What a great experience! Three of us have rafted before, but one of us was a first-timer. We all had a great time and felt prepared and safe with Jason as our guide. read more

We did the lower New River trip and the staff was great. I called the night before shortly before closing and lady was so kind and set us up for a trip in the morning before we headed home. Our guides were great. The river was low but they were great. My parents don't move well and we were running behind and they were so patient with us. Thank you for a great experience before we headed home. read more

See all

Me and my family went on one of there all day trips on Thursday June 26th and we had an absolute blast! We had Space Bob (Brad) and River as our guides and they did great on making the experience memorable and the pictures we have prove it! Can't wait to come back in the fall for some new waves! Loved every second read more

Love coming back to this place for a yearly rafting trip. Camping available with clean bathrooms. Staff are professional, knowledgeable but also great fun. The water is epic and adventure memorable. The restaurant has live music and the food here is cheaper then in town. Also close hiking available if you want to stay here. read more

Highly recommend! Small, family run business that provided exceptional experience. Our guide Dakota did a great job explaining what was coming up and how to respond if you fall out. Our daughter fell out and Dakota responded quickly getting her back in raft before we even knew she was out. Loved that raft was small so only my family of 3 and Dakota were on the raft. That also allowed us to better experience every rapid. Highlight of our trip and would definitely raft with Cantrell again! read more

HIGHLY RECOMMEND using this company. I am so happy that we used them for our second Gauley adventure. My wife and I were just blown away by this company. Here's the 411: Small family owned business. Their whole set up is quality and friendliness. The positive reviews that you read on them are true. They hire quality guides that know the river well, treat you like family, and help you have a great adventure (and keep you safe). I've been to other (bigger) rafting outfitters that herd you like cattle. We really got the personal touch with Cantrell's. We will definitely be using them again next year when we come back for Gauley. Their restaurant/bar is also top notch with great atmosphere and a really good menu. One of the better burgers that I've had in a long time... read more

Cantrell Ultimate Rafting - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Fayetteville, West Virginia

See all

It's been 15 to 20 years since I have rafted the white water in West Virginia. My wife talked me into heading down for the weekend and I remember Cantrell rafting from years ago. There is no question I was going to book with this outfit because they have the best guides on the entire river. The best part of the trip for me is seeing how this business has continued to grow over the years and that made me feel great. Everyone here has always been super helpful and friendly and they make you feel very very welcome. The base camp area has several cabins that are out for rent and now they have a couple awesome looking old railroad cabooses that you can rent out as well which I intend to do in the future. We tent camped and that is something that I have always enjoyed doing. For dinner we decided to order some wings and a couple appetizers at the bar and let me tell you that they're pineapple spicy pepper blend was insane! Holy smokes I want to bathe and that sauce read more

What a blast! We opted for the full day lower gorge float and it absolutely rocked! Went through a few class 3 and 4 and even a five spot. We had total confidence in the whole crew and our guide Matt led us through without a hitch. Can't imagine using anyone else tbh. Great company and thanks for the riveting memories ) read more

Looking for a fantastic whitewater rafting experience? Look no further! This small family owned and run business has been providing superior service for decades. They run a tight ship for rafting and have very clean facilities to shower and change clothes in with plenty of room. Every one of their guides has been running these rivers for more years than many of their customers have been alive and give you a fantastic ride that will have you coming back year after year! Cannot say enough about Dan and Adam - make you feel at ease and confident you are not going swimming unless you really want to! The group I was with camped which is why I have not rated the Rooms section. The entire staff treats you like family and makes you feel at home. Other nice bonuses: they have a great continental breakfast, the restaurant has really good food, great live music Saturday nights, and the atmosphere throughout the entire property is very positive - if you appreciate and enjoy being outdoor and sharing good times together with friends and family, this is the place to be! read more

