut down and folks can walk along the surface of the bridge. More than 1,000 people also take the opportunity to go off the bridge via B.A.S.E. (building, antenna, span and Earth) parachute jumping, rappelling and a high line that offers the general public the chance to zip 700 feet down from the beams of the bridge.

There are also a limited number of tandem B.A.S.E. jumps from the bridge. The price is $1,200, but this year, the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce is raffling one of them off for $20 a ticket (available by calling the New River Gorge Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-927-0263). The drawing will be held Sept. 15, and the proceeds go to charity.

Photo courtesy of the New River Gorge Convention and Visitors Bureau Visitors can cross the 3,030-foot length of the New River Gorge Bridge via a catwalk. The Bridge Walk is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and the third Friday and Saturday of October, to accommodate Bridge Day.

“They limit them to 16 a year, and they always sell out, so this year they gave us one to raffle off,” said Sharon Cruikshank, director of the CVB.

Returning this year for the B.A.S.E. jumpers is a catapult that launches them an additional 20 feet out from the bridge, she said.

The New River Gorge National River encompasses 53 miles of the river from Bluestone Dam to Hawks Nest Lake, along with 70,000 acres of land. Within the park, people can hike, climb, bike and more, including perhaps the region’s most popular activity, whitewater rafting.

Multiple outfitters offer rafting experiences for people of all ages and skill levels. Many also include other modes of transportation and recreation, including all-terrain vehicle and horseback riding.

“Most of them have opened zipline and tree top tours,” Cruikshank said.

Other ways to see the area include aerial excursions, jetboats and shuttle tours.

One of the newest additions is Hills to Hills Tours & Shuttles, Cruikshank said, which offers transportation for whitewater rafters as well as tours focusing on history and nature and a brewery and dinner tour.

The area around the gorge offers numerous other attractions, including museums, shopping, restaurants and more.

The area’s first escape room — Epic Escape Games –opened last year in Fayetteville, offering regionally themed escape scenarios.

Pinheads — which Cruikshank described as “kind of a new bowling alley on steroids” — debuted in nearby Oak Hill in 2015. It features 12 lanes, multiple high-definition televisions and designated cosmic bowling events for children and adults.

New coffee shops in the area include Cool Beans in Fayetteville and Top Knot Coffee Shop in Oak Hill. The latter features alpaca wool products in addition to coffee and espresso-style beverages, Cruikshank said.

A recent addition to the restaurant lineup is Smokey Rumps BBQ in Oak Hill.

“His business is located in a caboose which is … located on the White Oak Rail Trail,” Cruikshank said.

More information is available online at newrivergorgecvb.com.