Upper Gauley
Scales
INFORMATION
RAPID NAME: Scales
RAPID RATING: Class III
RIVER SECTION: Upper Gauley
This is the first major rapid downstream of Pillow Rock. An undercut boulder exists in the center of the channel towards the bottom of the rapid. It can be missed both to the left and the right. At fall levels, there is a surf hole in the middle of the river below the rapid with a nice return eddy on the right bank.
View Aerial Images of Scales Rapid
Scales Rapid at 2800 cfs (from upstream)
Filmed from the large flat boulder in the center of the river at the entrance of the rapid, this video describes the features present in Scales Rapid and includes footage of whitewater rafting and kayaking.
Scales Rapid at 2800 cfs (from right bank)
Filmed from the right bank at the bottom of the rapid,, this video describes the features present in Scales Rapid and includes footage of whitewater rafting and kayaking.
SELECT A RAPID BELOW
- Entrance
- Initiation
- Little Z
- Upper Collison Creek
- Lower Collison Creek
- Geek Wave
- Slant Rock
- Bud’s Boner
- Insignificant
- Screaming S-Turn
- Pick a Slot
- Iron Curtain
- Pillow Rock (V)
- Scales
- Bubble Rock
- Hungry Mother
- Meadow View
- First Drop of Lost Paddle
- Second Drop of Lost Paddle (V)
- Fourth Drop (AKA Tumblehome)
- Conestoga
- Shipwreck Rock
- Iron Ring
- Keegan’s Falls
- Double Dilemma
- Fingernail Rock
- Sweet’s Falls
- Thumper
- Nemesis
- Gillespie’s Hole
- Chicken Ender