Gauley season west virginia

Gauley season kicksoff to celebrate 50 years of white water rafting in w. All year the summersville lake collects water until fall when much of it is released. West virginia s gauley river stars in mountains tinged by colorful leaves and characters. Gauley season begins the first weekend after labor day, and is the premier whitewater rafting experience in west virginia. Chief executive officer roger wilson of whitewater outfitter adventures on the gorge says gauley season is. Ap the fall rafting season on west virginia s gauley river is getting set to start. It merges with the new river to form the kanawha river, a tributary of the ohio river. Adventures on the gorge leading the world outdoors. Gauley river fun facts rivermen west virginia white. Start planning your adventure to west virginia and the gauley river with ace adventure resort. Whitewater lovers from throughout the country and around the world will head to west virginia for gauley season, which begins sept. However, in the whitewater world, everyone knows about gauley season. The best time to go is during the fall gauley releases.

Join ceo roger wilson as he addresses guests in how we will be moving forward regards to opening this season. Our lower gauley trip is 17 miles long and includes rapids like class vs heavens gate and pure screaming hell. Beginning today, gauley season is back in almost heaven. With the 2020 gauley season release dates just announced, now is the time to start planning for your adventure to west virginia and the gauley river. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure, then enjoy the amazing scenery while challenging class iii and iv rapids along the way. Paddlers must be 12 years old on the lower river and 16 years old on the upper stretch. These releases are collectively known as gauley season and are scheduled on six successive weekends, the first five of which are fourday. For 6 weeks out of the year, west virginia becomes the whitewater capital of the world. Here in west virginia, we call it gauley season, and it allows us to know exactly what days will be the best for bigwater action. If you need to change a reservation for this year before dec. Over the course of six weeks, water levels ideal for rafting are released from summersville lake to provide thrilling whitewater opportunities on a set release schedule. The releases form more than 100 rapids on the gauley, which drops more than 650 feet along its 24mile 38. During the sixweek period, the gauley river specifically the upper gauley has aboveaverage water levels. Gauley season runs until october 20th, which kicks off bridge day.

Rafting reunion on the gauley river highland outdoors. The gauley river is a 105milelong 169 km river in west virginia. West virginia is just a little over a week away from gauley season. Gauley season, taking place in september and october, draws whitewater enthusiasts from across the globe. Gauley season is a rarity in the whitewater world, which is why so many adventurers flock to west virginia in the fall. At the start of gauley season, paddlers around the country flock to west virginia, throw tents on a baseball diamond and celebrate gauley fest. At river expeditions they offer buy one trip at regular price, get the second trip for half price for single day trips.

Located in glen jean, west virginia adventures offers gentle float trips, intermediate trips, extreme trips and cozy lodging. Summersville, wv governor jim justice has designated an official fifth season in west virginia. Over 60,000 white water enthusiasts come to take on the gauley river each and every year. Whitewater gauley river national recreation area u. Every fall the gauley river near summersville, wv becomes a playground for adrenaline junkies.

But thats not the only thing that gets us excited about autumn around here. Fall in southern west virginia brings cooler temperatures and beautiful colors. Once again, the final saturday of gauley season coincides with bridge day, providing an opportunity for a oneofakind weekend filled with fun. Year after year, thousands of rafters flock to the mountain state for whitewater adventure. President reagan made the gauley river a national recreation area a national park service unit partially because of its worldclass whitewater. Whitewater rafting and west virginia the two are basically synonymous. Experience west virginia s worldclass whitewater gauley season. The gauley river in west virginia is recognized by paddlers as one of the topranked rivers in the world. We have different intensity trips for families and experienced rafters. Those who have never touched whitewater are unaware of the significance. The gauley releases were mandated by an act of congress to provide river flows that support recreation and the flows during this time.

Gauley season begins the first weekend after labor day, and continues for six weekends five 4day. Gauley season kicksoff to celebrate 50 years of white. Whitewater rafting on west virginia s class v upper gauley intimidating and intense. In a typicall gauley season, summersville dam spills more than 44 billion gallons of water. From mild to wild, west virginia adventures has the right trip for everyone this gauley season. Gauley season begins the first weekend after labor day, and continues for six weekends five 4day weekends, and one 2day weekend. The upper gauley flows through the gauley river national recreation area in southern west virginia. Dropping more than 650 feet in 25 miles, the gauley river features over 100 rapids. This fall wonderland has been an insiders favorite for decades, commandeering calendars and making memories every season. Gauley season begins when the west virginia army corps of engineers releases water from the summersville dam to lower the summersville recreational lake to winter pool. Gauley fest began in 1983 as a celebration of the derailment of a hydroelectric project that would have stolen one of the whitewater communitys most precious resources. Boating is occasionally possible at other times, depending on water releases from summersville dam.