While shopping around for whitewater rafting the first few that come up are the bigger commercialized companies and then I found this gem. At first I was a bit skeptical because they are much cheaper than there competitors, but after reading the reviews I was sold. I ended up taking my family on the all day New River trip. Our guides were Ian & Trent who were young locals with a lot knowledge about the river. At no point did my family not feel safe. We went down many rapids, surfed and got totally drenched, jumped off a 20 foot rock, swam down some light rapids & had a nice lunch on a flat rock where we watched others going through the rapids for entertainment. Also, our driver Steve has some major skills navigating that big Ol bus through narrow roads and sharp turns. If you like to support small family owned businesses without sacrificing the experience, this is the place for you. read more

This is my 2nd night camping here and I would do it again. 1) affordable 2) clean (bathrooms are impeccable) 3) food was good (I had the large sweet potato fries with honey mustard dressing), I ate them all before I thought to take a pic 4) family owned business, they're knowledgeable, hospitable, thorough and caring: hosting a fund raiser for Secret Sandwich Society this weekend 5) close to A LOT of good stuff: New River Gorge and bridge, trails, Beckley 6) all the toys you need to go on the river read more

Cantrell Ultimate Rafting - All their information - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Fayetteville, West Virginia

See all

I had an awesome rafting experience with an amazing company. THE LOWEST PRICE IN THE AREA! We surfed the waves 3 times, swam many times, and jumped off of the rock. The lunch was great as well as they had fresh cherries and some vegetable options. I am staying at their camp ground and the rest rooms are nice and clean with hot showers. read more

We had a great experience at Cantrell's ultimate rafting- I wanna give a shout out to our river guide his name was Gene. We felt safe with his guidance. And they were several of the other lively guides such as Jack and then their leader Stacey. We enjoyed the live music at the facility which lasted from 7:30 to 9:30 on Saturday night- the music was very good. We stayed in one of their Amish cabins though lacking insulation it was still cold with the air conditioner and there were plenty of electric outlets as well. However, they had sleeping mats that were sort of a bunk situation but they seem very uncomfortable I would avoid- the actual beds were fine. The bathrooms are outside in a building with showers- it had a parent trap/camp Walden vibes. Get your Annie James and Hallie Parker experience! Seriously though, thank you to Stacey, Gene, and our bartender Cassie!! read more

See all

Our family from Texas took a road trip and the highlight was to raft the New River. We chose Cantrell for their good prices and it is family owned. We did the double run on the new river. This is an adventurous river but always felt safe. The guides knew the river so well and gave us quite the experience! Our guide was Ian and he was kind, safety conscious, and made sure we wouldn't forget our day. We river surfed, we jumped off rocks! And you will have a good chance of coming out of this raft! Part of the fun. Just listen to the guides- we never felt unsafe, but left feeling like adventurers with stories to tell! I highly recommend the double run if you have all day. The lunch was very good. Even though you do the same river and rapids twice- they felt new again as they recognize you've been once and do things a little different. I can't say enough good things about this company and this trip. read more

Cantrell Ultimate Rafting - Our faces say it all! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Fayetteville, West Virginia

We came to the area to do some river rafting, But also some car camping. With a little research, we found that Cantrell's fit the business type that we like to support: they were local and family owned, when I called I spoke to one of the family members on the phone, they could accommodate half of my team (who is 11 years old) on a high adventure trip. Nancy Cantrell was very accommodating on the phone and we met her upon arriving. For the River trip itself, our trip leader And safety guide were great. They had a good understanding of the history of the area (both are locals) And were respectful in every way. We did the full day trip, which included a delicious lunch that we were able to eat on a flat rock in the middle of the river, while watching other rafters and kayakers go by. We felt safe and fortunate to have the leaders we had. There were multiple opportunities to swim, even some through swift water. The trip leader gaged our ambition/concern, communicated well, and when anyone felt uneasy about an extra activity (such as surfing the rapids) either we didn't do it or the person with concerns was transferred to the safety boat to observe. If you show up without the proper gear for the river, everything can be rented at a reasonable price. Everyone at the office and transportation to and from the river were also very good (and very respectful with pronouns, which meant a lot to a non-binary kid). There is a bathhouse with very clean, hot showers. Because we were somewhat wayward, here for the national park, we opted to camp at cantrell's's also. The campsite was clean, had a fire ring and nice picnic table, with a level site. Again the bathhouse was useful and nearby. There's a restaurant/bar on site which we didn't visit, but that's where you can also buy firewood up until 9 PM. For camping, it was only $15 a night. We highly recommend!! read more

