New River West Virginia: Best White Water Rafting East of the Mississippi...

If you are interested in the great outdoors there are many places in the world and the United States to visit that will probably suit your needs quite nicely… However, if you have a hankering for a little bit of adventure then you may want to head over to West Virginia and it’s many incredible mountains and rivers, including the New River! It’s still one of the wildest places in the continental U.S., and whether you’re looking for some of the best white water rafting in the world or some intense rock climbing, this is the place for you!

For serious white water rafting enthusiasts, there really is nothing better than the New River and the Gauley River… These two rivers are always rated very high for white water rafting trips, and the Gauley River in particular is ranked the 7^th best white water river in the continental U.S.! They are dam controlled, and that means that the amount of water being released at certain times of the year can be increased, making the river one of the wildest rides on earth! For 22 days every fall, there is a Gauley River season for only the most experienced and craziest rafters, and if you choose to do it you will never again be the same… Providing you actually survive the trip down the rapids and live to tell about it, you will have an accomplishment to tell your grandchildren about! It’s called the Upper Gauley portion of the river for those who might be interested…

On the Upper Gauley River trip there are plenty of class V rapids with boulders the size of houses in your path, and it’s a very fast paced ride so hold onto your hat! However, for those who might be looking for a slightly milder vacation, the Lower Gauley River is also available and ready for you. The Lower Gauley River is actually also a very intense ride, with huge holes and waves towering above you… The whirlpools are intense, and every now and then a stray deer or other animal gets swept up into it and they can be there for days, according to the guides. So the moral of the story is, don’t fall out of the raft! You don’t want to be sorry!

The Gauley River is really a very fast running river no matter how you slice it, and previous white water rafting experience is preferred before attempting it. If you have no prior experience however, the New River might be just the thing you’re looking for! It’s the 2^nd river of West Virginia, and even though it is still a very intense rafting trip, it’s not quite at the level of the Gauley River. You will get to try plenty of class IV rapids, and even a class V or two, but this isn’t going to be a white knuckle “laugh in the face of death” type of experience… You should have a great time doing this river, and toward the end where you take the raft out of the water you actually get to pass under the incredibly tall New River Bridge where they allow base jumping every year. Base jumping is parachuting from a structure or non-moving object, such as a bridge or tall building. This is also a fascinating event to watch if you have the mind to. I’m not sure that I would actually participate in the jumping part myself, but watching can sure be fun!

For the white water rafting trips down the Gauley River or New River, there are many choices as far as rafting companies that you can go with… One large and experienced company is Ace Adventure, and they can provide you with pretty much anything that you need. They run a huge resort complex, and they can set you up with individual camping, group camping, nearby cabins or hotels, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, ATV rides, canopy tours, fishing expeditions, or even a mud obstacle course! Sounds like fun, right? They come highly recommended in West Virginia, and you most likely can’t go wrong by using them as your rafting guide.

I hope this short introduction has you thinking about visiting the great state of West Virginia and trying out the many natural wonders and beauty available there, including the New River and Gauley River. I know that it’s top on my list of places I like to visit, and there will definitely be something there for you, also… Get out and experience the outdoors a little, West Virginia is waiting!

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