West Virginia whitewater, Gauley River Nicholas Fayette county, Bucklick Branch to Swiss section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS III-IV(V)     11 miles   The starting location is a short drive from Oak Hill, there's a road map further down the page with more info on that. The nature scenery of Nicholas/Fayette County and the playfulness of the water make the trip here worthwhile. There aren’t any hotels right nearby but if you're willing to drive a short distance then no problem but you'd better reserve in advance because these hotels fill up quick. Getting your paddling muscles activated and just     hanging out with mother nature have a lot of people coming here. Since you're on this site you are probably into whitewater rafting or kayaking, either way there are lots of good places for that around here. The Bucklick Branch to Swiss section of Gauley River is 11 miles long and has been determined by American Whitewater to be a class III-IV(V) section. This section is long enough for an overnight trip if you take your time, so why not pack your camp stove too. The Bucklick Branch to Swiss section is one of many paddling sections in this river system. The average West Virginia whitewater rafting or kayaking river tends to be easier to run than those in   other states, so better not forget that lots of rivers in this state are good for beginners. And of course, there are campgrounds nearby. Briefly about the general area: A perfect spot to go to in the vicinity of Gauley River is Lower Elk Hollow, and Hawks Nest State Park is a wonderful place to stretch your legs a bit. Hiking along the Way Back Trail is magnificent fun, and you'll meet a lot of people from Swiss here. This is such a great river. A short trip to Upper Mash Rapids is always worthwhile, and you can have a pleasant hiking adventure along the Carnifex Trail. Gauley River, Bucklick Branch to Swiss 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: Peters Creek, Nicholas County, 3 miles away       Class II-III+(V+) - 2.5 miles long (County 22 bridge to mouth) Gauley River, Nicholas/Fayette County, 3 miles away       Class III-IV(V) - 11 miles long (Bucklick Branch to Swiss) Mill Creek - New River Tributary, Fayette County, 5 miles away       Class IV-V+ - 2 miles long (Ansted to confluence of New River) Gauley River, Nicholas/Fayette County, 6 miles away       Class III+(IV) - 5.5 miles long (Mason Branch to Bucklick Branch) Leatherwood Creek, Clay County, 7 miles away       Class I-II(III) - 4.5 miles long (Confluence of right fork to Confluence of Elk River) New River, Fayette County, 8 miles away       Class III-IV(V) - 6 miles long (Hawks Nest Dam to Gauley Bridge) Mill Creek - New River Tributary, Fayette County, 8 miles away       Class II-III - 5 miles long (Hopewell Road bridge to Ansted) Whitewater Outfitter - Wildwater Expeditions, Fayette County, 8 miles away       Whitewater outfitter Whitewater Outfitter - Class VI - Mountain River, Fayette County, 8 miles away       Whitewater outfitter Laurel Creek - New River Tributary, Fayette County, 9 miles away       Class IV-V(V+) - 1.5 miles long (Beckwith to Cotton Hill)   Ski Areas Near Gauley River: Winterplace, West Virginia , 34 miles away, 603 foot drop, 9 lifts, 27 runs Snowshoe, West Virginia , 76 miles away, 1500 foot drop, 14 lifts, 57 runs The Homestead, Virginia , 85 miles away, 700 foot drop, 5 lifts, 9 runs   Marinas Near Gauley River: Summersville Lake Marina, Summersville , 16 miles away   Hotels Near Gauley River: The Morris Harvey House, Fayetteville , 10 miles away Quality Inn New River Gorge, Fayetteville , 10 miles away Comfort Inn New River, Oak Hill , 12 miles away Holiday Lodge, Oak Hill , 14 miles away Econo Lodge Summersville, Summersville , 16 miles away   Campgrounds Near Gauley River: Madd Jack's Campground, Ramsey, 5 miles away Tawney Farm, Summersville, 5 miles away Mountain State Campground, Fayetteville, 8 miles away   Trails Near Gauley River: Way Back Trail, Nicholas , 8 miles away Carnifex Trail, Nicholas , 10 miles away   Public Lands Near Gauley River: Bluestone National Scenic River, Glen Jean - WV , 19 miles away Gauley River National Recreation Area, Glen Jean - WV , 19 miles away Hawks Nest State Park, West Virginia , 6 miles away Babcock State Park, West Virginia , 15 miles away Little Beaver State Park, West Virginia , 26 miles away   Golf Courses Near Gauley River: Hawks Nest Golf Course, Gauley Bridge , 9 miles away Bridge Haven Golf Club, Fayetteville , 10 miles away   Lakes Near Gauley River Summersville Lake, Nicholas , 13 miles away Plum Orchard Lake, Fayette , 18 miles away