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WOODS FERRY 2006
WOODS FERRY (Public law #104-333, section 406 (c) (2), November 12, 1996, states that there must be public access to the Gauley River at Woods Ferry). The Woods Ferry Road was built sometime before the Civil War. The original wall of stone still supports the road underneath the overhanging rock. The Woods Ferry access was first developed in 1986 by Jon Dragan of Wildwater Unlimited and Benjy Simpson of Passages To Adventure, 304 574-1037, www.passagestoadventure.com. The Woods Ferry River Right Take-out is located 13 miles and 65 rapids downstream of the Summersville Dam. From Woods Ferry to Swiss, the Lower Gauley consists of 13 miles and 38 rapids. Improving the Woods Ferry Gauley River Access has been a cooperative venture involving Friends of the Gauley River (FOGR), Friends of the River of Virginia (FORVA), Float Fishermen of Virginia (FFV), West Virginia Division of Tourism, West Virginia Division of Highways, American Whitewater (www.americanwhitewater.org), National Park Service (NPS), and Passages To Adventure. Boaters must park in a designated area above the NPS gate and walk ½ mile up or down the Woods Ferry Road. Boats can be shuttled up and down the road from the beach beside the river. The shuttle is available through Mr. Waugh at the Middle Gauley Campground. Please call him at 304 640-1546 between 10 PM and midnight to arrange shuttle times. The road to the river is limited to authorize vehicles only. There is no designated camping in the area. ATV’s are prohibited from traveling on NPS roads and lands. To make donations for the improvement of the Woods Ferry Road and/or volunteer to work on the road contact Bill Tanger, 540-366-2228, tanger@mediavisionva.com, FORVA, PO Box 1750, Roanoke VA 24008. (FORVA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.) Your donation is still needed to fund the efforts for a long-term solution and for ongoing maintenance. Mason Branch is available for the private boater to use. Lost Paddle Inc. and Imre and Janet Szilagyi have agreed to allow the West Virginia Rivers Coalition to offer a shuttle service at Mason Branch for private kayakers and canoeists.  click the image above for an enlarged version of the map Directions: From US Route 19 travel east on WV 129 for 10.2 miles (7.2 miles from Summersville Dam) until you come to the Royal Chapel United Methodist Church that will be on your left. Turn left after the church on to Panther Mountain Road, WV 2/22. Travel approximately 5.7 miles and turn left on to the Dragan Road, then go .6 mile and park on the right just before the second National Park Service gate (.7 miles). Do not park in front of the NPS gate! |