Gauley Season begins as 44 Million Gallons of water transforms local river for 7 weeks of whitewater adventures

NICHOLAS COUNTY, WV (WVNS) — An estimated 40,000 people make their way to The Gauley River National Recreation Area for a 7-week run of top tier whitewater rafting.

Water from the Summersville Lake rushes down the narrow river over large boulders creating world class rapids that attract visitors from all over the world.  In fact, one boater with an impressive list of locations he has rafted was on hand for opening day.

Jason “Cheddar” Bates, a world traveling whitewater boater, had boated in North Carolina, Austria, Slovenia, & South Africa, just to name a few, says the Gauley is high on his list. When asked what he was looking forward to the most out of opening day of Gauley Season he said, “The carnage of Pillow Rock. I mean, come on. It’s like the Colosseum of entertainment.”

During the Gauley Season, records show that 44 million gallons of water are released at 2,800 cubic feet per second down the Gauley River. A rate that could fill an Olympic-sized pool every 10 seconds. All of that on the backdrop of the changing fall leaves of Almost Heaven West Virginia and it certainly is a hard to beat experience. Gauley Season runs September 6th through October 9th for the bravest of the adrenaline adventure seekers.

For your chance to run the Gauley, it’s best to go with a guide your first time out as the river itself brings many challenges for first time rafters. Luckily, our region has a booming whitewater rafting industry ready to take even the most novice on a ride of a lifetime.

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