West Virginia whitewater, Gauley River Nicholas Fayette county, Summersville Dam to Mason Branch section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS IV-V     9.8 miles   Experienced paddlers die here often. Undercut rocks, class V+ rapids that go on for nearly a mile at a time... Says Local To view Summersville Lake level and the out flow from the Summersville Dam, view: http://www.class-vi.com/summersville-lake.cfm Says Jeff Proctor The put-in is not too far from Oak Hill, if you're not familiar with the area there's a road map further down the page. The sections for whitewater rafting and kayaking here in West Virginia are     often more forgiving than in other states, so don't forget that many of the rivers in this state are not very demanding. A good workout and a chance to spend some time outdoors will have you coming back for more. This stretch is mid length, suitable for an afternoon trip. The beautiful scenery of Nicholas/ Fayette County and the cool fresh water are reasons enough to come here and paddle. You might have to settle for a hotel a bit away from the river if you want to stay the night, and if you make reservations in advance you're all set. Whether you're whitewater rafting or kayaking this area has a large number of paddling places. This river system is full of   great paddling stretches, the Summersville Dam to Mason Branch stretch is just one of them. This stretch of Gauley River is 9.8 miles long and is a class IV-V section of whitewater according to American Whitewater. Briefly about the general area: A tour to Lost Paddle Rapids will fill your spirit with good feelings, and visiting Babcock State Park is a glorious thing to do. Don't leave Gauley River without first paying a visit to Pillow Rock Rapids; there's good hiking along the Carnifex Trail. This is a great river. People from Mount Lookout love to come to Gauley River, and hiking is a popular thing to do around Gauley River; Way Back Trail is a wonderful local trail. Gauley River, Summersville Dam to Mason Branch road map Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked.     Map Detailed Map Stats Stats for this river stretch Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Gauley River.   Whitewater Near Gauley River: Gauley River, Nicholas/Fayette County, 3 miles away       Class III+(IV) - 5.5 miles long (Mason Branch to Bucklick Branch) Gauley River, Nicholas/ Fayette County, 4 miles away       Class IV-V - 9.8 miles long (Summersville Dam to Mason Branch) Meadow River, Fayette/ Nicholas County, 4 miles away       Class IV-V+ - 5 miles long (Route 19 to confluence with Gauley River) Gauley River, Nicholas/Fayette County, 6 miles away       Class III-IV(V) - 11 miles long (Bucklick Branch to Swiss) Glade Creek - Meadow River Tributary, Fayette County, 6 miles away       Class III-V - 2 miles long (County 60/12 bridge to Meadow River confluence) Peters Creek, Nicholas County, 7 miles away       Class II-III+(V+) - 2.5 miles long (County 22 bridge to mouth) Meadow River, Nicholas/Fayette County, 8 miles away       Class III-IV - 5 miles long (Nallen to Route 19 Bridge) Muddlety Creek, Nicholas County, 9 miles away       Class III-IV - 4.5 miles long (West Virginia 41 to Summersville Lake) Mill Creek - New River Tributary, Fayette County, 11 miles away       Class IV-V+ - 2 miles long (Ansted to confluence of New River) Whitewater Outfitter - Wildwater Expeditions, Fayette County, 11 miles away       Whitewater outfitter   Ski Areas Near Gauley River: Winterplace, West Virginia , 36 miles away, 603 foot drop, 9 lifts, 27 runs Snowshoe, West Virginia , 67 miles away, 1500 foot drop, 14 lifts, 57 runs The Homestead, Virginia , 76 miles away, 700 foot drop, 5 lifts, 9 runs   Marinas Near Gauley River: Summersville Lake Marina, Summersville , 7 miles away   Hotels Near Gauley River: Econo Lodge Summersville, Summersville , 8 miles away La Quinta Inn & Suites Summersville, Summersville , 9 miles away Super 8 Summersville, Summersville , 9 miles away Quality Inn Summersville, Summersville , 9 miles away Sleep Inn Summersville, Summersville , 9 miles away   Campgrounds Near Gauley River: Battle Run, Keslers Cross Lanes, 3 miles away Wilderness RV Campground, Mt. Lookout, 4 miles away Gauley River National Recreation Area - Gauley Tailwaters, Mount Lookout, 4 miles away   Trails Near Gauley River: Carnifex Trail, Nicholas , 1 miles away Way Back Trail, Nicholas , 5 miles away   Public Lands Near Gauley River: Bluestone National Scenic River, Glen Jean - WV , 23 miles away Gauley River National Recreation Area, Glen Jean - WV , 23 miles away Babcock State Park, West Virginia , 13 miles away Hawks Nest State Park, West Virginia , 13 miles away Little Beaver State Park, West Virginia , 27 miles away   Golf Courses Near Gauley River: Bridge Haven Golf Club, Fayetteville , 14 miles away Hawks Nest Golf Course, Gauley Bridge , 17 miles away   Lakes Near Gauley River Summersville Lake, Nicholas , 4 miles away