Outstanding service from booking that was super helpful and very informative. To the amazing guides Jason and Brody! I would highly recommend everyone to check out this great place for your next adventure! Brody's was extremely knowledgeable and very informative about the area and the history! 5 plus stars!! read more

I actually stayed in one of the cabins. I really liked the cabins and the owner was really amazing. However, I did not like the rowdy neighbors. Sadly, the owner has her accommodations soundproofed and really couldn't hear. My neighbors got really drunk and partied all night. Other people asked them to keep it down and they were just yelled at. Finally, we went and asked them to keep it down around 3 AM and they were just indignant. We complained the next day to the owner and she told us we should have called her cause her place is sound proof. They literally kept the entire site awake. Other than that, the cabin experience was nice. There's shared bathrooms, but it fit a large group of people and we ended up having a great time once the neighbors left. read more

The Cantrell family is were you need to go foe your rafting needs. I booked our trip on line with the Cantrell because they offer a short raft ride which is a perfect introduction to rafting for kids and beginners. Our guide, Garret was amazing explaining what we needed to do the entire time. He was patent, kind and informative. Our youngest daughter bounced out of the raft and he acted so fast she never fully hit the water. He guided us through the river successfully explaining the type of rapid and how it got its name. I would love to return and have him as our guide! The Cantrells offer free wetsuits foe the day because of the crummy weather, which was very nice and much needed. They have a very clean shower house that allowed us to get clean and warm. They offer food at their restaurant but that isn't anything to write home about - basically bar food. They have a few stages in the property and cabins to rent with tent sides. I think the traffic from incoming and outgoing rafters would make the site not as quite as I would like. We did not stay on site. Call and book Garret - you will love him!! Sorry no photos:( read more

My (and my family's) experience was very good. Everything went as advertised. Be advised that rafting does take a bit of work-- before, during and after. There were 4 guides. Ours (Stacy) was trip leader. She was really informative, highly experienced and we enjoyed having her lead our boat. Another young man and another woman were noticeably fun for their boats, too. I never the The 4th leader (man) crack a smile. I noticed he did not do a couple of small extra things our leader did, for example the echoing rock. Anyway, with our family of 5 was a family of 4 who were not .. athletic. Stacy easily managed the situation when one fell overboard in the first rapid (and also retrieving lost paddles lol.) It looked like they enjoyed themselves pretty good, too, despite the initial scare. I think that demonstrates Stacy's leadership and skill level. The facility looked like fun, but we were camping elsewhere because we wanted full service hookups for our RV (they gave us a good recommendation down the road.) Two of our kids are vegetarian or have allergies so we didn't stay for their food, either, but it looked promising to me! Pictures are EXPENSIVE. (Not by Cantrell; a partner photographer who covers other local activity vendors.) 40$ for one? Are you kidding me!? I'm not sure what more you'd get with a 'big outfit' than what Cantrell does. I hope to go rafting in WV again, and I'd be happy to use Cantrell again. read more

What a highlight to our trip! Stayed in town on the way from the Midwest to drop my daughter at school in Virginia. Figured it was a great opportunity to try whitewater rafting. This family-owned company seemed the most reasonable for what we wanted to try - a morning only trip. All the great reviews helped me pull the trigger and lock it in. Nothing like this beautiful place where we are from. The arrangements, the Cantrell people and equipment were all spot on. The trip itself was fun and amazing for us first timers. It didn't hurt that we had guide Terry who's personality is bigger than his 6'7 frame. He kept us safe, got us to the most intense parts of the rapids and kept us laughing the entire way down. I hope we can hang with him the next time through when we try a longer run. Can't recommend enough. Couldn't put enough stars on the rating. read more

