As many of you know, mid-river access for this Gauley season was almost shut down for private boaters by stalled negotiations between landowners and the Park Service. Fortunately, through significant involvement from numerous groups, a focused dialog regarding private boater mid-river access produced positive results for this season. Two groups are providing boat shuttles from designated mid-river access points. Information on these shuttles is posted below.
Mason’s Branch
Starting the first Saturday of Gauley Season (Sept 10th) West Virginia Rivers Coalition will once again run boat shuttle at the Masons Branch take out for the Gauley River.
To use the Mason Branch access on the Gauley, park your car in the field leased by AW & WVRC on Panther Mountain Road, paddle the Upper Gauley, load your boat onto WVRC’s shuttle U-Haul, and then walk the steep trail between river’s edge and the field without the burden of your boat on your back. Kindly give a generous $5 donation and pick up your boat from the shuttle volunteers at the entrance to the field.
The shuttle will run every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm until 6pm during Gauley Season and Friday, Sept 23rd of Gauley Festival weekend. Donations are $5 a boat and all donations will go directly into the conservation and restoration of the rivers of West Virginia.
The Masons Branch take-out field is located 2.5 miles off Rt. 129 on Panther Mt. Rd. (CR 22). Boat shuttle dates are Sept. 10-11, 17-18, 23-25, Oct. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16.
Any questions or for more detailed information on the Mason’s Branch shuttle contact Joe Peabody at jpeabody@wvrivers.org. (304) 637-7201.
Woods Ferry
Friends of the Gauley River will be running shuttles at the newly enhanced mid-point access location, Woods Ferry. The shuttle will operate Fri-Mon, 10 am thru 4 pm. The shuttle will transport boats & gear down and up WF Road from the lot. The parking lot holds around 35 vehicles. People are encouraged to car pool and drop off boats and boaters at the FOGR lot and park elsewhere. The donation will be $5 for the FOGR shuttle.
If the parking lot is gets maxed, a “Parking Lot Full” sign and direct people to the Middle Gauley parking lot, which has unlimited space. This lot is exactly one mile past the turnoff onto the NPS road going to WF Road. Mr. Waugh will be running a shuttle from his MG lot to the top of the mountain, where people will walk and gear will ride down and up WF Road. He is charging $5 for parking, $7 for shuttling people to the top and boats to the bottom. If you want to get a shuttle back to the dam he is asking $20.
For more information on the Woods Ferry access location contact Bill Tanger, email address: tanger@mediavisionva.com. Home tel. 540-366-2228.