Not for the faint of heart, the suspended walking bridge at Nelson Rocks spans a 200-foot gap 150 feet above the ground. Anybody who is ready for this type of high adventure in The Mountain State can cross the bridge as part of a longer via ferrata tour.
The suspended bridge at Nelson Rocks is part of the Via Ferrata tour offered by NROCKS Outdoor Adventures.
A via ferrata is an Italian term for "iron path," which is a high altitude climbing path that has a steel cable in which climbers can tether themselves to for safety.
The suspended bridge on the tour is much the same, so there is no point on the bridge, or any other time, that you are not attached to a safety tether.
That's a good thing, too, since there is not much to this swinging bridge. It is essentially comprised of wooden slats and rope - and that's about it.
The bridge spans a gap between two stony crags 150 feet apart and 200 feet above the ground. It is not recommended you visit on a particularly windy day.
Once you reach the opposite side, a steel tether runs along a set of steel rungs embedded in the rock. They rise vertically along the stone face rising above you.
The crags themselves rise much higher than the actual bridge. They are two "razorback ridges," also called "fins," comprised of tuscarora sandstone.
Does this ridge remind you of Seneca Rocks? It should, because it is part of the same ridge line. Seneca Rocks is just a few miles away from Nelson Rocks. Also part of this ridge line is Champe Rocks and Judy Rocks.
NROCKS Outdoor Adventures is located at 141 Nelson Gap Road in Circleville.
The phone number is 877-435-4842.
For more information about the tours offered at NROCKS, visit their website here.
Have you taken the Via Ferrata tours at Nelson Rocks? Would you like to? Feel free to comment below and join the discussion.
To learn more about West Virginia, check out this mountain hike that will give you inspiring views of The Mountain State.
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