West Virginia Whitewater Rafting Market Report
September 2026 — Pricing, destinations, and market data from 16 outfitters.
Median per-person starting price across 7 verified prices (owner-submitted or high-confidence listings). Too few prices here to show a typical range without a single outlier defining it.
Pricing by Trip Type
| Trip Type | Avg | Min | Max | Outfitters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Day | $93 | $55 | $139 | 7 |
| Full Day | $93 | $55 | $139 | 7 |
| Family Friendly | $93 | $55 | $139 | 7 |
| Multi-Day | $101 | $79 | $139 | 3 |
| Overnight | $109 | $79 | $139 | 2 |
| Extreme | $67 | $55 | $79 | 2 |
River Class Breakdown
Top Destinations
| City | Outfitters | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Hill | 3 | $82 |
| Harpers Ferry | 3 | $67 |
| Albright | 2 | -- |
| Lansing | 1 | $139 |
| Marlinton | 1 | -- |
| Hinton | 1 | $110 |
| Fayetteville | 1 | -- |
| Mount Hope | 1 | -- |
| Davis | 1 | -- |
| Friendsville | 1 | $55 |
Market Insights
Rain Kept Summersville Lake Full for a Complete Gauley Release Season
WV MetroNews reported on Sept. 11, 2026 that rainy weather kept Summersville Lake at summer pool and ensured a full season of drawdown releases, which culminate on Bridge Day, the third Saturday in October. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers now releases the water at the base of Summersville Dam instead of through the old flumes that blew water out beside the Upper Gauley put-in. Jerry Cook, co-owner of Ace Adventure Resort, said the change might be an advantage because some customers who saw the flumes got back on the bus. The Corps provides approximately 2,800 cubic feet per second for fall rafting, according to West Virginia Explorer.
Gauley Season Runs 22 Release Days Through Oct. 17-18
The 2026 Gauley Season began Sept. 11 and runs through the weekend of Oct. 17-18, with 22 scheduled release days across six weekends, West Virginia Explorer reported on Aug. 26. American Whitewater's Gauley Fest was scheduled for Sept. 17-20 at Nicholas County Veterans Memorial Park in Summersville. One outfitter, Skip Heater of New and Gauley River Adventures, said his Gauley reservations were probably up about 10% from last year. The West Virginia Department of Tourism says more than 60,000 visitors come for Gauley Season every fall, according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
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This report is generated from Whitewatr's directory of verified outfitter listings. Pricing reflects starting per-person rates as reported by outfitters. Data is refreshed monthly.
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