Great experience all the way around. The reservation process and check in were a breeze, the facilities are very nice and lunch was great. Carl is an incredible guide, full of knowledge about the area and very, very funny. read more

See all

Excellent rafting experience on very short notice. I called Sunday to ask about availability as the website locks down anything less than four days out. They were responsive and courteous, and talked me through availability. I ended up on a booking for Monday morning, so had to get prepared quickly. Cantrell was much more personal and intimate than the larger rafters like Ace, and I ended up going with two rafts vs. an entourage. Had a nice conversation with the guides, and the small group allowed everyone to share names. Our guides were experienced vs. "first years" and it showed in their demeanor. Had a great time and would use them again next time I raft the New. read more

Absolutely fantastic time rafting the New River with this outfit! The staff are terrific, Terry and Garrett (father and son) were our guides and were absolutely stellar. Fantastic experience. Would highly recommend. read more

I've never rafted here. I will some day! I've only camped here a couple of times because it's near the rock climbing walls. Plus, it's close to Secret Sandwich Society and Pies and Pints, two restaurants I highly recommend if you're in the area. Cantrell's is a well-kept and beautiful campground. There are no private campsites. It's basically a large field where you set up a tent spot first come, first serve. There are picnic tables and fire rings around. Tent spots are $14/night per person. They also have air-conditioned rustic bungalows ($70/night) that fits two bunk beds and cabins that fit about 8-10 people. Bring your own bedding. Those bigger cabins have a hot tub. However, the hot tub needs to be fixed because it does not get hotter than 94 degrees. They've renovated the place over the years. Since I've last visited, they have a newly built outdoor stage and and small convenience shop. On certain summer nights, they have bands performing. There is also a bar and grill. The shower house is big and clean so there isn't much waiting around for shower or bathroom stalls. There is also a laundry room. You can make reservations online, but they'll call you to complete payment. *Also note that there is a rooster nearby so if you're a light sleeper, you'll be woken up early. read more

Had a great day on the River! Our guide Garrett went out of his way to make our trip exciting for our group. From what we could tell this team gives you more for your money as we watched the other companies just pass us by as we repeated some of the highlights of the river. Easy reservation and easy to find their business. Recommend this team if you are visiting the river. Thanks again Garrett! read more

Great experience w Cantrell. While visiting the Fayetteville WV region we wanted to go whitewater rafting and while there are a few big companies, we chose Cantrell and after our whitewater trip we couldn't be happier we did. Much smaller groups plus the guides are all local and very knowledgeable about the area and river. We had Garrett and Brody as our guides and Stacey drove us to and from the river. All three were awesome! I would highly recommend Cantrell if you are looking to have fun and be more than just a number in a large mass of people on a trip. read more

My friend and I just did the Lower New River full day adventure. Absolute highlight of our trip, and a rockin good time! Our guide, Tucker, was fantastic, and we felt safe while also having a very adventurous time and taking some extra surfs on rapids and other fun adrenaline boosting bonuses. We got to meet Mr. Cantrell before rafting and hear his story-- so great to be supporting a family business that has been on the river for almost 50 years! You get a sense of their expertise, as well as their care for each traveler, every step of the way. From being greeted with fresh hot coffee in the morning to being treated with a fresh hot shower at the end of our journey, we would give Cantrell 10 stars if we could! We'll be back! read more

We rafted the Upper Gauley last Friday with Cantrell had a blast! The guides are amazing and made it sooo fun. Jason, Dion, and Sam are all passionate about rafting and know what they are doing. Nancy prepared a fantastic breakfast to make sure we were ready and fueled up for the adventure (lunch on the rock at Sweet's Falls was great too). We really loved that this is a family run business and not one of the commercial outfits in the area. You can tell they really care about making sure everyone is safe and has a good time. If you are planning a rafting trip in the area definitely go with Cantrell!! read more

