Service and Whitewater Rafting in New River Gorge, West Virginia

The Trip

Explore the old and the new in wild and wonderful West Virginia. The New River has been on its present path for over 65 million years and formed the Appalachian Plateau. It is the oldest river in North America and unlike most rivers, it flows northward. We will visit the New River Gorge National River, which encompasses 53 miles of the New River, and its narrow gorge, as it winds through the Appalachian Mountains from Hinton, WV to the New River Bridge in Fayetteville, WV. Although people have lived along the New River since prehistoric times, the portion of the river within the national park was largely unsettled due to impassable rapids and steep gorge walls. In 1873, the railroad was completed through the gorge to provide access to rich coal deposits and timber. Several boom towns (now ghost towns) thrived for the next 80 years until coal and native timber gave out. As coal diminished, people began to leave the area and the forest reclaimed many of the abandoned towns and mines.

In 2015, our service project was centered around Nuttalburg, an abandoned coal town that Henry Ford once leased. It is now a historic site. In 2016, the project was building biking and mountain biking trails in the north area of New River Gorge. The trip was cancelled in 2017 due to road maintenance on the bridge accessing Camp Brookside. In 2018, our project was building a post and rail fence for an interpretive farm, the Richmond Hamilton Farm, in the south end of New River Gorge. In 2019, our project was building a raised trail in an area with flooding problems in the Bluestone Scenic River Area.

We will develop a sense of place and pride as we work with the National Park Service in the Gorge. The spirit of miners, lumberjacks, and railroad men will be with us as we help the Park Service preserve the area for a new heritage of high adventure and tourism. Each year, more than a million people visit the New River Gorge, seeking outdoor recreation -- rafting, hiking, rock climbing, camping, history, and much more. Even as we work to make the park more accessible and enjoyable for modern visitors, we will gain an understanding and reverence for those who lived in these towns and made New River Gorge a center of export for an industrial revolution. Their bones are felt in the mountains, their stamina in the trees, and their self-reliance in the streams. 

The Project

We will work with the National Park Service to build and maintain trails or rehabilitate historic and cultural sites within the New River Gorge National River. As we help make the park a more welcoming place for today's visitors, we will learn about the natural and human history that shaped the region. Our work schedule will remain flexible as the Park Service may have other projects and priorities. We may drive 50 miles (one way) and spend up to two hours each day to get to worksites. Some commutes may include gravel roads and rough "Jeep" trails and have moderate hikes in order to reach remote areas. Because of the strenuous nature of the work, the minimum age is 15 for this trip.

Day 1: We will meet at Camp Brookside, located about five miles from the Sandstone Visitor Center, at 6:00 p.m. for dinner. We will spend the evening getting to know one another and reviewing the week's activities. Detailed instructions and maps will be sent prior to the trip. The camp is located on an island in the Upper New River.

Day 2: This will be our first day working with the Park Service. We will take our lead from their staff, possibly building or maintaining trails or cleaning up a historic site to make it more accessible to visitors. On one workday we plan an interpretative tour at one of the park's historic sites.

Day 3: We will continue our work under the direction of the Park Service rangers.

Day 4: We will be back to work with the Park Service. Keep in mind that our schedule and locations may change based on Park Service priorities.

Day 5: Rafting on the New River! We will spend the day paddling some of the best whitewater in the country and enjoying lunch on the river. A local outfitter and professional guides assure an exciting and safe trip that usually includes discussion of local history and geology. Tipping of guides is optional but encouraged and is not included in the trip price. Dinner will be at a local restaurant and is not included in the trip price. The commute to the outfitter will be approximately 75 minutes each way.

Day 6: This will be our final service work day. We plan to enjoy an interpretative presentation late in the afternoon.

Day 7: We will break camp and say our goodbyes after breakfast and prepare for the journey home.

Getting There

We will meet at Camp Brookside, which is located on Rte. 20 about seven miles south of the Sandstone Visitor Center and about five miles north of Hinton, WV. Sandstone is convenient to I-64 and serves as the gateway to the southern portion of New River Gorge National River. The nearest airport is Beckley, WV, which is about a half-hour drive and offers connections to Dulles and Charlotte. Other airport options include Dulles (a 4.5-hour drive), Pittsburgh (a 4.5-hour drive), Roanoke (a 2-hour drive), and Richmond (a 4-hour drive). Do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip participant.

