New River Gorge National Park and Preserve: The Extreme
“Today is an exciting day. For years, we’ve talked about our four beautiful seasons, and I think we’ve been missing a major one – Gauley Season.” In 2018, Governor Jim Justice officially designated Gauley Season as West Virginia’s 5th season! West Virginia offers some of the best white water rafting on the East Coast, and now the very river people travel from around the world to run is designated as a National Park and Preserve!
My last blog for Mountaineer Media covered the serene side of the New River Gorge, but might have left something to be desired for all my fellow adrenaline junkies. Today, this blog is for you. The extreme side of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is not for the faint of heart. For those craving real adventure look no further than Almost Heaven, West Virginia and America’s newest National Park.
West Virginia’s 5th official season takes place over the 6 weeks in September and October, the water from the Summersville Dam is released creating some epic Class V rapids and some of the best white water rafting in the world. The Gauley River is a National Recreation Area, and can be rafted 3 different ways during Gauley season. The 26 mile stretch of river can be divided by the upper and lower portions which have different difficulty levels, or combined as a marathon trip!
Not visiting West Virginia during Gauley Season, or looking for something a little calmer? Try rafting on the New River. There are 53 miles of this river that remain free flowing, and you can run the river over the course of several hours or take a few days. The New River is also divided into two separate parts. The upper portion of the New River is more mild, and consists of pools all the way up to Class III rapids, but head to the lower end of the river and face colossal Class V rapids. If you’re experienced enough you can run these rapids on your own. If you're inexperienced you may feel more comfortable going on a guided trip with one of the many outfitters in the Fayetteville area.
After a day of rafting gets your adrenaline pumping, a different view of the New River may be exactly what you need! Towering 876 feet above the river, is the New River Gorge Bridge. Completed in 1977, the New River Gorge bridge is the longest single arch bridge in the Western hemisphere and the 5th highest vehicle carrying bridge in the world! Now you have a new chance to get up close and personal with this bridge by walking the 1.5 mile catwalk underneath! Bridge Walk is a safe yet exhilarating way to learn about the bridge and take in a birds eye view of the breathtaking scenery.
If after all of this you still haven’t gotten your adrenaline fix, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is a rock climbers dream. Offering every type of climbing from trad to sport to bouldering this park is home to one of the East Coast’s best climbing areas. With over 1,400 established routes of varying difficulty, you’ll never get bored climbing here! If you're an experienced climber, you can purchase a guide book at one of the outdoor shops in the area detailing each route. Maybe rock climbing is something you’d like to try but don't know where to start. Luckily there are plenty of outfitters in the local area to help teach you the ropes!
These are just some examples of all the “extreme” activities you can partake in while visiting the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. In addition to these the park offers hunting, fishing, mountain biking and so much more! No matter if you're into the serene or extreme, it's time to get out and explore America’s newest National Park here in Almost Heaven, West Virginia.
Thanks for joining me on this journey learning about the New River National Park and Preserve. Join me next time for my final blog on this amazing national park, when I ‘dive’ into Bridge Day! Thanks for the support, don’t forget to like Mountaineer Media on social media and subscribe to the mailing list!
