Gauley, West Virginia, US

8 (Middle). Mason Branch to Bucklick Branch (Middle Gauley)

Usual Difficulty	III+(IV) (for normal flows)
Length	5.5 Miles
Avg. Gradient	26 fpm
Max Gradient	30 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
Gauley Below the Meadow
virtual-6192	500 - 5000 cfs	III+(IV)	01h59m	2014.28 cfs (running)
	GAULEY RIVER ABOVE BELVA, WV
usgs-03192000	500 - 5000 cfs	III+(IV)	00h27m	2030 cfs (running)

River Description

This section is normally run from the takeout for the Upper Gauley down to the putin for the Lower Gauley (both on river right). You can also use the putin/takeout on river right at Woods Ferry if you want to "sample" just part of the Middle Gauley.

It is also possible to put in on river left just below Woods Ferry and take out on river left just below Junkyard. This way you still get the lower 2-3 miles of the Middle Gauley (including Ender Waves and Backender) as well as the first 3 rapids on the Lower Gauley (Koontz's Bend, Canyon Doors and Junkyard). Canyon Doors has some great surfing waves at about 1100-1300 cfs.

The Middle Gauley is a good place for aspiring Lower and Upper Gauley boaters to get their feet (and maybe their heads) wet. This section includes several class III/III+ rapids and a few that are even class IV. The more notable rapids are Wood's Ferry, Ender Waves (just below Wood's Ferry) and Backender. If you use the river left putin and takeout you will miss all of the major rapids above Ender Wave but you get to add Koontz Flume, Canyon Doors, and Junkyard. (See the photos section of the Lower Gauley for some nice photos of Koontz' Flume and Canyon Doors).

The Middle Gauley starts out with some nice  warm-up class II and some good surfing at "Perfect Wave". Right below is a ledge that is easiest to run far left with two good waves/holes just below the ledge. Further on down the river is "Fuzzy Box of Kittens", aka "Guides Revenge".  About 3 miles from the putin is Woods Ferry Rapid. It is a long boulder garden with an almost river-wide ledge about 10 yards from the end of the rapid. A long rock outcrop funnels  the water to the left into a narrow chute. The right side of the chute has an interesting feature called Julie's Juicer.

The last major rapid on the Middle Gauley is Backender. It is difficult to scout unless you like to climb over the large boulders on river right. You will know that you are approaching Backender when you see the huge rock spire on river right. The takeout is in the pool just above the rock spire.

Scheduled releases occur on weekends beginning the Friday following Labor Day and normally run for 6 consecutive weekends. See http://www.lrh-wc.usace.army.mil/wc/wwsched.html for the detailed schedule. However, the Middle Gauley is runnnable almost any time of the year - and it it much easier to access the river "off-season".

Click here for information about the Lower Gauley, and for the Upper Gauley.