Experience a thrilling west virginia adventure in new river gorge national park with this guided, 6hour, whitewater rafting trip. Heather says, the most cost effective way to tackle the upper gauley is take your trip on friday or monday. Gauley river whitewater rafting trips cantrell ultimate. The gauley river national recreation area, located near summersville, west virginia, protects a 25mile 40 km portion of the gauley river and a 5. Dropping more than 668 feet through 25 miles of rugged terrain, the gauley rivers complex stretch of whitewater features more than 100 rapids with a steep gradient, technical runs, an incredible volume of water. Over 27 miles, the gauley drops 668 feet, creating more than 100 rapids. Upper gauley wildside 4 people per boat, smaller raft. Gauley river whitewater rafting season begins sept.

Adventures on the gorge one of the most scenic rivers in the u. Take a wild ride on the famous class v rapids of the gauley river. For a kayaker in west virginia, gauley season is a special time of the year. For 6 weekends in a row every year in september and october a. Located on the rim of the new river gorge, west virginia s premier whitewater rafting resort. It is considered to be one of the best white water rivers in the country. Along with west virginia natives, outdoor enthusiasts from colorado, north carolina and several. Gauley release dates calendar adventures on the gorge. Wet summer means plenty of water for gauley river rafting. This beloved season was recently designated the official fifth season in west virginia and people from around the. The upper gauley features dozens of worldclass rapids that come alive each season.

Rafters prepare for a whitewater adventure on the gauley river in west virginia. One such community is fayetteville, west virginia, bracketed by the new and gauley rivers, which plunge through billionyearold gorges. Gauley season begins september 7, and continues for six weekends through bridge day. An epic adventure awaits this gauley season west virginia. The river features numerous recreational whitewater areas, including those in gauley river national recreation area downstream of the summersville dam. The fall rafting season on west virginia s gauley river gets started this weekend. Gauley river west virginia 2020 all you need to know. Our skill levels range from near novice to having some experience, but none of us are anywhere near expert rafters. The arrival of gauley season after operations have drawn to a close on most recreational rivers around the country makes it possible for guides to work on other rivers throughout the summer but still return to the gauley each fall, and that is exactly what goodrich and many other guides from across the nation and world choose to do year after year. Im replying to this for future fall gauley season rafters. Army corps of engineers will begin lowering summersville lake to its winter level through releases at the summersville dam starting friday. From the kennebec and dead rivers in maine to the arkansas river in colorado to the banks of the kern and the american rivers. It is the premier iconic class v run on the east coast and has some of the best whitewater in the world. Commercial outfitters run the gauley, but even with professional rafting guides, this is a serious adventure.

West virginia s gauley river attracts thrillseekers from around the country each year for six weeks after labor day when controlled releases from summersville dam create premier whitewater rafting conditions just as rivers in the rest of the country are drying up for the year. Pictured is sweets falls rapid on the upper gauley. By chelsea bricker chelsea was born and raised in southern west virginia and enjoys sharing her love of the mountain state with everybody she can. Every fall, the summersville dam is opened for about six weekends to allow for great whitewater on the gauley river below. Two distinct 12mile sections upper gauley and lower. Gauley rafting season water releases set in west virginia. Its technical rapids, inaccessibility and scenic beauty contribute to its world class designation. Our river rafting adventures give the whole family a chance to enjoy the fun of a rafting trip, because we offer different levels of whitewater. Gauley season designated fifth season for west virginia. Boaters coming from across the country were bringing much needed money into a west virginia economy that was seeing the slow death of coal. Gauley river rafting ace adventure resort whitewater. The official gauley boating season is from early september through mid october. Located on the rim of the new river gorge, west virginias premier whitewater rafting resort.

Gauley river rafting ace adventure resort whitewater rafting trips. Justice designates gauley season as west virginias. The river itself only flows five weeks a year in the new river gorge region of wild and wonderful west virginia. Experience legendary gauley river rafting in west virginia on the challenging upper gauley or the scenic and beginnerfriendly lower gauley. At the end of an ordinary west virginia summer, whitewater rafting outfitters sometimes worry they wont have enough water for the gauley river season.