NPS - National Park Service

12/02/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/02/2024 13:44

NPS Invites public to comment on proposal for Tailwaters Campground at Gauley River NRA.

News Release Date:
December 2, 2024

Contact: Eve West, (304) 719-6364

GLEN JEAN, WV - The National Park Service (NPS) at Gauley River National Recreation Area invites interested members of the public to review and provide comments on the proposed rehabilitation and expansion of the Gauley Tailwaters Campground in Nicholas County, West Virginia.

Background
Gauley Tailwaters Campground is nestled alongside the headwaters of the world-famous whitewater Gauley River. This rustic campground needs an upgrade since it was established with the park at its inception in 1988. This project will rehabilitate the campground and ensure its viability and accessibility for many years to come.

The campground is the hub of all activities during the yearly Gauley River rafting season. Gauley Season brings in rafters from around the world for Class V and VI whitewater rafting in the river. The small campground of sixteen sites (intended for 64 campers) swells to over a 100 to 200 campers on these busy days.

Preliminary Alternatives
The NPS has developed two preliminary alternatives for rehabilitation and expansion of the Gauley Tailwaters Campground.
The proposed action includes:

  • The 16 campsites would be relocated beyond the current locations within a forested setting for more space and a better user experience.
  • There would be 11 RV sites and 5 walk-in tent sites. All campsites would be constructed to meet federal ABAAS (Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standard) requirements.
  • Site furnishings would include a picnic table, durable surface tent pad, fire ring, lantern pole and campsite marker at each campsite.
  • A group camping area would be developed beyond the tent sites at the southern end of the campground.
  • The 16 existing campsites would be removed for the development of a larger day use parking area.
  • The NPS would install new restroom facilities to replace the old wooden vault building. The new facilities would be fully accessible.
  • Approximately 2 miles of new trails would be constructed to improve the campground as a destination and to provide better emergency access to the Gauley River.
  • Informational kiosks would be constructed at trailheads. One kiosk would be located within the day use area, and additional kiosks would be located within the campground.
  • A gravel road would be constructed to access the new campsites. A one-way loop turnaround would be constructed just beyond the RV sites. The road would extend beyond the loop to the tent sites and the group camping area with a short back in turnaround at the end.
The proposal will be available for review on the NPS' planning website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/GauleyTailwatersCG starting on December 3, 2024 and will be open for public comment through January 3, 2024. When commenting on the project, please consider the provided questions on the website as a guide to help focus responses on particular concerns. The NPS will analyze and consider all feedback and prepare the next steps in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).