The Upper Gauley River

Home to World-Class Whitewater Rafting!

Upper Gauley River

The Upper Gauley River is the pinnacle of whitewater rafting in the United States. You and your friends challenge the best whitewater rafting West Virginia has to offer.
The Upper Gauley boasts the BIG 5 whitewater rapids: Insignificant, Pillow Rock, Lost Paddle, Iron Ring and Sweet’s Falls. Sprinkle in a generous serving of Class III and IV whitewater rapids such as Iron Curtain, Shipwreck and Wood’s Ferry and you will get all the West Virginia whitewater you can handle! The challenge is on you and your team to pay attention, react quickly and paddle hard on America's best whitewater.
On the Upper Gauley River, it is up to you and your team to make the fun happen, working hard and playing hard all at the same time.

• Ranked in the world's top ten commercial whitewater runs.
• This 12-mile section offers 60+ rapids ranging from class II-V+, including the legendary "Big Six" class V+ rapids.
• Ideal for experienced paddlers and serious thrill seekers.
• Be ready to paddle to your guide's instructions.
• Strong swimming skills recommended.
• Riverside lunch included.

Gauley Marathon

Run both the Upper and Lower sections in one day! If you're up to the challenge, why not see both sections of the Gauley in one incredible day... no less than 23 miles and 70+ rapids! We can do this trip since our private Lower Gauley takeout at Sugar Creek eliminates the 1 1/2 hours (3 1/2 miles) of flatwater paddling other outfitters have to endure at the end of the day.

• Run the entire river, Upper and Lower, 23 miles and 70+ rapids.
• Take out at our private Sugar Creek Access and save 1 1/2 hours (3 1/2 miles) of flat water.
• Ideal for experienced paddlers and serious thrill seekers.
• Be ready to paddle to your guide's instructions.
• Strong swimming skills recommended.
• Riverside lunch included.

Double Upper Gauley

Yeah, people will tell you with a smug look on their face that they’ve run the Upper Gauley. You’ll just smile and nod, knowing that you’ve done the fabled Upper Gauley TWICE in one day on our Double Upper experience! Probably the best one day rafting trip in the country.
You never know what the Gauley River is going to dish out, but you can be sure that no run is the same. Tune in to the nuances of the Gauley River that you normally wouldn’t notice on a single run. Sometimes the Upper Gauley gets the upper hand on the first trip and you get a chance to go back and get another crack at the Big 5 of the Upper Gauley: Insignificant, Pillow Rock, Lost Paddle, Iron Ring and Sweet’s Falls.
Be prepared to work hard to stay sharp, be on-line and have fun!

• Run the Upper twice in one day!
• 80+ major rapids class III-V+ and the legendary "Big Six" class V+ twice in one day!
• No whimps or whiners!
• Be ready to paddle to your guide's instructions.
• Strong swimming skills recommended.
• River lunch included.

Be sure to check out our raft upgade options below.

Raft Upgrades - You choose the intensity level!

Rafts: Wildwater offers three different rafts sizes to customize your rafting experience. Going smaller is actually the biggest ride! Double check the minimum age difference when deciding the type of ride you want.

16-foot Raft: This is the Industry Standard Raft that seats 8+ guests and a guide. They are the largest rafts we have, offering the most stable and comfortable ride. They are also the most economical raft we have and are ideal for groups and first-time rafters.

14-foot Raft: This is our High Adventure Raft that seats 6+ guests and a guide. Smaller than the 16-foot raft, these rafts are very reactive in the white water! Lighter and more manuverable, these rafts give you more thrills and spills, putting you right in the thick of the action. This is our most popular raft and well worth the extra money. Minimum age 14.

12-foot Raft: This is our Extreme Raft that seats 4+ guests and a guide. You would be amazed how many crazy people want this raft! It's almost 100% guaranteed you will be swimming. Minimum age is 18, previous experience highly recommended, strong swimming skills highly recommended and a desire to push the limits of white water rafting. This is the smallest commercial raft available on the river!

A $3.00 per person, per guided activity Resource Use Fee is applied to each reservation.