Lower Staircase Rapid

Class III

whitewater rafting through Lower Staircase Rapid on the Lower Gauley River in West Virginia

This rapid contains one of the best wave trains on the entire Gauley River. There are few obstacles as long as you stay in the waves in the middle of the river and out of the rocks on the sides. There is a bad pinning rock on the right at the exit of the rapid, however it is easily avoided.

View an Aerial Image of this Rapid

Lower Staircase Rapid at 2800 cfs

Filmed from the left bank, this video describes the features present in Lower Staircase Rapid and includes footage of whitewater rafting through the rapid..