Gauley River National Recreation Area

The Gauley drops through a rugged, roadless gorge below Summersville Dam in West Virginia, and its fall dam releases create some of the best whitewater on Earth: the Upper Gauley is a legendary run of Class V rapids. The park also protects part of the Meadow River.

See the dam, picnic at the tailwaters, and play by the river at the easy access points. For a challenge, expert paddlers can raft or kayak the Upper Gauley during the fall 'Gauley Season' releases.