The New River is considered by some to be the oldest river in North America, second in the world only to the Nile! It�s a very unusual river in that it flows �north� through the beautiful mountains of North Carolina.

There�s a lot of debate on how the New River got its name. The most widely accepted theory/story follows:
In the late 1700s or early 1800s, surveyors were working their way across this new country. When they happened on the New River, they discovered that it wasn�t on any of their existing maps; so they charted it and labeled it as �A New River.� Congress was responsible for naming all rivers and I guess they were about as good as accomplishing things then as they are now. So in their infinite wisdom, they dropped the �A.�

�Hence, the name, �The New River!�

The railroad was complete through the New River Gorge in 1873, and shortly after that, Coal and Timber Barons moved in, and began to strip nearly every tree in the gorge. The lumber was used as timbers in the mines further north into Virginia, and as materials to build the 20+ towns that sprang up in the gorge. Coke ovens were built along the tracks in many of the towns. The resulting pollution from the manufacturing of the coke and the coal-burning railroad engines definitely had an impact on the river. Some say that the river was in ecologically horrible shape; but we�ll leave that to the activists. At any rate, today the New River has made nearly a complete �recovery.� Only a few structures or their foundations are left standing and the canyon walls are covered with second growth forestation. It�s really a site to behold.

The river itself has a average gradient of 25 to 30 feet per mile. It normally features 23 named rapids; usually with 2 class V rapids, most in Virginia (depending on the river level).

Here, along �our stretch of the New River, you find flowing waters that are perfect for floating gently and comfortably through impressive rock walls and beautiful mountain surroundings.

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