Written by: Angel Blankenship
Each fall, nestled deep within the wild and wonderful heart of West Virginia, the Gauley River awakens like a mountain giant, thundering from the depths, daring the boldest rafters and kayakers to meet her fury. She’s more than just whitewater. She is a rite of passage, etched with the legacy of those early river pioneers and all the men and women who have since braved her course and in some cases lost their lives to her untamed whitewater.
Each September, American Whitewater (AW) gathers tribes of rafters and kayakers from all over the world for Gauley Fest, a celebration born from the love of whitewater and sustained by its enthusiasts. What began as a grassroots homage to those fighting for river access has grown into the world’s largest whitewater festival; raising vital funds to protect and preserve rivers across the country.
Views from Gauley Fest 2025
Our team at Flybook had the opportunity to sponsor the iconic event this year, joining their National Partnership Program and sending three of our own West Virginia natives to share in the spirit of this community at the festival. The current that carried us into this partnership was an epic confluence of timing, happenstance, and... a delayed airplane. Jessie Stover, a WV rafting native and Flybook team member, recalled how her delayed flight from Charlotte, NC to Charleston, WV fostered a chance meeting with Clinton Begley, the Executive Director of American Whitewater.
“I found myself next to a guy wearing a Gauley Fest hat. We got to talking - about rivers, conservation, and the challenges of keeping public lands open for private and commercial boaters. By the time the wheels hit the runway, I knew this wasn’t just small talk.” Jessie said.
That conversation between Jessie and Clinton became the headwaters of a new alliance. When sponsoring the event was suggested, Jessie reached out to American Whitewater. After one call with Bethany Overfield, AW’s Membership and Engagement Director, it was clear this partnership just made sense.
Jessie, Angel, and Alicia Humphries had the opportunity to represent Flybook onsite during the festival for three days and work alongside the American Whitewater team in the membership tent talking to festival attendees about AW’s mission and encouraging them to become members.
From left to right: Clinton, Jessie, Angel, Alicia and Bethany
“With a staff of 13, we absolutely would not be able to make it happen without our volunteers,” Bethany Overfield explained. “Flybook stepped in this year and assisted us with membership engagement which was such a huge help. This was a great membership growth year for us at the Gauley Festival. We're so appreciative of the Flybook Team for showing up for us!”
Gauley Fest is not just American Whitewater’s biggest membership drive and largest fundraiser of the year. It is also a whitewater extravaganza of epic proportions. Rafters and kayakers from all over the world take to the famous rapids hoping to leave their own mark on the river’s legacy. Their energy is fueled by their passion for whitewater and can be felt throughout the fairgrounds where companies dedicated to the industry set up booths and ignite the atmosphere. This year, Immersion Research, Rocky Mountain Rafts, Jackson Kayak, Alpacka Raft, Werner, Work of Harris, and River Station Gear (plus many more) could be found amongst the paddlers relaying river stories and advice, hosting a bob for pickles, and dancing along with the crowd decking themselves out in costumes to match the year’s theme- Renew Your Vows with American Whitewater.
These two really got into the spirit of the theme!
If the fairground stirs the spirit, the river ignites it. Private and commercial boaters alike begin their day at the mouth of Summersville Dam. Known as the “Beast of the East” the Upper Gauley hurls rafters 12 miles downriver, dropping a total of 333 feet. Paddlers will face 40 named rapids ranging from Class III - V. Each demanding skill, courage, and focus.
Jessie and Angel have both taken on the Gauley in a raft, but they had the opportunity to become riverside spectators during the festival. Rick Johnson, owner of River Expeditions, graciously allowed them, along with Emma from American Whitewater, to hike onto his private property and take a front row seat to the action at one of the Gauley’s most famous rapids - Sweets Falls.
Sweets Falls shows no mercy
By the time they arrive at Sweets Falls paddlers have already tested their skills and bravery through four of the Gauley’s iconic Class V rapids- Insignificant, Pillow Rock, Lost Paddle, and Iron Ring. Sweets Falls, a river-wide cascading waterfall with a 14-foot drop, is the last of the big five. Standing on a rock above the falls, Jessie, Angel, and Emma watched as private boaters and commercial rafts dropped into the chaos. The roar of the falls, the whistles blowing in all directions calling attention to rafters ejected into the river, the constant noise of the crowd lining the riverbanks watching and cheering as others made their way through was nothing short of electrifying.
“It is so refreshing to see paddlers from all over the world enjoying the river during Gauley Fest. Many of the local professional guides and paddlers feel a sense of pride and excitement when they see the river full of folks who are passionate about whitewater. Attending Gauley Fest is a pilgrimage of sorts and the buzz amongst people who are paddling the Gauley River is undeniable. American Whitewater hosts an amazing event combining activism, advocacy, and adventure,” - Andrew Sullivan, a long-time raft guide with Adventures on the Gorge, remarked.
Andrew Sullivan guiding adventure seekers down the Gauley
Photo by: Whitewater Photography
For those of us at Flybook, Gauley Fest wasn’t just a sponsorship. It was a chance to roll up our sleeves, make connections, and be part of something special. American Whitewater is a membership funded, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to protect and restore whitewater rivers- preserving their flow, ensuring access, and inspiring a community of advocates to keep them wild, free, and alive.
Here at Flybook, that mission runs deep. We are a team largely comprised of former guides and operators. We are river people at heart, rafting and paddling on the weekends and tooling outfitters with a solution to help their businesses thrive during the week. Healthy rivers make outdoor businesses possible. Which is why we are excited to be a National Partner for American Whitewater to help ensure that future generations can experience the rivers we love while supporting the businesses that make outdoor adventures possible.
Looking to manage more and grow, just like some of the outfitters on the Gauley? The Flybook Reservation Software can help.
