Whitewater rafting in West Virginia offers thrilling adventures and unforgettable experiences, especially on iconic rivers like the New, Cheat, Gauley, Potomac, and Shenandoah rivers. Known as one of America’s premier whitewater destinations, West Virginia attracts rafters from around the country with its adrenaline-pumping rapids, breathtaking canyon views, and expert-guided tours for all skill levels.
Whether tackling the world-famous Gauley River’s intense Class V rapids or enjoying a scenic float on the Potomac, rafting here provides excitement, teamwork, and a unique way to explore the Mountain State’s wild, unspoiled beauty. For locals, tourists, and new residents drawn by the remote-work revolution, whitewater rafting in West Virginia is the perfect escape to stay active, connect with nature, and experience why the state is a top destination for outdoor adventure. Be sure to visit our Whitewater Rafting Travel Guide for more information about rafting and whitewater rafting areas in West Virginia.
Start the school-year off by unplugging with the kids on a whitewater rafting trip through the New River Gorge, a chasm deep enough and a journey wet enough to inhibit smart-phone use. The vice-president of River Expeditions, Heather Johnson says last-minute trips through the gorge are popular with families in search of end-of-summer fun, but … Read more
A whitewater-rafting trip on the New River may be the most exciting adventure many people experience, but one outfitter is ensuring guests have the opportunity to enjoy its lighter aspect. Entry-level float trips can provide beginners and families with children as young as six an ideal introduction to the river — affordable excursions that don’t … Read more
A whitewater rafting trip on the New River is only a bus-ride away for residents of the Kanawha Valley, thanks to a partnership between River Expeditions and the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau. On the first Saturdays of July, August, and September, the bureau’s Fun Bus will leave Charleston for a day of adventure near … Read more
River Expeditions will celebrate the 50th anniversary of whitewater rafting in West Virginia June 20 with discounted trips on the New River, according to its vice president. The industry that helped popularize the Mountain State as an outdoor-recreation destination hasn’t existed that long, says Heather Johnson, and the anniversary of its first whitewater rafting trip … Read more
Perhaps no month is as ideal as May for whitewater rafting on the New River in West Virginia, if high water and big waves are what you seek. Summery temperatures combine with spring rains in the Alleghenies to ensure rides on the river are as raucous as possible, says an official at one the region’s … Read more
While for some folks April and May might seem too cool for a whitewater-rafting trip, college students don’t mind at all and account for a large part of spring rafting enthusiasts, according to the owner of an outdoor-adventure resort on the New River in West Virginia. Students blowing off steam before finals make up a … Read more
Navigating a whitewater rapid on the New River is best accomplished when paddlers work as a team, which is why 10 years ago the owners of three competing rafting outfitters in West Virginia (and, later, a fourth) merged into a single resort. It’s how Adventures on the Gorge was created, says Dave Arnold, marketing director … Read more
A new whitewater run that opens to commercial rafting in 2019 may not be a game changer, but it will certainly enhance the game in one of the most popular rafting destinations in the eastern U.S., says a West Virginia tourism industry official. The 5.3-mile run through a spectacular section of the New River Gorge … Read more
Sign up for the West Virginia Explorer newsletter by February 28, 2018, and be entered to win a whitewater rafting adventure trip for two in West Virginia with River Expeditions. The drawing is one of many annual drawings offered to recipients of the West Virginia Explorer newsletter, according to publisher and editor-in-chief David Sibray. “Once you’re … Read more
West Virginia river outfitters in 2017 recovered from two years of low numbers and posted statewide gains of 5,000 river visits, according to a spokesman for Adventures on the Gorge, one of the state’s chief outfitters. The W.Va. Department of Natural Resources, which compiles a total number of annual river users, primarily rafters and anglers, … Read more
