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The Upper New
Something for Everyone
With its enormous pools, gigantic rock formations and moderate rapids, the Upper New River is the perfect introduction to modern whitewater rafting. Winding through some of the most spectacular scenery in North America, it also offers a journey back in time, to the very beginnings of the continent itself.
The New is a contradiction in terms: It actually is the second oldest river in the Western Hemisphere. Its primeval ancestor, known to scientists as the Teays River, drained not only the current watershed but also those of the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico!
The river we know today as the New is the upper stretch of that enormous prehistoric waterway, still carving its way ever deeper into billion-year-old rock formations in what is justifiably called "the Grand Canyon of the East."
The Upper New is a favorite with families and first-timers, but it isn't uncommon to find them sharing the river with experts who are drawn to its variety and beauty time and time again.
Most Upper New trips begin at or near the historic town of Thurmond, which boomed in the early 20th Century as the railroad opened this great Eastern wilderness for the first time. Starting with a series of gentle ripples, the trip progresses into Class II and Class III rapids interspersed by large pools. Jump rocks and ample swimming opportunities abound here, providing plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and history that is all around. The trip concludes with several of the larger Class 3 rapids. These provide plenty of "pop" and are certain to end your day on the river with a bang!
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