West Virginia's world-famous Gauley River has become the premier Fall destination for paddlers and rafters from literally around the world. The 22-day scheduled dam release begins on the Friday following Labor Day, as Summersville Lake is drawn down from its high Summer Pool to its low Winter Pool. Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) of water is released on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays for five weekends. Additional Saturday and Sunday releases are scheduled for the next (sixth) weekend.
Kayaking the Gauley
The West Virginia Dept. of Natural Resources and the National Park Service, agencies who jointly administer boating on the Gauley, stress that the Gauley is for advanced paddlers only. The Upper Gauley remains one of the most challenging runs in America and can only be recommended to expert paddlers. The Lower Gauley is only slightly less challenging and can be accurately judged as "advanced."
Depending upon your put-in and take-out points, the 26-mile long Gauley River is equally divided into two 13-mile sections...Upper and Lower. Each section boasts some 50 named rapids. The Upper Gauley has the "Big Five," Insignificant, Pillow Rock, Lost Paddle, Iron Ring, and Sweets Falls that are rated as Class V+. The Lower Gauley has three Class V rapids...Koontz' Flume, Mash (Upper and Lower), and Pure Screaming Hell. Each section has numerous Class III and IV runs scattered throughout its length.
The only public river access is at the base of Summersville Dam. Upper Gauley paddlers may put in at the dam but must take out at one of the privately-owned sites. The American Whitewater Association maintains a parking area for shuttle vehicles using the take-out at Mason Branch, which is about 11 miles downstream of the dam. Mason Branch is also a popular put-in for the Lower Gauley. Private boaters on the Lower generally take out at Swiss, approximately 15 miles downstream from the Mason Branch put-in. Both of these access points are privately owned by commercial rafting outfitters, so boaters should be respectful of the property rights of their hosts. A particular source of potential problems is the road into the Mason Branch parking area. As the narrow dirt road is used by scores of commercial busses during the Gauley season, cars left parked on the road will certainly be towed if they're blocking commercial traffic.
Rafting on the Gauley
ACE Whitewater runs both Upper and Lower Gauley trips each day of Gauley Season. ACE also runs Overnight trips with riverside camping and Marathon trips which run both sections in a single day. Minimum age on the Upper Gauley is 16, while 14-year olds are allowed on the Lower section.
Helpful Hints for Gauley Rafters
Raft on Weekdays
Fridays and, especially, Mondays are much less crowded than weekends. ACE also offers substantial discounts on both Mondays and Fridays.
Raft in October
There are lots of reasons that experienced Gauley rafters are beginning to book their trips in October as opposed to September. If you simply must book your trip on a weekend, October weekends are less than one-third as crowded as those in early September. Finally, October brings the unparalleled beauty of Fall in the mountains.
Make Reservations Early
To prevent overcrowding on this very popular river, the state DNR limits the number of rafters that each outfitter can take on the Gauley. The better outfitters reach their quotas early. Avoid disappointment by making your plans well in advance.
Choose Your Outfitter Wisely
Many Gauley outfitters are limited to the less-desirable put-ins and take-outs. Also, certain outfitters use large, crowded boats as their standard Gauley craft. Rafters on a world-class river deserve first-class equipment. If this is your first Gauley experience, shop different outfitters and compare their offerings carefully.
Choose the Lower Gauley if it's Your First Trip.
Unfortunately, the Upper Gauley is simply not for everybody. It's big, tough and intimidating. The Lower Gauley is still a world-class rafting adventure but it's not as scary as the Upper. If any member of your group is inexperienced or hesitant, by all means make it the Lower Gauley.
