White Water Rafting West Virginia

White Water Rafting West Virginia – The New River Gorge & The Gauley River!

August 4th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

We have all heard of the famous rafting spots, the Rio Grande River and others have been featured many times in Hollywood blockbusters. But what about white water rafting in West Virginia? Have you ever heard of the New River Gorge or The Gauley River?

The New River Gorge

The New River Gorge spans 53 miles, twisting and turning just like a serpent. The river has plenty of boulder like rocks which creates a true adrenalin pumping white water rafting adventure.

This white water rafting West Virginia River has an endless supply of thrilling rapids separated by pleasantly calm areas of river where you can get your breath and prepare yourself for the next set of rapids.

Around the upper area of the river there are a series of Class II and III white water rafting West Virginia rapids to enjoy. But further down the river is where you will find the real action with class II to class IV rapids.

People often take a run down the upper rapids of the river twice in one day and then camp halfway down the river for the night before taking on the rougher rapids the new River Gorge has to offer the following day.

The new River Gorge is often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the East! The scenery around the new River Gorge can be pretty spectacular, on one side you can have huge sheer rock faces while on the other you have a beautiful forest rising up from the gorge floor. This beautiful scenery added on top of the extreme rafting action from the rapids available makes white water rafting in West Virginia some of the best you can find East of the Mississippi.

The Gauley River

Some of the best year-round white water rafting in West Virginia can be found on the Gauley River. The Gauley River in springtime runs low; this is because during this time the local Summersville Reservoir is being filled by the Army Corps Engineers. As a direct result of this the river has some extreme drops. Also water flows out of the reservoir at the rate of around 1.000.000 gallons per minute! These two factors together are responsible for the river’s nickname, the beast of the East!

On the lower part of the Gauley River you will be able to enjoy class I up to III rapids and on the upper half of the river you will be able to enjoy class V rapids. Most people start off on the lower part of the river and then move on to the upper half of the river later on in the day in search of the more challenging rapids.

Of course don’t forget white water rafting is not all West Virginia has to offer. If you’re planning on visiting West Virginia for a white water rafting trip, don’t forget you can also participate in other outdoor sports such as rock climbing and hiking.

Virginia White Water Rafting – It’s Just Waiting To Be Discovered!

December 12th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

The state of Virginia is very well known for its history during the American Civil War and for being a doorway to the nation’s capital, but very little is really known about Virginia white water rafting opportunities. The James River by Richmond or rafting on the middle fork of the Flathead river brings a whole new dimension to Virginia activities.

From the Blue Ridge Mountain in the western section of the state, all the way through the Piedmont region in the center and on to the coastal region on the east, Virginia’s incredible diverse geography offers American river rafting for every experience level, even for those just in search of a particularly lazy trip down a river or those wanting to know what Virginia white water rafting is truly about. Virginia white water rafting trips down the James River, one of the most popular urban rafting trips, is under concessionaire contract with the city of Richmond and as of early 2007, no contract had been approved.

This 7 mile stretch of the river dropping 105 feet boasts Class II to Class IV rapids and will continue to remain a popular Virginia white water rafting destination once a new contract is finally put in place. Still, lots of rafters are right now taking advantage of this exciting run in their own rafts and experiencing one of the best natural recreation resources the city has to offer. Of cause you should not join in unless you are already very experienced, since you should never attempt White water rafting without the help of highly experienced instructors with you at all times if you are not already well versed in the sport, additionally like all extreme sports you should never go alone, whether you are experienced or not!

With the heady gorges located in West Virginia, the mountains of the Carolinas and Pennsylvania, it can be pretty easy to forget that Virginia white water rafting is available and very popular among those who have experienced it at its very best. Class I to Class IV rapids are found on loads of rivers throughout Virginia, but are at there most prevalent state in the western and central regions.

For those who would prefer a more calm experience, Class I Virginia white water rafting is typically pretty easy to navigate for the beginner. Class II is clearly slightly rougher waters, but with just a small amount of practice should not pose any serious danger to someone who has done it before, the real danger in any extreme sport, whether it is white water rafting, skiing, skydiving, of any other, is when someone tries to go beyond his/her capabilities. If you start with the basics and work your way up as you start to dominate the sport more and more you should not have any real problems.

With Class IV rapids, Virginia white water rafting will obviously become more of a challenge; it is advised only for those with an awful lot of practice. You will undoubtedly need help getting back in the raft after you fall out and without the proper experience, steering yourself through the rough and tumble waves would be extremely difficult not to mention dangerous. So there you have it, Virginia white water rafting is perfect for a beginner and even more experienced rafter.

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