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Scheduled dam releases on about six consecutive weekends starting the weekend after Labor Day

Where to stay for Gauley Season

Updated for this season

Scheduled dam releases on about six consecutive weekends starting the weekend after Labor Day

Exact dates are confirmed by the organizers each year.

All lodging in Gauley River National Recreation Area

The Army Corps drops Summersville Lake through the fall, producing roughly 22 release days of Class V water on the Upper Gauley and Class III to IV on the Lower Gauley. Commercial trips run from outposts around Summersville and Fayette County.

Where do you stay for Gauley Season?

Gauley River National Recreation Area is where Gauley Season happens, so it is the first place to look, with Summersville, Fayetteville and Craigsville the usual fallback once it fills.

It runs scheduled dam releases on about six consecutive weekends starting the weekend after labor day, and lodging nearby books up well before it.

When it happens
Scheduled dam releases on about six consecutive weekends starting the weekend after Labor Day
Time of year
September and October
Where it happens
Gauley River National Recreation Area, West Virginia
If the town is full, try
Summersville, Fayetteville, Craigsville, Richwood, Beckley

BookWV does not sell event tickets. Starting rates only.

Nothing listed for this yet

There is nothing listed near Gauley Season yet. If you own a place nearby, you can add it.

This is one of the weekends in West Virginia where demand outruns supply every year.

See what listing costs

If the host town is full

On these weekends, how far you are willing to drive matters less than whether a room is available at all.

Gauley Season: what people ask

When is Gauley Season?
Gauley Season is held on the scheduled dam releases on about six consecutive weekends starting the weekend after Labor Day in September and October each year.
How far ahead does lodging book up for Gauley Season?
Release weekends fill rafting-outpost lodging, campgrounds and cabins across Nicholas and Fayette counties, often booked a year out by returning groups. Weeknights stay open, and Craigsville, Richwood and Beckley absorb the overflow.
Where do people stay when Gauley River National Recreation Area sells out?
Summersville, Fayetteville, Craigsville and Richwood are the places travelers most often end up staying, rather than simply the nearest points on a map.
Where should I stay for Gauley Season?
Gauley River National Recreation Area is where the event takes place, so it is the first place to look, and Summersville, Fayetteville and Craigsville are where visitors generally end up once it is fully booked. Release weekends fill rafting-outpost lodging, campgrounds and cabins across Nicholas and Fayette counties, often booked a year out by returning groups.
How much does lodging cost during Gauley Season?
Rates are typically higher than they are a week or two before or after the event, and minimum stays are common. Booking early is what saves money here rather than waiting for a late deal, because there is rarely any late availability to discount.

Other times of year

Bridge DaySpring Whitewater SeasonSki SeasonNew Year in the MountainsFall FoliageLeaf Peeping WeekendsRamp SeasonSummer Holiday WeekendsBuck Firearms SeasonWVU Football Home GamesMarshall Football Home GamesState Fair of West Virginia Campgrounds near Gauley River National Recreation AreaCabins near Gauley River National Recreation AreaHotels near Gauley River National Recreation AreaRV Parks near Gauley River National Recreation Area