ESTABLISHED: OCTOBER 26, 1988
ACRES: 11,507
RIVER MILES: 25.5
We have never taken a raft trip so I Googled the best places to see the Gauley River. Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park was highly recommended. The park is on the rim of the river with good views from various overlooks.
The Gauley River is ranked in the top 5 of whitewater destinations globally.
The Friday after Labor Day marks the start of “Gauley Season”. For six straight weekends, the Summersville Dam releases water specifically for rafting and kayaking. Thousands of whitewater enthusiasts travel to southern West Virginia for these scheduled flows.
These are the valves that control flow of water through Summerville Dam.
- Valve Facts
- 9 feet in diameter
- They weigh 30 tons
- Max flow is 48,625 gallons per second
- There are 3 of these in the dam
Water release from one valve.
The river is divided into 2 key sections:
The Upper Gauley: Known as the “wild crown jewel,” this 11-mile stretch is pure adrenaline with iconic rapids like Inick, Sweet’s Falls, and Lost Paddle.
The Lower Gauley: A 12+ mile stretch that is a step down in intensity from the Upper but still features large volume, continuous Class IV-V rapids. It is often a favorite among paddlers for its beautiful, remote gorge and calm scenic pools.
Of course we went for a hike.
Summerville Lake, very calm on this side of the dam.
HAPPY RAFTING, STEVE