Easy to Plan!
Gauley Marathon 1 Day
So you think the journey is the adventure, huh? Boy, have we got a trip for you.
For a test of endurance and skill, both mental and physical, try the Gauley River Marathon. This is the Ironman of whitewater rafting—26 miles of whitewater with more than 100 rapids. 53 of those rapids are rated class III or above. That’s not a typo. FIFTY-THREE.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to raft the entire commercial Gauley River in a single day. This run is considered the most challenging in West Virginia. Think you can handle it? If so, drop that chocolate bar and get in shape! This trip is definitely not recommended for people who have never rafted before, nor for weak swimmers, nor for people who tend to whine a lot.
This getaway also includes 2 nights of lodging and a full day of meals with a hot all-you-can-eat lunch on the river and all-you-can-eat breakfast and dinner at either Buffler’s BBQ Grill or Smokey’s on the Gorge.
Sleep soundly after this one. You’ll dream about rafting for the next month.
| Lodging | Buffler's | Smokey's |
|---|---|---|
| No Lodging | $264 | $274 |
| Camping | $289 | $299 |
| Platform Tent | $299 | $309 |
| Hemlock Cabin | $304 | $314 |
| Pine Cabin | $309 | $319 |
| Country Cabin | $339 | $349 |
| Sportsman Cabin | $364 | $374 |
| Outback Cabin | $414 | $424 |
| Deluxe Cabin | $434 | $444 |
Items in This Getaway:
Gauley River Marathon
The complete Gauley River is 26 miles and 100 rapids of intense whitewater rafting excitement. 53 of them are rated class III or above! If you’re up for the ultimate challenge, you can experience the thrill of the entire trip.
What is a “Getaway?”
Rivermen Getaways are easy-plan mini-vacation packages designed to get you doing the things you want to do at a discounted rate and with minimal fuss. We’ve pre-built these trips for you, so that all you have to do is pick your lodging and your meals.
Tell me more about the lodging options!
Whatever you like! If you’d prefer to camp under the stars, we have that available in two campgrounds—one more suited to families and one with more liberal quiet hours. If you like the idea of camping, but you don’t have the equipment for it, we have everything from platform tents to primitive bunk houses with nothing more than walls, a roof and electricity. We’ve got Mountain Cabins, too, which are a step up. They have private bathrooms, heat, AC and efficiency kitchenettes. Outback cabins are a little more swanky and have more amenities, and Deluxe Cabins—with 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms are even better with amenities such as wi-fi and hot tubs. Still not sufficient? Check out any of our luxury vacation homes, such as Paddle House, which sleeps up to 12 in high style and sits literally on the rim of the New River Gorge.
And the restaurants?
We built Rivermen and Adventures On the Gorge in part around the philosophy that a vacation isn’t complete without the best food possible. We have three full restaurants centered around that thought. On the Mill Creek Campus we have Buffler’s BBQ Grill, a buffet of the fill-your-belly variety, with ribs and other grill delights. Next door to Buffler’s we also have Rendezvous Lodge, the site of many a late-night live-music extravaganza.
Across the road at our Canyon Rim Campus, we have Chetty’s Pub. This year, the new Chetty’s features a huge deck that hangs over the very rim of the New River Gorge. Chetty’s specializes in bar food with an Appalachian twist that will blow you away. Chetty’s also has a full bar.
Last, but not least, next door to Chetty’s is the award-winning and world-famous Smokey’s On the Gorge. You’ve seen a gourmet buffet like this one, especially in a dramatic setting like this. Smokey’s also has a full bar.
When you’re done with your Rivermen Getaway, your mouth will water at the memory of Buffler’s, Chetty’s and Smokey’s!
Additional Getaways
Upper Gauley Express 1 Day
You've done the New River, challenged the Lower Gauley and now you're ready for the next step up? Try this extreme Upper Gauley River rafting, lodging and meal getaway.
Spring Gauley 1 Day
Pair our Spring Gauley River one-day rafting trip with 2 nights of lodging and a full day of meals with lunch on the river and all-you-can-eat breakfast and dinner at either Buffler’s BBQ Grill...
Lower Gauley & Zip
This getaway includes TreeTops Canopy Tour and the longest and most difficult whitewater run that we recommend for first-timers, the Lower Gauley. It’s 17 miles long and it sports more than 70 rapids!
