View Full Version : Anyone been to Sumersville, WVA
Downhill Trucker
07-29-2009, 20:38
Going camping there tommorow and doing some climbing nearby. Anyone been to this area? Things to do or check out? Cool trails? Etc?
fiddlehead
07-29-2009, 21:24
I've been there dozens of times. It is the heart of some of the best rafting and kayaking in the east. (when there is a water release)
The Gauley and New Rivers are nearby.
We used to camp right under the New River bridge but they made it a national park so it's not allowed anymore.
Good climbing in the New river gorge. Take a camera.
Ask around about $5 Frank although he is dead now.
Most of the rafting companies have camping (there are tons of them)
Have fun.
Downhill Trucker
07-29-2009, 22:03
Unfortunately I don't think we will be rafting. Thanks for the info though!
fiddlehead
07-29-2009, 22:26
I'm pretty sure you don't have to raft to use their campgrounds.
There is a state park in the area also but i don't remember the name.
rootball
08-01-2009, 17:52
You will get all the scoop from them. Gauley Fest 99-08.
TIDE-HSV
08-01-2009, 18:24
No, you don't have to go on the river to use the campground. Although the only time I stayed there by the dam was before kayaking the Gauley. Since you're not interested in the river, I'd try to stay there other than when a release is taking place from the dam. For one thing, there's a lot of paddler congestion in the campground, and, for another, the water comes out of of huge penstocks in the face of the dam, with a thunderous noise and trembling of the ground. Hard to sleep, particularly if one knows one is going to be paddling the river in the morning...
Stick to the posted speed limit on US 19 while in Summersville...the fine folks of Summersville, West Virginia have a lot of this motorist money :o