Intermediate to Advanced (Class III-IV)
Lower Yough | Cheat Canyon | Lower Gauley | New River | Upper Yough
Lower Yough
Intermediate to Advanced (Class III-IV)
The Lower Yough, about a 4 hour drive from the Washington area, is a good run for Intermediates to attempt their first Advanced (class IV) rapids. The rapids are not hard but they will focus your attention and maybe test your roll. You should be able to maneuver consistently among rocks, and should be fit enough to paddle the 7 miles of continuous rapids. The play is also very good, but be prepared for cold water, as all the water comes from a large dam about 10 miles above the put in. AW information
Call our office to discuss your ability and the impact of the river levels.
Day trip cost: $120/ Weekend trip cost: $240
Cheat Canyon
(Class III-IV)
The Cheat River will carry you even deeper into remote places, and will keep you challenged by
constant rapids. Compared to the Lower Yough, it is not much more difficult, however it is about 12 miles in length, and therefore has many more rapids. You might consider running the Cheat when you have paddled the Lower Yough comfortably a couple of times. The water is usually warmer than the Lower Yough, because the Cheat has no dams and flows freely across many miles of countryside before reaching the canyon. AW information
Call our office to discuss your ability and the impact of the river levels.
Day trip cost: $120/ Weekend trip cost: $240
Lower Gauley
(Class III-IV)
After the Lower Yough and the Cheat, you might be ready to take on a river with more power, but without much more difficulty. It’s a six hour drive to southern West Virginia, but when you are launching yourself over the waves of Monster Mash Rapid, or threading your way between the holes of Pure Screaming Hell Rapid it seems well worth it. The river is pristine, the rapids are great, there are plenty of places to play. It is one of the classic runs in West Virginia. The Lower Gauley is about 8 miles long. AW information
This is a two day trip, with camping near to the put in. The water, released from a large dam just above, is chilly (about 60 degrees), but not as cold as the Lower Yough.
Day trip cost: $150/ Weekend trip cost: $250
New River
(Class III-IV)
Drive over the largest single arch bridge in the world and look down at the white water 1000′ below. This might be your first view of the mighty New River. It flows for 8 miles through a deep gorge, with crashing waves and powerful eddies and whirlpools. Unlike smaller, shallower rivers like the Lower Yough and Cheat, the New is deep and powerful almost everywhere, and where there is play, the play is big.
If you have a good roll and want to see a natural wonder from a boat, come to run the New. The best time to join us is on our annual Fourth of July weekend trip. Click here for last year pictures. AW information
Day trip cost: $150/ Weekend trip cost: $250
Upper Yough
(Class IV+)
This river will show you just how fun the sport can get! The Upper Yough in Western Maryland is a step up in difficulty above the others. Once it starts you are faced with 6 miles of non-stop class IV rapids. With fewer hazards than other rivers of the same difficulty, the Upper demands constant maneuvering and control.
You can call this your graduation trip, because all the skills building that you have been doing in classes at Dickerson and Mather Gorge have come together to for you to run this beautiful little river. The entire run is about 11 miles.
Cost: $120
