Lower New River Whitewater Rafting Trip

Overview

Available languages

English

5 hours

Mobile ticket

With the help of an expert guide, your crew will navigate the most exciting stretch of the New River. The Lower New is one of the most popular river trips in the country with over 25 rapids rated class I-V. Between rapids, enjoy calm and relaxing pools, stories about the area’s old coal towns and beautiful scenery. The ever changing water levels offer a different and exciting trip every time. The Lower New is the perfect first-time rafting trip balancing adrenaline and fun. Riverside lunch and equipment included. Minimum of 2 guests required to book. Maximum 8 guests per raft.

Additional Info

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Minimum age is 12 years

Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Professional guide

All taxes, fees and handling charges

Lunch

Beverages

Gratuities

DVD (available to purchase)

Souvenir photos (available to purchase)

What To Expect

Adventures on the Gorge

Meet your rafting trip leader at the departure point. You will listen to a brief orientation and get your gear (personal flotation device, helmet and paddle). Then, you will have a 30-minute ride on a school bus down to the river put-in. Your guide will go over additional instructions once you get in the raft. The trip begins with a few smaller class I-III rapids as you ease into paddling and working as a team. Then, you hit some bigger rapids rated class IV-V. About half way through the trip, your trip will pull over and eat a deli-style lunch on the shore. After lunch, you will continue downstream into the heart of the Gorge. Here you’ll go through several rapids rated class III-V. Between rapids, there is time for swimming, floating and maybe (based on water levels) jumping off of rocks. The trip ends just past the New River Gorge Bridge.

Admission Not Applicable

Options

Lower New River Whitewater Rafting Trip

Reviews

4.86

183 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

172

Adventures on the Gorge is great
maryanney2016,
Oct 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
I was lucky enough to raft the New River with Adventures on the Gorge on Bridge Day. It was a lot of fun. The operators know what they are doing, are very organized, and there was not one moment I felt unsafe. If you are interested in rafting on the New or Gauley rivers, check out Adventures on the Gorge. The one detraction was the video the videographer did. It was not worth the money, especially when compared to other videos by different videographers.
Family Whitewater Rafting Trip
leslieboyd2022,
Oct 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our first time whitewater rafting and it was exceptional. The weather was perfect. Shayla our guide was wonderful. This is something we already have plans to do again. If there’s one thing you do, it has to be this. So much fun.
Go for Guido!!!
Johnny4X4,
Oct 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Stellar experience! My son and I were on a guys weekend and booked a 1/2 day trip. Happens to pick the perfect weekend for weather and water. The big surprise was our guide Guido! Yes…that’s his name. You’ll do yourself a dis-service if you don’t ask for him. He is a legend around here and a top tier guide and human being. Can’t say enough good things about this trip. Great class 1-5 rapids and a great time!!!
Wonderful time!
Tonya N,
Sep 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great trip! We did the lower New River. The river was lower since it was in autumn. We plan on doing the Gauley in the spring. Great guides! Evan was our videographer he did great! We bought the video a must do!! Thanks Kevin- our guide! Highly recommend!!
A fun challenge
rater10,
Sep 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We chose the Lower New River tour for families (10 and up), since we had never been whitewater rafting on a river. You have the option to choose a two-seater raft or a larger group raft. My son and I chose the two-seater raft and it felt safe and stable. The guides go through all the safety information on the bus ride there and it's enough to freak you out and want to take the bus back to the lodge. I understand it's necessary information, but it made my child quite anxious. He remained nervous throughout the trip, but the amount of guides made me feel safe. We played it safe on each rapid, so we stayed in our raft, but many people flipped their raft and ended up in the river. Even the children who fell out of their raft were caught quickly and were safe. The guides aren't joking that everything in your boat gets lost - shoes, water bottles and suntan lotion bottles were floating down the river. You can bring a dry bag as long as it has a strap that you can connect to the boat. I wouldn't recommend any loose items. If you're on the fence about the Lower or Upper tours - then play it safe and stay on the Lower area - there was plenty of excitement and plenty of rapids. They provided a basic lunch: make your own sandwich. We even took a few minutes to stop at "jumping rock" - climbing a rock and jumping into the river. This trip offered a lot of variety and we had a lot of fun!
What an ADVENTURE ON THE GORGE!
johnstaver,
Sep 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We stayed in Kaymoor cabin # 1 for three days in mid September 2025. This is a small 1 bedroom, one bath cabin. Cabin was clean and comfortable with mini fridge, microwave, king bed, work desk, two large screen TV's, nice bathroom, deck and firepit. Parking for two cars in front of the cabin. We took the six hour Lower New River Gorge raft trip with up to class 4 rapids. Perfect for these two first timers. Ray-Ray, our river guide and tour guide, was awesome. He explained everything about the river history, rock formations, and area history. He also provided an in-depth history of the local coal industry, and it's people. We would definitely take this raft trip again as first time rafters. Very exciting, but not scary. We highly recommend Adventures on the Gorge lodging and river raft trips. Everyone was nice, professional, and extremely knowledgeable.
White Water rafting as a blind person
jenines2018,
Aug 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I went white water rafting with the Mountain State Council of the Blind. It was my first time rafting. The staff and guides for the event were outstanding. They gave clear explanations of everything we did. Our guide Derek gave great info on the area and history as well. We had 16 people in our group, 3 rafts, 3 incredible guides. No one fell out, no raft was flipped and no one's abilities were ever questioned. You never know when you have a disability if attractions will accommodate you. Adventures on the Gorge did for our group and it sounded like the other offerings they provide would be equally fun and accommodating.
Great family or group experience
W5442UZkimg,
Aug 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Best family trip! I went with my teenage girls and we had a great time. It was their first whitewater rafting trip and won’t be their last! I have been whitewater rafting about 25 years ago on a different river, but this trip was much better suited for me and my kids. Our river guides Hanna and Monica were awesome, so friendly and knowledgeable about the river and local area. They were professional and kept our safety at the first priority with fun a close #2! We couldn’t have asked for a better trip! We had a mixed group of people in our raft, teen age girls, myself (40-ish female) and 2 women (50-ish) and 2 men (50-ish), everyone had a great time and Hanna made sure we all enjoyed it to the fullest! Lunch was great and the guides took care to make sure to “leave no trace”, everything was cleaned up well. I was pleasantly surprised with an ice cold “age appropriate” beverage at the end of the trip. Everyone of the staff were great, even the bus driver, (Betty?)! I will be coming back again next year and bringing more family and friends, I know they will love it!
Had a blast! Everyone was awesome from the bus ride to the instructor. Highly recommend! Mason is the man!!!
peytons955,
Aug 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Had a blast would 100% do it again! Everyone was awesome from the bus ride to the instructor. Highly recommend! Mason is the man!!!
Had a blast!!
JeffH597,
Aug 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Had a blast on the river, but hands down, Thomas, our guide took the experience to the next level. He did an awesome job, took extra care of an elderly rafter with us. He was entertaining, extremely knowledgeable and even well versed in local history. We’ll be back!