Gauley River: Big Water Day

Six weekends a year, the US Army Corps of Engineers opens Summersville Dam and the Gauley River becomes the best single-day whitewater run in the world. Not one of. The best.

We've bought the boat for one of those days.

The Upper Gauley is twelve miles of remote canyon, fifty-plus rapids, and five Class V drops with names that get spoken with respect — Insignificant, Pillow Rock, Lost Paddle, Iron Ring, and Sweet's Falls, a fourteen-foot cascading waterfall you go over rather than around. It's the trip that whitewater people fly across continents for, and it earns every bit of that reputation.

Seven seats, one professional guide, one private raft. No being split up with strangers, no waiting on another group. Just our crew, paddling hard, for six to seven hours. Halfway down we stop for a hot lunch on a private deck overlooking Sweet's Falls and watch other boats take the drop while we eat.

This is not the trip where you find out whether you like rafting-  first-timers are not recommended.

If you're experienced and ready to join, you're welcome! Bring your paddling arms.

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