It may be July, but it’s never too soon to start thinking about and planning for Gauley Season. West Virginia’s largest adventure resort and rafting outfitter – Adventures on the Gorge (AOTG)– will again be ready with guided rafts, cabins, campsites, tents, meals and more.
Every September and October West Virginia’s Gauley River features the world’s best whitewater when Summersville Dam is drawn down at 2,800 cubic feet per second (cfs) to create more than 50 named rapids – including several Class V – in 26 miles.
“The Gauley is thoroughly exciting and on the ‘To Do’ list of just about everybody who loves whitewater rafting,” Roger Wilson, CEO of Adventures on the Gorge, said. “And we are looking forward to seeing our many friends who return year after year as well as those first timers.”
Gauley Season refers to the magical time when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases water each fall from the lake in order to control for potential flooding. Because these releases occur during the day on weekends, rafters and rafting outfitters know exact timing and water levels of their whitewater excursions. Release dates this year are September 6-9, 12-16, 20-23, 27-30 and October 4-6, 12-13 and 19-20.
Gauley rafting is typically classified in two sections – the Upper and Lower. The Upper Gauley starts just below Summersville Dam and drops more than 335 feet in fewer than 13 miles, creating the most intense whitewater on the river and one of the most challenging whitewater experiences in the world. The 12-mile Lower Gauley is slightly less intense, but still extremely challenging.
The end of Gauley Season coincides with Bridge Day when the New River Gorge Bridge is closed so that more than 400 BASE (Building, Antenna, Span and Earth) jumpers can jump, dive and catapult off the bridge while up to 200,000 people watch.
Gauley Season Options
AOTG offers several options, including the Upper Gauley, Lower Gauley and Gauley Reverse 2-Day. Additionally, some rafters choose to run both stretches as part of the Gauley Marathon while others will take on the Upper Gauley twice in one day as part of the Double Upper Gauley 1-Day 2-Night package.
The resort also offers a variety of accommodations such as freestanding cabins and campgrounds. There are other adventures too, including rafting on the New River, TreeTops Zipline Canopy Tour, Bridge Walk, rock climbing, TimberTrek Adventure Park and more.
Camping on the Gauley
One of AOTG’s more popular options features is a two-day Upper and Lower Gauley rafting experience broken up by camping at Canyon Doors, a permanent campground on the river featuring a wood-fired hot tub, hot showers, bathrooms and gourmet meals prepared by an expedition chef.
About Adventures on the Gorge
Adventures on the Gorge is an adventure resort located on more than 350 acres along the rim of New River Gorge near Fayetteville, W.Va. The resort is in a region with three national parks units including the newest national park in the U.S., New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
For more information about Adventures on the Gorge, visit adventuresonthegorge.com.
Featured image by Adventures on the Gorge