White Water Rafting + Camping (2 Nights) - New River Gorge

This is a paid event. Signing up for this trip requires being prepared to send $250 for the rafting reservation plus $30 for the camping reservation

September marks the start of white water season at New River Gorge National Park! In the fall, they open the dam and the Gauley River transforms into a river with some of the best rapids in the country (class III to V). We will rely on the experts at Cantrell Ultimate Rafting to guide us safetly down the river - But please note this trip will be a physically demanding day of rafting, as we will traverse the entire 26 mile Gauley river in a single day.

### Trip Details

• Difficulty Level: Hard — 26 miles of rafting on class 3-5 rapids
• Total Trip Time: 8-10 hours (includes lunch break)
• Drive Time: about 5 hours from DC
• Showers: Available at the campsite and at Cantrell
• Trip Info Page: Gauley Marathon - Cantrell Ultimate Rafting

RAFTING: This rafting trip is the real deal. Called the "Gauley Marathon," this rafting trip has us traversing the entire ~26 miles of both the Upper and Lower Gauley River. We will experience all 8 class V rapids on the Gauley, with the intense rafting on the Upper Gauley, and the mind-blowing scenery on the Lower Gauley. The guided tour includes a riverside lunch and shuttle transportation.

CAMPING: Since we need to check in at Cantrell at 7:30 am on Saturday, I have made a 2 night reservation for a tent site at Arrowhead Bike Farm Campground. This is a really cool campground that has showers/bathrooms, a restaurant w/ biergarten, biking obstacle courses, and even a goat pen. I've reserved site 5 which is supposedly hammock friendly. The campground is a 3 min drive to the Cantrell facility, so easy peasy.

PAYMENT INFO: This is a paid group event — $280 total per person. Payment can be made to Taylor via Venmo or Zelle, but must be recieved to secure a spot. Please don't commit to a spot unless you're able to pay.
50% refund for cancellation 31 days or more before event.
No refunds for cancellation less than 31 days before event.

What to bring:

• Sandals or water shoes that strap to feet
• Swimsuit
• Wetsuit (can rent onsite)
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Warm layers
• Small dry bag or waterproof phone case
• Cash to buy food or other items at the Cantrell store
• Complete change of clothes for after, including shoes, socks, and undergarments
• Towel for the shower
• Garbage bag for your dirty/wet clothes
• Any as-needed medication (inhaler, insulin, etc.)
• A snack of your own if you have dietary restrictions or allergies

Should be an awesome weekend! See the tentative itinerary below:

Friday, September 11th

• 5pm (or earlier if possible) - Leave from Vienna metro station. Approx 5 hour drive to Fayetteville, WV.
• 10pm - Arrive at campsite + set up camp

Saturday, September 12th

• 7am - Breakfast available at Cantrell
• 730am - Check in for rafting
• 8am - Rafting tour start. Rafting will last 8ish hours. Lunch will be included
• 6pm - Return to campsite. Clean up, eat, and hang by the fire.

Sunday, September 13th

• 9am - Start return drive
• 1pm - Stop for lunch close to DC
• 3pm - Dropoff at Vienna station

Let me know if you have any questions!

LIABILITY NOTICE:
Please remember that this group operates under the common adventurer model. We are a group of friends and volunteers organizing trips for fun and shared experience. Participants are expected to be familiar with best hiking practices and choose hikes that align with their physical abilities and experience. Organizers and members are not liable for any injuries, loss, or damage to persons or property arising from group activities. By attending this event, you agree to assume all risks associated with the activity.​

For more information on the common adventurer model, please see Ron Watters' definition.​

See you on the river!