Located entirely in the Appalachian Mountain Range, West Virginia is aptly nicknamed the Mountain State. Its slogan, “Wild and Wonderful”, complements its motto: Montani Semper Liberi or Mountaineers are always free.

The mountains, apart from their natural beauty, offer endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. In fact, the state is known for skiing, rock climbing, spelunking, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, hunting, and whitewater rafting. There are two rivers in West Virginia that lend themselves to a great whitewater rafting adventure, the New River and the Gauley River.

The New River extends over 52 miles on a descending riverbed with boulders randomly scattered across the waters. Along the banks are upland forests and steep cliffs that provide the rafters a course on nature appreciation. The river is often divided into the Upper and Lower New River.

The Upper New River consists of mild rapids rated Class II and III. These waters offer an ideal setting for the outdoor adventures of families with children. It provides them with opportunities to enjoy nature, face challenges they can handle together, and bond with each other.

The Lower New River flows on steeper inclines, thus speeding up the flow of the whitewater. This, in turn, results to bigger waves, eddies spinning faster, quicker sweepers, and more strainers, holes, sieves, and pillows. These waters are classed at II to IV and are recommended for more adventurous and daring souls. Children below 15 years old are usually not allowed on these waters.

The Gauley River also has an Upper and Lower division. It is shorter than the New River, but as far as river rafting goes, it is rated one of the top ten in the world. One reason for this is that the river comes fully alive when the dams of Summersville Lake are opened to drain it each fall. For 22 days, water from the lake swells the banks of the Gauley. Perhaps another reason is its 680 feet drop in it 26-mile length.

Upper Gauley rafting is raw adventure. It has over 40 rapids including at least five Class V monsters that will definitely keep your adrenalin pumping. The action is virtually non-stop as there are only a few very brief calm areas where you can catch your breath. This is definitely not for novices or the faint-hearted. And certainly not for children.

The Lower Gauley is the tamer sibling of the Upper. This is where you can warm up for the more exciting run at the Upper Gauley. Class II to III rapids won’t tax your concentration so much that you can still take a long hard look at the woodland and cliffs you pass along the route. Children 14 and below can join their parents in these rapids.

There are several river rafting outfitters at the New and Gauley Rivers. You can easily find them on the Internet. Before deciding on one, be sure to check their track record and compare prices. You can also join forums about river rafting. Chances are there is someone in that forum who can give you information about the West Virginia rivers. And if their feedback proves to be positive, then you can go up the Appalachian Mountains and enjoy the “wild and wonderful” and wet New and Gauley rivers and find out if indeed “mountaineers are always free”.