The dam-release classic
Each fall, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers draws down Summersville Lake, sending big, reliable flows down the Gauley River in West Virginia for roughly six weekends from early September into mid-October. The releases turn the Upper and Lower Gauley into one of the most sought-after Class IV–V runs in the country.
The season peaks with Gauley Fest, American Whitewater's annual fundraiser and the largest paddling festival in the U.S., held the third weekend of September. Check the release calendar and book early — campsites and shuttles fill fast.