Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — Gauley River National Recreation Area
The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features. The Gauley River contains several class V+ rapids, making it one of the most adventurous white water boating rivers in the east.
Camping & reservations
The booking button opens the unit’s specific official camping and permit instructions. Read those instructions for first-come sites, group arrangements and any transport reservations.
Gauley Tailwaters primitive camping ↗
The National Park Service identifies primitive camping at Gauley Tailwaters below Summersville Dam. Check the current camping page and boating-season notices for access, closures and permitted site use.
Reservations: Follow current NPS camping and group-permit instructions.
Truck-camping & permitted overnight use
Confirm current drive-in access, vehicle suitability and permitted overnight arrangements with NPS before bringing a truck camper or RV to Gauley Tailwaters.
Backcountry camping and vehicle camping require park-specific authorization; National Park Service land is not generally open to unrestricted roadside camping. Confirm designated sites, permits and food-storage rules with this unit.
Activities, hiking & trails
Boating, Camping, Car or Front Country Camping. Official activities and trail-planning information ↗
NPS-listed recreation: Boating, Camping, Car or Front Country Camping, RV Camping, Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Paddling, Kayaking, Whitewater Rafting, Junior Ranger Program.
Maps & road access
Use the official NPS directions and current alerts. Check vehicle restrictions and campground approach roads before traveling.
Plane The largest airport is at Charleston, about 65 miles from Summersville. There are also small airports at Summersville and Beckley. Car The main entrance to Gauley River National Recreation Area is located off US Route 19 south of Summersville and north of Fayetteville, West Virginia. Turn off US Route 19 onto WV Route 129 toward Summersville Dam. Take the second left after you cross over the dam and follow the signs to Gauley River. Official directions / site access ↗
Before you travel
Weather in the Appalachian Mountains can be unpredictable and can change quickly. Always be prepared for the possibility of sudden storms. Weather in the mountains is often cooler and wetter than the surrounding area. On average, the warmest month is July. The maximum average precipitation also occurs in July.
Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. National Park Service official information ↗
Photograph sources & licensing
Banner: Holding On - Gauley River
Enjoying the rapids on the Gauley River
Credit: NPS Photo. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Second large photograph: Splashy Gauley River
Gauley River is a popular whitewater river in the fall
Credit: NPS Photo. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.