Melting Down over your Gauley Plans? 🛶
Please join WV Rivers Coalition in celebrating 35 years of commitment to conservation and community. Illustration by Hannah Hedrick of Spore Print Press.
Gauley Season is almost here, and you know what that means! Time to rally your crew, load up those boats, or just your sense of adventure, and make your plans for one of the most legendary whitewater runs in the world! And after you are done with your day full of good lines, great hikes, or simply soaking in those mountain views, don’t miss some good times at one of the biggest celebrations of the year: WV Rivers’ 35th Anniversary Celebration!
Join us Friday, September 12, 2025, at the beautiful Confluence Resort in Hico, WV, for a free, community-focused event honoring 35 years of protecting the rivers we love!
Whether you’re charging the Upper, cruising the Lower, wandering the trails, or simply here for the mountain spirit, this event is for everyone! Come together for an evening of live music, great energy, and connection with friends who care about clean water.
However you enjoy West Virginia’s outdoors, you belong in this celebration of 35 years of conservation and community.
🔥 Event Highlights — Just Announced!
Join WV Rivers Coalition for live music from Ryan Brandenburg and The Leftover Stews and craft beer from The Freefolk Brewery.
Here’s just a taste of what’s waiting for you:
- Great Food & Craft Beverages: Fuel up after your run with local flavors and craft brews, including pours from The Freefolk Brewery
- Live Music & Dancing: Kick back (or kick up your heels!) with tunes from Ryan Brandenburg and The Leftover Stews. And yes, you’ll want to bring your dancing Chacos for some late-night square dancing under the stars.
- Stories of Community & Conservation: Gather ‘round for powerful stories from river advocates and community champions working to protect clean water and healthy communities.
Still need a reason to make WV Rivers’ 35th Anniversary Celebration part of your Gauley Season? Here are three:
- Reconnect with the river community
- Reflect on 35 years of progress and advocacy
- Savor a laid-back Friday before the big Gauley Fest weekend kicks off
This place, and this moment, are worth celebrating.
RSVP now to lock in your spot, help us plan the food and brews, and make sure you’re part of the story.
We’re proud of what we’ve built together over the last 35 years—and even more excited about what’s ahead. Let’s celebrate Gauley Season with heart, gratitude, and plenty of river stoke!
See you at the Confluence,
-All of us at WV Rivers
A bird’s-eye view of the Meadow River upstream of its confluence with the Gauley River. Photo by J Young.
