Kayaker's Guide to the Upper Gauley

This video shows and describes some of the easier lines through the big rapids on the Upper Gauley river in West Virginia. It's one of my all time favorite rivers!!! Clay Wright paddles the new Jackson Kayak Zen 3, as Stephen Wright narrates the ninja secrets of these lines. There are LOTS of ways to run these rapids, but hopefully this video will help some folks. This video will not keep you safe on the Upper Gauley--it's for entertainment purposes only. Only you are responsible for keeping you safe on the Upper Gauley. Enjoy!

[@ignatiusdemonseed]

This is the best river line video I have ever seen. I'm 62 now, haven't paddled big water in 17 years. If I had river commentary like this back in the 90s, I might have actually had more fun instead of always fearing if I was on the correct glide path or not. Well done. - Flip Rollem, (ex) Three Rivers Paddling Club. God bless William Nealy.

[@BoyJeenyus1]

Thanks for that! it was fun to make this one. I love the Gauley

[@Skurfur]

Wow! Why hasn't this video surfaced before now? Searched for Upper Gualey kayaking POV for years and finally found my definitive guide. Many thanks Stephen Wright!

[@jacobweglinski]

One of the best videos i have seen, ran the upper for the first time 2 coming up on 3 years ago and this video helped me so much. Much love

[@NChillbilly]

One of the best videos I've seen on the Upper. Wish I had the benefit of you tube videos on my first trip about 18 years ago. After swimming Insignificant my paddling partners said I was walking out at Pillow if I swam again. Thankfully they were good guides and I made it clean the rest of the way. One of the best days of my life.

[@Knightrider3.14]

Great job Stephen. Would love to see more rivers in this style.

[@anthonymichelin6714]

Bad ass video! I went for a swim in lost paddle yesterday, I wasn’t sure if I was gonna make it. The upper gauley is a beautiful beast

[@josiatokirina1788]

The best river review I have seen. Excellent!

[@richardcaplinger3622]

Best video of upper Gauley I have ever seen. I own property at the top of hill at Mason branch take out. Really beautiful video of the river and good info on kayaking it. Thank you

[@danehauser8675]

Thanks for the excellent video and perfect timing as I'll be there in a week.

[@AdrianTregoning]

Fantastic video. I didn't realise that river was so beautiful. I think a lot of beginners fail to realise the importance of cross current movement. I know this isn't an instructional but if folk pay attention they would learn something here. Again, epic footage. Love the drone work.

[@ridged8]

Fabulous job everyone, thank you very much for your time!

[@russabney5150]

Best kayak video guide I have seen.

[@andrejtellenow]

great video - love the analysis. Keep them coming - even if I am never going to paddle the upper gauley, still very interesting to hear how you approach and navigate a rapid :)

[@edpopelas2844]

Awesome video Stephen! Years ago I put together “The Kayakers Travelogue” to document rivers just like this, it is a lot of work getting different POV’s, info, etc and being able to put them together the way I envisioned was a lot more work than I was able to dedicate. Kudos, the Gauley is my all time favorite!

[@sacjusticeforyou]

Hey Stephen, I’m getting ready to head back for Gauley Fest ‘22. 1st time on the river. I have a ‘12 AIRE Sabertooth that I use to pretty much run kayak lines. Your video is phenomenal and I’m hoping to pick up an R2 to go run this river. Much love river soul brother

[@datapro007]

Timely video, thanks! Great footage too.

[@DanielSBourdeau]

Great work, man. Such helpful information.

[@kylebraun5332]

Love the style! Do some more rivers in this style!!!

[@joegoober107]

That was awesome. Thank you, not sure I will ever get to run that but if I do will watch this a couple hundred times :)

[@1stVARifleman]

The Zen 3, looking forward to that release and comparing it to the Zen 2 and Nirvana. I paddle a Zen 2, but have considered a Nirvana and other 9ft race boats before. That video is sweet and has great info; maybe in a year or two, I'll feel comfortable enough to run the Gauley. I ran the Ocoee and New River Gorge the first time this summer. My local run is Goshen Pass on the Maury.

[@kevin21tito]

Amazing job!!🤘🤘🔥🔥

[@kevinmorris1965]

great video. THANK YOU!

[@MrAzahills]

Thanks so much for this video!!

[@1stVARifleman]

Great video. I've rafted the Upper Gauley, would love to be good enough to kayak it one day. Biggest I've done in my kayak is the New River Gorge. I run a Jackson Nirvana now, just got it this season, but COVID prevented me from using it more. I paddled a Zen-2 and Traverse before that.

[@joshuaspiceland]

awesome. great filming

[@hipernet]

thanks for the video dude!

[@SouthernYak]

great video Stephen!

[@jswright1975]

Sweet video...love the drone footage!!! You still using the Mavic?

[@scottybeegood]

Nicely done

[@kathryns5122]

Hi Stephen! Mother here - excellent guide, though I think my days on the UG (which were few) are now numbered. Moved to the Wet House at the start of Covid, and it's now my permanent home. Stop by and say hello sometime.

[@kathryns5122]

Mothra the winged creature not the autocorrect. Hate that! Have to fix new computer.

[@walthanas]

What a lovely way of making a river rapid running video. Thank you for sharing!

[@CCBBAA1]

THANK YOU!

[@MK-xl9tt]

Nice work

[@GoProMotions]

Awesome

[@777PLove]

nice job

[@ronactive]

IS a good and interessting Video. Greetings ronactive

[@olneymaryland77]

Just like i remember it two weeks ago

[@TluckAtoZ]

Scary n hello from Nepal

[@margaretlorimer4776]

Big
G

[@stumax1000]

What was the river level?

[@BoyJeenyus1]

This was full fall flow release level: 2,800 cfs

[@briand3837]

Water looks low.

[@tbone5448]

this isn't the upper Gauley

[@BoyJeenyus1]

this IS the upper gauley. I've run it a lot :) What do you think it is?

[@jessevsammons]

I need a shower to was the gay off me now...