David Kelly Consulting

We have lots of water in Florida. Miles of seashore for sportfishing. Chilly spring-fed lagoons for snorkeling and diving. Serene lazy rivers for idly floating downstream.

We live in an aquatic paradise.

But where can you go to get a different sort of water adventure? Spend some time on a winding river that moves swiftly through a towering green gorge? Maybe enjoy an adrenaline rush while challenging over two dozen rapids in just a couple short hours? Then cap it all off with some land-based excitement like ziplining?

You can do all this and more on the New River in heavenly West Virginia. And nobody can facilitate that experience better than Adventures on the Gorge.

Located in the heart of Appalachia, the waters of the New River have carved their way through three states for thousands of years, ultimately streaming into the Ohio River on their way to the sea. During their time in West Virginia, these waters pass through New River Gorge, where they form a turbulent whitewater base for sandstone cliffs as high as 1,000 feet.

In 1974, the New River Gorge Bridge was completed, spanning the river and turning what was an hour-long drive between cities into a quick trip with incredible views. Spanning over 3,000 feet and a whopping 867 feet high, it is the longest single-span steel arch bridge in the country. There is even a special dedicated day each year – Bridge Day – where folks can BASE jump, rappel, or simply walk across this epic overpass while enjoying a great party atmosphere.

In 2020, the United States Government dedicated over 70,000 acres to become the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. All told, over 53 miles of the New River run through this newly designated recreational area, with much of it still wild and turbulent.

If tackling this whitewater sounds like your idea of a thrill, then Adventures on the Gorge is the perfect headquarters for your own fun-filled trip. Situated right on the rim of New River Gorge, this adventure resort – known simply as “AOTG” to its legion of fans – is the home base you will want in order to absorb the area’s excitement to the fullest.

(Continue reading below photos).

In the late 1970’s, a group of young friends took to rafting in the New River area. Originally operating four separate rafting outfitters near the towns of Fayetteville and Lansing, these companies expanded their offerings over the ensuing years to include food, camping, and even cabins. In 2007, the owners merged their four operations, calling the new entity Adventures on the Gorge, and the excitement continues to grow along with the company to this day.

AOTG’s 350 acres offers everything you need for your West Virginia mountain adventures. In addition to providing breath-taking views of the Gorge from many of its public areas and restaurants, the property features accommodations in multiple categories. From simple tent camping to RV hookups to rustic cabins to spacious family homes, there is a dwelling and a budget for every visitor. They have even embraced the recent trend of “glamping” that combines traditional tent camping with extra high-end comfort.

Looking for food choices? Meals at Smokey’s on the Gorge include the option of outdoor dining with scenic overlook views. Chetty’s Pub features sports and live music in a wooded relaxed atmosphere, often playing videos of the day’s rafting excitement on their TVs. Rendezvous River Lodge offers up quick bites and live weekend music all summer long. Toss in a coffee shop and pool-side snack shack with cocktails, and you just might never leave the resort to eat.

AOTG features two diverse types of adventure – on-site activities that are easy access from your living quarters, and off-site activities that they organize and facilitate. On-site options include such aerial adventures as the Tree Tops Canopy Tour, where guests zipline through the lush canopy and explore the mountain forests around them. After a quick “Ground School” of rules and guidelines, you will head up into the trees and onto eleven separate zipline experiences, swinging bridges, air stairs, and more. At the end of the excursion, the only way back to the ground is to rappel, finishing each trip on an exhilarating note.

Other on-site options include aerial obstacle courses, mountain biking, guided hikes, rock-climbing, paintball, and more.

WHITEWATER RAFTING AND MORE

The heart of AOTG’s adventure options is their white-water rafting tours. There are four unique trips to choose from – the tranquil Upper New River trip, the challenging Lower New River trip, the peaceful Lower Gauley River ride, or the seasonally-available world-renown Upper Gauley test that includes a half-dozen Class V rapids and a 14-foot waterfall challenge. You simply meet up on-site, grab all the gear you will need, and the AOTG bus takes you down winding mountain roads to the launch area below. Knowledgeable guides give important rafting instructions while you are on your way, setting guests up for an exhilarating yet safe experience.

Once you are on the water, your raft of up to eight riders will be piloted by an expert river guide. That does not mean that they do all the work though - all participants are expected to join in the fun to keep the rafts upright and headed downriver. This directive is simple to achieve on the more tranquil tracks, allowing for leisurely sightseeing in the magnificent mountain surroundings. However, the runs for the more experienced paddlers, such as the Lower New and the Upper Gauley, have as many as two-dozen rapids on each river, categorized from the relatively gentle Class II to the roaring and electrifying Class V. These sections provide truly memorable adventures that are not for the faint of heart.

Adventures on the Gorge also specializes in family, couple, and group endeavors. Events such as weddings, reunions, and corporate retreats can be infused with open-air activities, group challenges, and new experiences. Youth clubs are also welcomed – a wonderful way to expose kids to new and unique outdoor fun.

Let West Virginia’s country roads take you home – to the excitement of Adventures on the Gorge.

Round Up

Adventures On The Gorge

Lansing West Virginia

Adventures on the Gorge

ALMOST HEAVEN IN WEST VIRGINIA

GORGE-OUS VIEWS

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ADVENTURES ON THE GORGE HAS IT ALL