Gauley River National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in West Virginia. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Gauley River
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Gauley River. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
State Parks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Gauley River the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:40 AM | 8:20 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:28 PM | 244° | 9h 48m |
| February | 7:15 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:26 PM | 6:03 PM | 255° | 10h 47m |
| March | 7:36 AM | 8:11 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:31 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:49 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:00 PM | 283° | 13h 11m |
| May | 6:14 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:28 PM | 295° | 14h 14m |
| June | 6:01 AM | 6:40 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:50 PM | 301° | 14h 48m |
| July | 6:13 AM | 6:52 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:48 PM | 299° | 14h 34m |
| August | 6:40 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:19 PM | 289° | 13h 40m |
| September | 7:06 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:34 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:33 AM | 8:09 AM | 6:12 PM | 6:48 PM | 260° | 11h 14m |
| November | 7:06 AM | 7:45 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:13 PM | 247° | 10h 07m |
| December | 7:34 AM | 8:16 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:06 PM | 241° | 9h 31m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.2061, -81.0042); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Gauley River, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:21 AM – 5:41 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:39 AM – 5:59 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:34 AM – 5:04 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:34 AM – 4:24 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| June | 10:46 PM – 3:56 AM | 5.2 | 23° |
| July | 10:39 PM – 2:39 AM | 4.0 | 23° |
| August | 9:58 PM – 12:38 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 9:03 PM – 10:33 PM | 1.5 | 19° |
| October | 8:15 PM – 8:35 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
Weather in the Appalachian Mountains can be unpredictable and can change quickly. Always be prepared for the possibility of sudden storms. Weather in the mountains is often cooler and wetter than the surrounding area. On average, the warmest month is July. The maximum average precipitation also occurs in July.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (77%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Plane The largest airport is at Charleston, about 65 miles from Summersville. There are also small airports at Summersville and Beckley. Car The main entrance to Gauley River National Recreation Area is located off US Route 19 south of Summersville and north of Fayetteville, West Virginia. Turn off US Route 19 onto WV Route 129 toward Summersville Dam. Take the second left after you cross over the dam and follow the signs to Gauley River.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Boating
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- RV Camping
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Paddling
- Kayaking
- Whitewater Rafting
- Junior Ranger Program
Nearby parks
WV
WV
VA
PA