Gauley River National Recreation Area
Welcome to the wild and wonderful Gauley River Recreational Area, which contains a wide variety of natural and cultural features. The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through the scenic gorges and valleys of this park. The Gauley River is one of the most adventurous white water boating rivers in the east, as it contains several class V+ rapids.
At A Glance
In The Park
Superintendent: Calvin HitePhone Number: 304-465-0508
Entrance Fees: Free
Sights: Gauley River Whitewater; Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park; Summersville Dam; Gauley River
Important Dates
Established as Park: October 26, 1988By The Numbers
Acres: 4,020.00Highest Point: Grand View Area (6001000 feet)
Annual Visitation: 116,854 (2006)
Location
Latitude / Longitude :38.191800 / -81.001920 (map it)
State: WV
Nearby Big City: Glen Jean, WV
Gateway Communities: Summersville, WV; Glen Jean, WV
Nearby Airports: Summersville Airport (SXL)
Green Features
Has Recycling? : YesHas Shuttle System? : No
Has Volunteer Program? : Yes
In Detail
History HISTORY & CULTURE GAULEY RIVER TIMELINE 13,000 - 7000 BC To the north, in the broad valleys leading to the Gauley River, it is possible that occupation by big game hunters of the Paleo-Indian era too ... read more.
In A Nutshell Operating Hours & Seasons The area is open year round. The official Gauley boating season is from early September through mid October. Boating is occasionally possible at other times, depending on wa ... read more.
Natural World NATURE & SCIENCE The Gauley River Basin is part of the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau where the age of the rock strata exceeds 300 million years before present. The high knobs and ridges are deeply di ... read more.
Things To Do Nearby Attractions Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park Nestled on the rim of the Gauley River Canyon near Summersville, West Virginia, Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park is an important Civil Wa ... read more.
Gauley River In Depth
News from the Parks
Dorgan with Game and Fish
January 8, 2009 - 5:06pm
Sen. Byron Dorgan, (D-N.D.) said he agrees with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department on the elk situation at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Since the unveiling of the National Park Service’s Draft Elk Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement on Dec. 17, Game and Fish officials have voiced their displeasure that the document did not include their “Alternative G,” as a viable option.
January 8, 2009 - 5:06pm
Sen. Byron Dorgan, (D-N.D.) said he agrees with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department on the elk situation at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Since the unveiling of the National Park Service’s Draft Elk Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement on Dec. 17, Game and Fish officials have voiced their displeasure that the document did not include their “Alternative G,” as a viable option.
Coming to the Inauguration? Read This First, Then Think Again
January 8, 2009 - 5:05pm
All roads will lead to Washington on Inauguration Day, but many of them will be closed. With packed trains, buses and planes, how will as many as 2 million people who are hoping to witness history crowd into a city whose subway system usually accommodates 718,000 a day?
January 8, 2009 - 5:05pm
All roads will lead to Washington on Inauguration Day, but many of them will be closed. With packed trains, buses and planes, how will as many as 2 million people who are hoping to witness history crowd into a city whose subway system usually accommodates 718,000 a day?
Scientists Ready to Analyze Yellowstone Park Quake Data
January 8, 2009 - 5:01pm
Between Dec. 27 and Jan. 2, more than 500 small earthquakes shook Yellowstone National Park. The swarm of quakes was centered below Yellowstone Lake, beginning southeast of Stevenson Island and migrating north toward Fishing Bridge before quieting.
January 8, 2009 - 5:01pm
Between Dec. 27 and Jan. 2, more than 500 small earthquakes shook Yellowstone National Park. The swarm of quakes was centered below Yellowstone Lake, beginning southeast of Stevenson Island and migrating north toward Fishing Bridge before quieting.
Haleakala National Park Gets New Superintendent
January 8, 2009 - 5:00pm
Sarah Creachbaum, a 15-year veteran of the National Park Service, has been named superintendent of Haleakala National Park.
January 8, 2009 - 5:00pm
Sarah Creachbaum, a 15-year veteran of the National Park Service, has been named superintendent of Haleakala National Park.
National Mall Reflects Magnificence and Neglect
January 8, 2009 - 4:55pm
Millions will cram shoulder to shoulder to watch Barack Obama take the oath of office this month as the nation's 44th president, another indelible snapshot of American democracy in full display on the National Mall.
January 8, 2009 - 4:55pm
Millions will cram shoulder to shoulder to watch Barack Obama take the oath of office this month as the nation's 44th president, another indelible snapshot of American democracy in full display on the National Mall.
