Rafting the Mighty Gauley

It's Gauley season again - the time of year when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lowers the massive Summersville Lake for the winter, sending over 44 billion gallons of water down the Gauley from September through October in a series of scheduled releases. That's enough water to supply New York City for more than a month! These scheduled releases, held each Friday - Monday, makes the Gauley River one of the best whitewater experiences in the world. The 25-mile river drops 668 feet, creating over 100 rapids - many of them class IV - V+. It's no wonder that more than 60,000 whitewater enthusiasts each year pour into West Virginia from all corners of the earth to experience the guaranteed world-class whitewater.