Accommodations and Food

Our base camp will be at Camp Brookside, a former Union Carbide summer camp for employees' children, and newly restored as a National Park Service environmental education facility. Camp facilities include seven cabins with bunks (two or three people per cabin), a shower house with six individual shower rooms, flushable restroom facilities, and three full-size washing machines and dryers. Meals will be prepared and enjoyed in the lodge, which features a fully stocked commercial kitchen, equipped with dishwasher, stovetop, oven, and griddle; and a great room and large porch for meals and socializing. The camp is gated and participants will have keys to cabins and lockers. A short walk through the woods to the New River will bring you to beautiful views of Brooks Falls, a class III rapid, and opportunities for swimming and fishing (license required, see references for link).

Except for Thursday dinner, all meals will be provided, beginning with dinner on Sunday evening through breakfast on the last day. Lunches will be brown bag with each participant preparing his or her own lunch to be taken to the worksite. Trip participants will take turns assisting with cooking and cleanup. We tend to prepare homestyle meals and we like to surprise our trip members with new experiences when possible. If you have special dietary needs, please let the leader know prior to signing up for the trip. Meals will include vegetarian-friendly options.

Trip Difficulty

The trip is suitable for those who like a challenge, both in work projects and whitewater rafting. Participants should have outdoor experience and be in good physical condition to enjoy this trip. We will work four days and whitewater raft on one day. Prior rafting experience is not required. We will spend a full day rafting the lower New River in six- or eight-person rafts with a highly trained guide in each raft. Depending on water levels, we will paddle class III-V rapids. Rapids with names like Pinball, Dudley's Dip, Railroad, and Bus Stop provide excitement. The rafting outfitter requires participants to sign a liability waiver. 

You can expect daytime highs in the 80s and nighttime lows may fall to around 60. Humidity may be high. Rain and thunderstorms are possible and we will work as long as conditions are safe. The work projects may be strenuous and involve some heavy work: constructing trail walls, removing vegetation, and cutting/hauling brush. We will be using hand tools such as Pulaskis, mattocks, pry bars, pruning saws, and swing blades. We may use gas-powered weed trimmers. The trip is suited for motivated workers in good physical condition. We may have to hike in mountain terrain to worksites, carrying our tools. Participants will receive a safety briefing and tool usage instruction prior to beginning work. Teamwork will be essential. Participants should work only within his or her physical capabilities. Because of the strenuous nature of the work, the minimum age is 15 for this trip.

Equipment and Clothing

The Park Service will provide tools for all our projects. Group cooking and cleanup equipment will also be provided.

• Appropriate clothing and footwear for work, evenings in the camp, and swimming/rafting
• Personal camping gear, including sleeping bag, pillow, toiletries, and camp chair
• Rain gear
• Protection from the sun and insects
• Work gloves, eye protection, and a hat
• Daypack; two water bottles; food storage boxes for packing lunch; and a plate, bowl, mug, bandana, and personal utensils
• A personal "ouch kit"
• Camera, binoculars, waterproof camera (all optional)

References

• New River Gorge National River, Sandstone Visitor Center (5 miles from Camp Brookside): http://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/sandstone.htm
• New River Gorge National River, Canyon Rim Visitor Center (northern area of the park): https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/crvc.htm
• Hinton, WV and vicinity: http://www.hintonwva.com and http://newrivergatewaywv.com
• Adventures on the Gorge (rafting outfitter): http://adventuresonthegorge.com
• West Virginia Fishing License Information: http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/license.shtm

Conservation

The New River Gorge was authorized by Congress in 1978. About 60,000 acres of public lands are now protected, along with 53 miles of river and its diverse portfolio of plant species. We will practice Leave No Trace principles and recycle to the extent possible. We will leave all areas better than we found them.

The area is still recovering from intense resource extraction and may be vulnerable to future mining. The New River watershed starts in North Carolina and meanders through Virginia and West Virginia. Water quality is an issue mostly because of impacts outside the park -- mining, logging, manufacturing, and agriculture. Invasive species, both plant and non-native fish, are a concern.

Participants are encouraged to share conservation and environmental concerns affecting their communities. One concern that the trip leader anticipates bringing to the discussion is the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and its impacts on water quality and the environment as it crosses the George Washington and Monongahela national forests, the Appalachian Trail, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.