Cantrell Ultimate Rafting is everything we could've hoped for out of a rafting experience (and camping!). We had a large group of 6 and our raft leader, Stacey, handled our bunch like a true professional. She had impeccable knowledge of the river - we learned a bunch. She also knew just what parts of the river to guide us through for the most fun. We hit the rapids without anyone falling in, got to swim in the river in the safe parts, and jump off some rocks on the rivers edge - very high up! As far as the camping, we stayed in a cabin complete with a clean hot tub that could fit out group. Great country styled food was catered as well. The Cantrell's are also the nicest people. You could feel a nice warm welcoming and part-of-the-family vibe staying there. Having a restaurant, bar, and stage outside complete with a live band at the end of the night was the cherry on top for a perfect weekend in the WV mountains. We will be back! read more

By far, the BEST rafting company! Forget the big commercial rafting companies, this company is family owned by one of the best rafting guides you'll ever meet! He and his wife have built an amazing rafting company, complete with accommodations from tent sites to Amish cabins. Their guides are the most experienced, professional and truly friendly folks you'll have the pleasure of getting to know ~ and they know the river! Book your rafting adventure with CANTRELL ULTIMATE RAFTING today ~ you won't regret it! read more

Cantrell Ultimate Rafting - Cantrell Ultimate Rafting... thank you Richie, Nancy, Stacy and Moose! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Fayetteville, West Virginia

See all

While I had been rafting before it was my boyfriend's first time. All of the staff was so friendly and kind and very patient explaining everything to us. Our guide was so chill and made it that much more fun. Want to support a fun local business in a fun atmosphere try this amazing place out! not to mention the bar afterward doesn't hurt lol read more

Our experience with the Cantrell's could not have been better. Their knowledge, skill level and experience seems unsurpassed. There are a lot of big rafting companies on the river....and I mean real BIG! Cantrell's is a small operation (kinda mom & pop) and the only original licensed outfitter since they've been running trips around there. I had to plan triver runs for a few groups at a destination wedding for all abilities and desired excitement levels....and to add to the complications it was about 10 days after the hurricane in late Aug/early Sept so they had A LOT of rain and river levels were high. There are State restrictions and laws that govern what is too much, so we did not get to ride the part of the Gauley we wanted...but they made sure to find us sections that were doable so we weren't disappointed. Everyone had a great time at both locations, the one out of Fayetteville and the duckie float out of Hinton. If anyone wants a recommendation...Go for Cantrell's and don't be one of thousands, be one of hundreds. read more

