Upper Gauley - Summersville Dam to Mason Branch
West Virginia – US
- Class
- IV to V
- Length
- 9.8 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 36 FPM
- Typical season
- January to December
Current Flow
1,470 CFS
Gauge height: 8.33 FT
Reading from Oct 1, 2003 3:00 AM
● 0.00/hr (12h) ● 0.00/hr (24h)
Hit some laps
- Primary gauge
- GAULEY RIVER BELOW SUMMERSVILLE DAM, WV Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 400 |
| Average | 2,000 |
| Maximum | 5,000 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
The Upper Gauley runs 9.8 miles from Summersville Dam to Mason Branch, dropping an average of 36 feet per mile through a nearly continuous procession of big-water rapids, rated Class IV to V overall. Because the put-in sits directly below Summersville Dam, flows are dam-controlled rather than rain-dependent — the run comes in around 400 CFS at the low end, hits its stride near 2,000, and pushes into serious Class V territory by 5,000.
The whitewater is stacked with consequential drops. Initiation opens the run with sieves and entanglement hazards along the right bank, and the four Class V rapids — Insignificant, Pillow Rock, Lost Paddle, and Iron Ring — carry the biggest stakes, with rock sieves that reward specific lines (river left at Pillow Rock, for instance). Between them, Class III–IV rapids like Iron Curtain, Hungry Mother, Meadow View, Conestoga, and Shipwreck Rock keep the pace up. This is a kayak and raft run, not a canoe stretch.
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Initiation Rapid | IV | 500–5,000 | Stick to the route down river left. There are some nasty sieves and entanglement hazards on river right that have been fatal. |
|
| 2 | Insignificant Rapid | V | 500–5,000 | Enter left or pick your line based off of the water craft you are in. |
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| 3 | Iron Curtain Rapid | III to III+ | 500–5,000 | As the river makes a 90 degree left turn this rapid is right around the corner. Follow the wave train and watch out for the big undercut rock at the bottom of the rapid. |
|
| 4 | Pillow Rock Rapid | V | 500–5,000 | Look at running river left since river right has many rock sieves. |
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| 5 | Hungry Mother | III | 500–5,000 | Run right to avoid the hydraulic/hole but run left around the island below the hydraulic. |
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| 6 | Meadow View Rapid | III | 500–5,000 | It looks tempting to go river right but its easy to get pinned on a rock below. Best to go river left and pick your line down. |
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| 7 | Lost Paddle Rapid | V | 500–5,000 | This rapid consists of 3 drops making it a longer rapid. |
Scout to pick your line |
| 8 | Conestoga Rapid | III | 500–5,000 | Watch for a nasty hydraulic at the bottom of the center channel. |
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| 9 | Shipwreck Rock Rapid | IV | 500–5,000 | Right or Left entrance with the left being slightly easier |
Scout from either bank |
| 10 | Iron Ring Rapid | V | 500–5,000 |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Summersville Dam | — | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | The put-in can be very crowded. So plan to use the shuttle or walk down to the river when it is. |
| Take-Out | Mason Branch | — | No | No | No | All Vehicles | From the put-in follow Highway 129 to Poe and turn left at a white church onto Road 11/1. Follow it a T intersection and turn left onto Road 22. Drive until you see a field on the left you can use to park. The take-out road is dirt but all vehicles should be able to use it. |
Camps
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Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
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