FAYETTEVILLE, W. Va., Aug. 16, 2019 – On Friday, Sept. 6 – and on 22 other days in September and October – a scenic West Virginia river will be transformed into a beast, with the best whitewater in the world attracting rafters – many of them on return visits – from all over North America and beyond.
The guides at Adventures on the Gorge can hardly wait.
Guides at this southern West Virginia adventure resort liken Gauley Season to Christmas morning. Rafters describe it as epic. Someone dubbed it the “Beast of the East,” a spot-on poetic description that has stuck. And Roger Wilson, chief executive officer of Adventures on the Gorge, calls it just plain fun.
Every morning of Gauley Season, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers draws water from Summersville Lake and releases the torrents into the Gauley River. As the flows gather strength, they form more than 100 rapids including five Class V rapids, a classification that indicates a long rapid with massive drops, violent currents and natural obstacles.
“For whitewater rafting enthusiasts, Gauley Season is as good as it gets anywhere in the world,” said Wilson, a life-long rafter and guide. “The excitement among our staff and guests is palpable, because we know that every day of the season is going to be a day to remember. Adventures that are of this caliber can change your life.”
What to know about Gauley Season
· There’s still time to book a Gauley Season trip. Opening day is Friday, Sept. 6, and the final Gauley day is Sunday, Oct. 20.
· Park once, and Adventures on the Gorge will take it from there. Named one of the top adventure resorts in the country, Adventures on the Gorge features everything travelers need, including a wide range of lodging options, campgrounds, restaurants and bars as well as other adventures like zip lines and rock climbing.
· There are 14 one- to four-day rafting trip choices during Gauley Season ranging from a full-day rafting trip on the Lower Gauley (starting at $129 per person) to the outrageously extreme Gauley-athon ($779 per person), with eight trips in four days on the Upper Gauley paddling some of the best whitewater in the world.
· There are also camping-and-rafting-and-dining packages such as the Gauley River Reverse Package, with two days of whitewater rafting, camping at the resort, two riverside lunches, two breakfasts and one dinner. Rates start at $250 per person.
· The resort’s location is easily accessible for travelers from many mid-Atlantic, eastern and midwestern cities.
What to know about Adventures on the Gorge
Named one of the top six adventure resorts in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Adventures on the Gorge is located on more than 250 acres along the rim of the majestic New River Gorge near Fayetteville, W.Va. and provides an array of outdoor experiences including whitewater rafting on the New and Gauley Rivers; an aerial adventure park, two zip line courses; rock climbing; rappelling; kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, fishing, mountain biking and hiking. There are also restaurants, bars and shops.
Travelers can find out more about Adventures on the Gorge online, by calling 1-855-379-8738.