Extreme Rafting Trip Planning

For the last 8 years I have organized annual rafting trips down the famous Upper Gauley river in West Virginia. We go during a 22-day period known as Gauley Season. This is when the Army Corp of Engineers have a controlled dam release from Summersville reservoir dam. At the bottom of the dam the mighty Upper Gauley starts it’s decent through some of WV”s most beautiful scenery, while providing some of the best class 5+ white water action the northern hemisphere has ever seen!

There is a lot a variables that go into scheduling this trip, and after so many years of making this run I‘ve figured out a thing or two about planning it. I’ll share some things that may help you with scheduling your trip to have the best time possible.


1 - Weather. Gauley Season runs during weekends from early September to mid-October. You’re probably camped high in the mountains so bring warm clothing and camp gear. Just because it may be in the 70’s during the day doesn’t mean you won’t see frost the next morning, I have. This time of year in West Virginia is very unpredictable, temperatures range across the board so plan for cold and hope it’s warm. One year the remnants of a hurricane blew through while we were at camp, the wind blew so hard that we had to throw all of our gear in our tents just to ensure they’d still be there when we got back from rafting.

2 - Rafters. Most outfitters will not allow minors under 16 to even run this part of the river. If any person has medical issues or any disabilities, you should be aware of it! Each rafter should physically and mentally be in decent shape. This is definitely a team sport and everyone’s participation will be required to navigate these rapids.

3 - Outfitters / Guides. I’ve always used a professional outfitter to make this run, and unless you are a seasoned Gauley River specific guide then I would suggest you do the same. Guides make it fun too, most are very knowledgeable about the river’s history and have lots of interesting stories to tell during those few calm places in the river. Make sure the outfitter has been around for a while and are using all of the latest and greatest safety gear possible. If they’re not… find someone else!!

4 - Water temps. It’s fall, you’re in the mountains, the dam releases water from the bottom of a lake, need I say more? Either rent or invest in a wet suit. Usually the outfitter will rent them the day of the trip, but make sure of it by asking in advance.

5 - Dam flow. Typically the dam will start to open at 6 in the morning and close at 6 in the evening. It doesn‘t open up all at once (although what a ride that would be, kidding), it takes around 3 hours for the dam to be at full flow. The reason that this is important is the dam release flow directly influences the river’s CFS (cubic feet per second). For the best ride you’ll want to put in the river, at the bottom of the dam, after 9 am. That way you’re at max flow all day. (And by 'best ride' I mean 'biggest ride'!)

6 - RESPECT, the River and your Guide! Lets be real, this is a dangerous activity. People have lost their lives doing this. Some may have been in just the wrong place at the wrong time, but I believe most rafting accidents are contributed to 2 things. First and foremost, lack of respect for the river. You will not overpower it, ever, and it will show you who’s really in control if you don’t learn to go with the flow (pun intended). Second, listen to your guide, take him seriously, if he tells you to paddle like your life may depend on it, well… then it just might. Do yourself a favor and learn as much as you can before ever going on your trip. Get to know some general river safety tips and maybe even practice some paddling on calmer rivers before you attempt to raft down a river with a nickname like “Beast of the East” aka Upper Gauley River.
There are obviously even more factors that go into planning a trip like running the Upper Gauley, but these are some of the more important ones that I try and follow each year.

Remember -You are obligated to let people know what they’re getting into before they are getting into a raft. By educating yourself on river safety and rafting trip planning you will be better prepared to inform others about your trip, hopefully without scaring them too badly.

You wouldn’t run through a field during a lightning storm, don’t run a river without knowing it’s hazards either!