The Gauley River begins high in Pocahontas County, drops nearly 4,000 feet along its 104-mile journey, and flows west to join the New River at Gauley Bridge to form the Kanawha River.

The Gauley flows through extremely rugged country. Its deep valleys and tributaries (like the Cherry and Meadow rivers) were difficult to settle. The area's rough terrain was the site of the Battle of Carnifex Ferry during the Civil War in 1861. Later, the area was heavily developed for coal and timber resources.

To control flooding downstream on the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, the Summersville Dam was built in the 1960s, creating Summersville Lake (now a state park). The river is best known for its wild section below the dam. Every fall, water is released from the lake, creating one of the East Coast's premier whitewater rafting experiences. This 24-mile section is now protected as the Gauley River National Recreation Area.