What to do and see in West Virginia, United States: The Best River Rafting & Tubing

August 21, 2021 Russell Mellin

As you would expect, The Mountain State displays rustic charm with dramatic river gorges, large limestone caverns and spectacular mountain views. West Virginia hosts outdoor enthusiasts and family vacationers looking for fresh-air activities and serene mountain atmosphere. If stimulating city holidays are your preference, Charleston combines warm hospitality with a lovely riverside location. A family-friendly destination, you’ll discover children’s theatre, river park recreation and popular Bridge Road for shopping and dining. Smaller towns blend outdoor adventure with quaint village atmospheres. Set between the New, Greenbrier and Bluestone Rivers, Hinton is an historic rail town filled with turn-of-the-century architecture and a host of water activities at its doorstep – rafting, fishing, kayaking and more. In the heart of West Virginia, Summersville is a “Mountain Water Playground.” Its lakeside location encourages outdoor recreation from swimming and boating to scuba diving and rafting. And history buffs can trace Civil War battles throughout the states historic sites and state parks. Hiking or horseback riding along trails through deep hardwood forests is another family favorite, especially when you stop for a picnic along a clear mountain stream.
Restaurants in West Virginia

1. West Virginia Adventures

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5.0 based on 296 reviews

West Virginia Adventures

Whitewater rafting in America's newest National Park! We provide guided raft trips on West Virginia's New and Gauley Rivers, specializing in personal service for groups of every size. Family floats for ages 5+, Lower New River trips for beginners and experienced rafters, and Class V+ Gauley trips for ages 16+. Come on down to see what the fun is all about and come raft with West Virginia Adventures!

2. Blackwater Outdoor Adventures

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5.0 based on 274 reviews

Blackwater Outdoor Adventures

Blackwater Outdoor Adventures is a family owned and operated business located along the banks of the beautiful Cheat River in historic St. George, WV. We offer guided whitewater rafting trips, kayaking, canoeing, tubing, stand up paddle boarding, and camping. Our outfitter is the closest available watersports facility to Canaan Valley, Blackwater Falls, and Elkins. We generally operate early April - early September.

3. Adventures on the Gorge

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5.0 based on 929 reviews

Adventures on the Gorge

A world-class adventure resort located on the rim of the New River Gorge in West Virginia-offering activities, lodging, and dining.

4. Cantrell Ultimate Rafting - Day Tours

Excellent
96%
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5.0 based on 356 reviews

Cantrell Ultimate Rafting - Day Tours

Cantrell Ultimate Rafting is a family owned and operated West Virginia company situated near the village of Fayetteville and the village of Hinton and the best whitewater rafting on the east coast. Cantrell guides are some of the finest in the industry and the customer service is the best! We will give you the highest quality trip possible, not the highest price – this is our guarantee! We have 2 locations in the New River Gorge Region. Out of Fayetteville, WV you can come and visit us at our Gatewood River Access basecamp we have cabins with private hot tubs, rustic cabins, R.V. camping with full hook-ups, bathhouse and onsite laundry facilities and our popular 35th Star Grill & Pub where you can enjoy some of the best entertainment in the region every weekend. Our trips out of this location range from mild to wild whitewater, so if your group is mixed this would be the best destination for you. This location is also perfect for accessing beginner to advanced hiking and biking trails; gravity ziplines to tree-top canopy tours; ATV adventures and a new area attraction - BridgeWalk. From our Hinton location we offer a nice mild family trip that is just right for beginners and gives you a small taste of white water. This location is close to Bluestone State Park and Pipestem Resort State Park.

5. River Riders

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4.5 based on 1,055 reviews

River Riders

West Virginia whitewater rafting, tubing, zip line canopy tour, kayaking, canoeing, biking, climbing, team building, and outdoor adventure summer camps in Harpers Ferry and C and O Canal National Parks on the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. We are the closest outfitter to the Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD and Northern Virginia metro areas.

6. River Expeditions Whitewater Rafting

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4.5 based on 307 reviews

River Expeditions Whitewater Rafting

Explore, paddle, soar, connect and experience the joy of adventure. Discover the charm and history of the New River Gorge, as well as its vibrant culture, dynamic spirit and rugged natural beauty. River Expeditions is the area's only family-owned adventure company. Guests come first because we don’t answer to shareholders and we believe size should never outrank service. Find the best value for your vacation and feel confident about your travel decision, whether you stay a week, a weekend or just an afternoon. We never miss an opportunity to "wow" you! Stay on site at our beautiful basecamp with cabins, campground, RV park, outdoor pool, saloon, restaurant, zipline, lodge, complimentary Wi-Fi and a host of other amazing amenities. Let our professional, energetic staff sharing their passion for adventure and host your next vacation. You'll enjoy your visit - and especially the memories you create. Meeting space is available for groups who wish to mix business and pleasure.#almostheaven

7. Crafts Adventures

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4.5 based on 2 reviews

Crafts Adventures

Come take a float on the Cacapon River or the Potomac River near Berkeley Springs West Virginia. The Cacapon River float is a 1.5 mile float on mineral water at a very leisurely pace (about 2 to 2.5 hours) best in the beginning of the season when the water is high enough to float. When the river gets low, we switch over to a 3.5 mile stretch of the Potomac River where the water is clean and moves at a 1 mile per hour pace. Relax while taking in the sights, watching the eagles soar above or the host of wildlife on shore as this stretch is bordered by the C&O Canal National Park on the Maryland side and CSX Railroad and private property on the West Virginia side. Looking for a single point destination? We also rent Kayaks, Canoes and Stand Up Paddle boards at Coolfont Resort just up the mountain from Berkeley Springs.

8. North Branch Ventures

North Branch Ventures

We are sister companies with Queens Point Coffee and North Branch Pub. We have enjoyed our local river and wish to share that with others. We will be renting kayaks and supplying river supplies, fishing gear, etc.

9. Gauley Whitewater LLC

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5.0 based on 3 reviews

10. North American River Runners - Day Tours

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5.0 based on 1 reviews

North American River Runners - Day Tours

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