{"id":"nps-gari","slug":"gauley-river-national-recreation-area","name":"Gauley River National Recreation Area","designation":"National Recreation Area","category":"national-recreation-area","categoryLabel":"National Recreation Area","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"GARI","designation":"National Recreation Area","sourceId":"nps-gari"}],"states":["WV"],"stateNames":["West Virginia"],"location":{"lat":38.20614947,"lon":-81.00420836},"bbox":[-81.1329,38.1398,-80.8824,38.2457],"acres":{"value":11223,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features. The Gauley River contains several class V+ rapids, making it one of the most adventurous white water boating rivers in the east.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/gari/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=38.2457&b_tl_lng=-81.1329&b_br_lat=38.1398&b_br_lng=-80.8824","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Gauley%20River%20National%20Recreation%20Area","directions":"http:www.gari/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"cover":{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7F582C-1DD8-B71B-0BD2BEB50EE7AA86.jpg","title":"Splashy Gauley River","alt":"Rafters enjoying the Gauley River","credit":"NPS Photo","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/gari/index.htm","tier":1,"source":"National Park Service"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7F582C-1DD8-B71B-0BD2BEB50EE7AA86.jpg","title":"Splashy Gauley River","alt":"Rafters enjoying the Gauley River","credit":"NPS Photo","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/gari/index.htm","source":"National Park Service","cover":true},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7F5999-1DD8-B71B-0B65462A497E2575.jpg","title":"Smiling on the Gauley River","alt":"Rafting on the Gauley River","caption":"Gauley Season on the Gauley River is popular.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7F5B0A-1DD8-B71B-0B230CA9C734F1E3.jpg","title":"Holding On - Gauley River","alt":"Trying to stay in the raft on the Gauley River","caption":"Enjoying the rapids on the Gauley River","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7F5C81-1DD8-B71B-0B5D31CC26F490DD.jpg","title":"Before Sweets Falls","alt":"Rafting on Gauley River before Sweets Falls fapid","caption":"A popular spot to watch the boats on the Gauley River - Sweets Falls","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7F5E00-1DD8-B71B-0B0960FFFB58C3F5.jpg","title":"Kayaking Pillow Rock rapid on the Gauley River","alt":"Watching the boats come by on the Gauley River","caption":"A popular place on the Gauley River - Pillow Rock","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7F5F97-1DD8-B71B-0B5C15F1E2407997.jpg","title":"Kayaking Pillow Rock rapid","alt":"Kayakers coming through Pillow Rock rapid on Gauley River","caption":"Watching the kayaks come through Pillow Rock rapid","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7F6158-1DD8-B71B-0BA32F0738491837.jpg","title":"Paddler's tapping Pillow Rock","alt":"Tapping the rock at Pillow Rock rapid on the Gauley River","caption":"Tapping the Pillow Rock is a ritual on the Gauley River","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7F666E-1DD8-B71B-0B957E680A2A4C8D.jpg","title":"Guiding on the Gauley River","alt":"Guiding through a rapid on the Gauley River","caption":"Whitewater rafting is popular during Gauley Season","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7F67E3-1DD8-B71B-0BBA63AB254EF9B4.jpg","title":"High siding on the Gauley River","alt":"One of the many rapids on the Gauley River","caption":"Enjoying the rapids on the Gauley River","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Boating","Camping","Car or Front Country Camping","RV Camping","Fishing","Freshwater Fishing","Paddling","Kayaking","Whitewater Rafting","Junior Ranger Program"],"topics":["Military","Battlefields","Wars and Conflicts","Civil War","Animals","Birds","Fish","Forests and Woodlands","Deciduous Forests"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Gauley River National Recreation Area","description":"The area is open year round. The official Gauley boating season is from early September through mid October. Boating is occasionally possible at other times, depending on water releases from Summersville Dam. There is no visitor center for Gauley River National Recreation Area. Please visit the Canyon Rim Visitor Center for New River Gorge National Park and Preserve for information.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"All Day","monday":"All Day","thursday":"All Day","sunday":"All Day","tuesday":"All Day","friday":"All Day","saturday":"All Day"},"exceptions":[]}],"directions":"Plane The largest airport is at Charleston, about 65 miles from Summersville. There are also small airports at Summersville and Beckley. Car The main entrance to Gauley River National Recreation Area is located off US Route 19 south of Summersville and north of Fayetteville, West Virginia. Turn off US Route 19 onto WV Route 129 toward Summersville Dam. Take the second left after you cross over the dam and follow the signs to Gauley River.","weatherInfo":"Weather in the Appalachian Mountains can be unpredictable and can change quickly. Always be prepared for the possibility of sudden storms. Weather in the mountains is often cooler and wetter than the surrounding area. On average, the warmest month is July. The maximum average precipitation also occurs in July.","contacts":{"phone":"304-465-0508","email":"neri_interpretation@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Canyon Rim Visitor Center","description":"Canyon Rim Visitor Center is the closest visitor center to Gauley River National Recreation Area. The primary purpose of Canyon Rim Visitor Center is to act as a visitor contact station for area information and for interpretation of the natural, cultural, recreational, and historic values of the New River Gorge. With an estimated 300,000 visitors each year, the center provides the park with a nationally recognized facility, revealing the beauty of New River Gorge National River to the nation and the world.","url":"http://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/crvc.htm","lat":38.0700508005257,"lon":-81.0759352999902}],"campgrounds":[{"name":"Gauley Tailwaters","description":"The National Park Service offers primitive camping at Gauley Tailwaters, located just below Summersville Dam. From Route 19 at Mt. Nebo, take Route 129 west across the dam, then turn left at the river access sign. Bear right through the parking lot to the campsites. There are 18 drive-in sites for tents and RVs. Camp only at designated sites. RV, camper, or car camping in non-designated sites, walk-in sites, or any parking area is strictly prohibited.","url":"","reservationUrl":null,"sites":18}],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"new-river-gorge-national-park-and-preserve","km":38},{"slug":"bluestone-national-scenic-river","km":71},{"slug":"monongahela-national-forest","km":104},{"slug":"jefferson-national-forest","km":107},{"slug":"ohio-river-islands-national-wildlife-refuge","km":130},{"slug":"george-washington-national-forest","km":133}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=gari"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.612Z","alerts":[],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/gauley-river-national-recreation-area/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/gauley-river-national-recreation-area.geojson"}