West Virginia: Camping & White Water Rafting

West Virginia's motto, Wild and Wonderful, is pretty accurate. Miles and miles can be driven without seeing a single building, nothing but trees and rivers and beauty. So it's no wonder that it's a center for outdoor activity and adventure.

Our campsite

My adventure took place at New & Gauley River Adventures in Lansing - a campground offering fun from white water rafting to horseback riding. We camped in a great little area with a picnic table and fire pit, and plenty of room for our tent and whatever else. Camping starts at just $7 and tents were available to rent (but get there before 5 or so or tents aren't available...then again there's a Wal-Mart near by if you uh, forget your tent, arrive after 5, and have to buy a tent...no need for me to explain why I know all that). There was a nice bath house close by, although most of the time we took the truck up from our campsite to the bathhouse.

If you're not into camping 3 cabins are available starting at $100 a night. I really enjoyed the camping except for the noise of the nearby highway, which certainly cannot be avoided. Onsite is also a pub and grill, but I think food needs to be ordered when you reserve your nights, and a lively little burrito place is right next to that.

The New River (full-day) white water rafting adventure started at 9 am. Other trips are available, including an express trip down the New River, and trips down the Gauley River at different times throughout the year. After a quick instructional session, and picking up our PFDs (personal flotation device), helmets, and oars we boarded a school bus with rafts in tow and headed on a thirty minute ride to the starting site on the New River. Then we were off.

The first half of the day was pretty tame. Lots of flat water with a couple of rapids thrown in. Our first good rapid was called Surprise, and it was exactly that. From afar, and even right up at it, it looked like just a little wave. No idea about the huge drop right before the wave until you were in it. Yee haw!

Our guide, Perkins, while we floated down the river

There was a swimming rapid, meaning we got to jump off the boat and float along. That was nice. Good time to cool off, and not as hard to get back in the raft as one would think. Mostly because it's just someone in the raft grabbing your life jacket and heaving you back up. Around noon we pulled off to a sandy area to have lunch. And I gotta say, it was great! All the makings for sandwiches, fruit, dip, potato and macaroni salad, cookies! There were beautiful butterflies all over the beach and a turtle even found its way up to us.

After lunch the river picked up. Way less calm water, way more rapids. The river was the highest it had every been so some of the class 5 rapids were actually 5+. There were several class 5 and a few 4 and 3. Another swimming rapid, which was a little more intense than the previous one. We also pulled aside to a jumping rock. Ya know from the boat it didn't look that high, even though I'm pretty sure they said it was 18 feet. They also said once we climbed up we had to jump, it would be too dangerous to climb back down the rocks. I was hesitant but forced myself to climb up knowing I'd have to jump. From the top it was way higher, dizzying a little bit. But off I went!

No one from our boat fell out, the boat didn't tip over, and it was just a lot of exciting fun. Our guide, Perkins, made the trip a lot of fun as well. He taught us about the coal mining towns that used to be along the river, plus a lot about the river itself. I'd recommend asking for him as a guide for sure!

New River Gorge Bridge

Someone was along the bank of the river taking pictures too, which were available for sale back at the offices. Or you could order them online at a later time. The trip ended right below the New River Gorge River. The longest in the western hemisphere and second tallest, second to the new bridge at the Hoover Dam. Over 3,000 feet long and over 800 feet above the river. We were told the bridge was a 50 year design...meaning it was designed to last 50 years. A little short-sighted if you ask me. The bridge was finished in 1977...I'll do the math for you...that means it should last until 2027. We have a bit

New and Gauley River Adventures also offers horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, and snowshoeing. And if you're really looking for some high adrenaline rafting try the Upper Gauley trip, where rafting experience is required and the age limit starts at 16. You can try Duckie or kayaks on the New River as well. The company offers several package options and even overnight or multi day trips. I'm sure you'll find exactly what it is you want to do at River Adventures.