West Virginia Rafting
When's the last time you spent a carefree day simply having fun?
When you were a child? You can recapture that feeling. West Virginia's
fountain of youth lies not in a pool of still water but in rowdy
whitewater rivers that toss, churn and splash. It'll make you forget
everything else and live in the moment. Abandon the amusement park
this year and come to West Virginia for a ride on Mother Nature's
roller coaster. It won't involve big parking lots, crowds or standing
in line…and the experience will last a lifetime!
West Virginia is worlds away from
the ordinary with outstanding wilderness scenery, beautiful rivers,
friendly people and a variety of recreational activities like hiking,
fishing, climbing,
biking and horseback
riding offering adventures for everyone. And it's closer than
you think! Over 60% of the US population is less than a day's drive
away.
Suitably named the Mountain State,
West Virginia could quite easily be called the River State. With
more than 200 miles of America's Best Whitewater the
New and Gauley Rivers are known and
revered the world over. More than 150,000 people raft the New each
year as it follows its age-old channel through the spectacular New
River Gorge.
The Gauley River draws about 60,000 experienced
rafters each year. Most come during the world-famous Gauley Season,
which lasts for six weeks each fall. The Upper section demands constant
attention from the time you step into the raft with five major Class
V drops and more than 40 rapids to make for a super intense whitewater
challenge. While the Lower section is undoubtedly more civil, it
is certainly not a pushover boasting over 45 rapids ranging up to
Class V.
West Virginia has a wealth of other whitewater
rivers, such as the capricious Cheat - raging one day, serene the
next; the Shenandoah - mellow and relaxing; and the Tygart - a lesser
known waterway that packs a powerful punch each spring and fall
when rainfall is at its highest.
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