What happens on Bridge Day each October?

BASE jumpers leap from the bridge

How did the bridge change travel across the gorge?

A 45-minute drive became about a minute

What is surprising about the New River?

It is one of the oldest rivers in the world

New River Gorge Quiz: Bridge Day and a National Park Since 2020

This New River Gorge quiz peers over the edge of West Virginia's deep canyon and its giant steel arch. Play an interactive set of 10 questions on the 2020 national park status, the bridge finished in 1977, its height above the river, Bridge Day and BASE jumpers, the state quarter, the ancient New River, whitewater rafting and rock climbing on Endless Wall.

Start New River Gorge Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

State
Which state is New River Gorge in?
Status
In which year did it become a national park and preserve?
Bridge
When was the New River Gorge Bridge completed?
Height
About how high is the bridge deck above the river?
Event
What happens on Bridge Day each October?
Time
How did the bridge change travel across the gorge?
Coin
Which coin shows the New River Gorge Bridge?
River
What is surprising about the New River?
Sport
Which water sport is the gorge famous for?
Climb
Which cliff line is popular with rock climbers?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which state is New River Gorge in?
Answer: West Virginia
It lies in the Appalachians.
Q2: In which year did it become a national park and preserve?
Answer: 2020
It had been a national river before.
Q3: When was the New River Gorge Bridge completed?
Answer: 1977
It is a steel arch bridge.
Q4: About how high is the bridge deck above the river?
Answer: About 876 feet
It is one of the highest vehicle bridges in the US.
Q5: What happens on Bridge Day each October?
Answer: BASE jumpers leap from the bridge
The road closes to traffic for the festival.
Q6: How did the bridge change travel across the gorge?
Answer: A 45-minute drive became about a minute
Before, roads wound down and up the gorge.
Q7: Which coin shows the New River Gorge Bridge?
Answer: West Virginia's state quarter
It was released in 2005.
Q8: What is surprising about the New River?
Answer: It is one of the oldest rivers in the world
Despite its name, it is ancient.
Q9: Which water sport is the gorge famous for?
Answer: Whitewater rafting
Rapids challenge rafters.
Q10: Which cliff line is popular with rock climbers?
Answer: Endless Wall
It has hundreds of routes.

Bridge Day, Rapids and an Ancient River

New River Gorge in West Virginia became a national park and preserve in 2020, after years as a protected national river. Despite its name, the New River is one of the oldest rivers in the world, carving a deep gorge through the Appalachian Mountains over millions of years.

The New River Gorge Bridge, completed in 1977, spans the canyon with a steel arch about 876 feet above the water. It shortened a winding 45-minute drive to about a minute and appears on West Virginia's 2005 state quarter. On Bridge Day each October, the road closes and BASE jumpers parachute from the deck.

The gorge is a playground for adventure. Rafters run powerful rapids on the lower New River, and climbers test hundreds of routes on the sandstone cliffs of Endless Wall. Old mining towns like Thurmond recall the coal boom that once filled the gorge with trains.

What This Quiz Teaches

Travel fans will enjoy these questions.

When it became a national park
How the bridge was built
What Bridge Day is
Why the river is special
Which sports draw visitors

Did You Know?

A catwalk tour lets visitors walk beneath the bridge deck.
The gorge is up to 1,000 feet deep in places.
Coal company towns once lined the river.
Fall colors make Bridge Day especially scenic.
The park has dozens of hiking trails.