New River Gorge: Lower New Whitewater Rafting & Riverside Lunch

Summary

Whitewater rapids, riverside lunch and stories from the Gorge

You’ll join a small group for a whitewater rafting trip down West Virginia’s Lower New River, guided by locals who know every rapid and story. Expect teamwork through Class III-V waves, riverside lunch breaks with fresh air and laughter, plus quiet moments floating under canyon walls. You’ll finish tired but grinning — probably still hearing the river in your ears.

What’s the experience like?

“You’ll wanna paddle like you mean it on Surprise Rapid,” our guide Mike grinned as we squeezed into our life jackets at the put-in near Fayetteville. He’d been running these trips for years — said he could read the water by smell alone, which made me laugh but honestly, I half believed him after watching how he handled that first set of rapids. The air was thick with river mist and something like wet stone, and everyone seemed a little jittery, in that good way before you do something big.

The first few rapids on this Lower New River whitewater rafting trip were enough to get my heart going, but not so wild that I felt out of control. There’s this weird moment when you’re paddling hard together — strangers an hour ago — and suddenly you’re all yelling “left!” or “hard forward!” in sync. Between the rapids, Mike pointed out old coal tipples hidden in the trees and told us about his grandma’s fried apple pies (I still want to try one). We floated through quieter pools where the sun came out for just a minute, lighting up the gorge walls — I didn’t expect it to feel so peaceful between all that chaos.

Lunch was deli sandwiches on a sandy patch by the river. Nothing fancy, but after a couple big drops my hands were shaking just enough that even chips tasted special. Someone tried to skip rocks and failed spectacularly; we all cheered anyway. After lunch, the rapids picked up again — Class IVs and Vs that made me grip my paddle so tight my knuckles hurt. At one point Mike shouted “hold on!” right before a wave soaked us head to toe. Cold water down my back, sun on my face… weirdly perfect.

We ended just past the New River Gorge Bridge — you can see it towering overhead as you pull out. I was tired and hungry again somehow (how does paddling make you this hungry?), but mostly just happy I’d done it. Still think about that stretch of calm water after Double Z rapid — felt like time stopped for a second there.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Lower New River rafting adventure

• Meet rafting trip leader
• Listen to orientation and get gear
• Ride school bus to river put-in
• Receive additional raft instructions
• Navigate smaller class I-III rapids
• Run bigger class IV-V rapids
• Stop for deli-style lunch on shore
• Continue through class III-V rapids
• Swim, float, and jump off rocks
• End trip past New River Gorge Bridge

Top questions

How long is the Lower New River whitewater rafting trip?

The trip covers over 25 rapids along the Lower New River section near Fayetteville, ending just past the New River Gorge Bridge.

Is lunch included during the rafting tour?

Yes, a deli-style lunch is included mid-way through your day trip on shore by the river.

What class rapids are on this tour?

The Lower New features Class I-V rapids; expect both smaller waves and some bigger drops.

Are guides included on this rafting trip?

Yes, each raft is led by a professional local guide familiar with river conditions and area history.

What equipment is provided for rafting?

Your day includes all necessary gear: personal flotation device (PFD), helmet, paddle, plus safety instructions before launching.

How many people are in each raft?

The maximum is 8 guests per raft; minimum booking is for 2 people.

Is this suitable for first-time rafters?

The Lower New balances adrenaline with fun; it’s considered ideal for first-timers who meet fitness requirements (minimum age 12).

Where does the rafting trip start?

You’ll meet your trip leader at a designated departure point near Fayetteville before taking a short bus ride to put-in.

What’s included

Your day includes professional local guides leading each raft down over 25 rapids on West Virginia’s Lower New River, all required safety gear like PFDs and helmets, riverside deli-style lunch with drinks midway through your journey, plus taxes and fees covered so you can focus on paddling (and maybe swimming) instead of logistics.