Long review ahead but it's about safety ...thanks to those who read it! As part of our family vacation to WV, our family of five booked a whitewater river rafting trip with Cantrell Ultimate Rafting down the lower New River. We'd never done this before, but were excited to give it a try. There were a total of 3 rafts and 3 guides (Garrett, Dion, &Terry) on our trip and all were great! They took the time to orient us to the raft, how to paddle, and the verbal cues to follow in order to safely navigate the rapids. Our guide told us if at any point we were to fall out of the raft we should "swim left".  We had a blast and I, like most of the other reviewers, wouldn't have hesitated to rate them 5 stars. Unfortunately, I can't due to what happened out there.  There are a couple of spots along the way that the guides encourage you to get out of the raft and float down a mild rapid. My husband & I decided to join other passengers who were also game. When we were dropped off, I noticed that we were closer to the left bank than the others. Not soon after, one of the guides noticed us and told us to stay away from a boulder in front of us as he floated away.  It was too late though as the current was dragging me right towards it & I went over it. My husband, who wasn't as far left as I was, went over the rapid beside the boulder. He was pulled down twice and then shot forward clear of the rapid & drifted downstream.  I wasn't so lucky and fell into what's known as a hole.  A guide later called it "the wash" and that it usually "spits you right out."   I was being violently tossed around, alternately spun in circles and dunked below the surface while at the same time holding my breath, gasping for air, and trying desperately to swallow all the water being forced into my mouth from above & behind so it wouldn't go into my lungs. All the while, I had no idea what was happening to me and thought someone would surely pluck me out of whatever I'd fallen into. I can tell you it was honestly a lonely, helpless feeling to catch a fleeting glimpse as I was being spun that no one was close enough to help me & I was all alone in this. I was fighting for my life as the time ticked by, trying everything I could think of to save myself. Swimming left, kicking off the boulder, pointing my toes, etc, none of it helped as the forces of the water just held me in place. It was honestly a miracle when it finally let me go because I was barely holding on by then. I floated backwards downstream a bit before Dion pulled me into his raft and I'd never been so grateful. I share my experience because while Cantrell did a great job of teaching us about safely maneuvering the rafts & outfitted us with helmets and lifejackets, they didn't prepare us for what could go wrong & how to self-rescue.  Cantrell, I still think you offer a fantastic service, but educating your guests about river safety & self-rescue would go a long way. Many of your clients are from out of town &/or inexperienced & thus rely on guides to keep them safe. To anyone who's considering a trip, just google "holes/recirculating hydraulics & strainers" along with how to self-rescue so you don't go in blind like I did.  Chances are nothing like this will happen to you, but if it does...having this lifesaving information is invaluable! read more

Cantrell Ultimate Rafting - Lower New River Express - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Fayetteville, West Virginia

The staff is wonderful and the bathrooms are top notch by camping standards. Live bands on the outdoor stage can are a ton of fun for dancing. THIS IS NOT somewhere you go for a peaceful and quiet getaway. It's got a bar on site, rowdy kids, roosters screaming in the am. I'd say the only reliable quiet hours are about 1-5am. Just know what you're getting into. If you get an actual cabin you can isolate yourself a bit. But note the hot tubs are dubious lol i don't mean to sound negative - I really like Cantrell's. It's the best option in town depending on what kinda atmosphere you want. It used to be a great climber spot after Rogers closed down. But it's jumped up $14 a person these days.....at that price most climbers are steered away. You might as well do an AAC at that point or just go dirt bag. But i don't think that it's unfair for what you get. Stay up hill if it's raining. it'll get SUPER muddy down low. I kinda miss staying here. Lotta good times over the years and the staff is the best. I still go back for the bands - I'm just too dang old now and need more sleep! read more

What an awesome time!! These guys are safe, professional, affordable, and most importantly a lot of fun!! Our guide Terry really took good care of us and made it a blast for my whole family! I really like the more personal touch of a smaller company. We can't wait to get back down there for Gauley season! You definitely can't go wrong with a trip with this group. read more

Sunset rafting tour on the Lower New with two other people and husband. Devon was a great guide. He also saved husband who somehow bounced out of raft in first rapid . What a wonderful experience over nice 4s, a 5 and some 3s. Highly recommend. read more

Excellent family-run and genuine West Virginia business. The campground is super well located near Fayetteville and the New River Gorge. The restaurant/bar has excellent food and drinks. The bathhouse is clean and convenient. The staff are friendly and genuine. Live music on most Saturday nights. Total gem. read more

Great time on the New River with Carl our guide. Nice mix of intense and lighter rapids. All the staff couldn't be nicer. Showers available for after your raft trip just bring your own towel. read more

We actually went rafting with ACE Adventures but had an unfortunate run in with Terry, one of the Cantrell raft guides. He disregarded rafting etiquete and proceeded to yell at our guide over a situation that Terry created. He was cursing very loudly and you could visibly see how uncomfortable his actions were making the guests on his raft feel. I am sure the other tour guides in this company are very kind but this interaction was extremely unprofessional. read more

This was our first experience with Cantrel rafting and I would definitely recommend them and plan to come back again. I feel like they treat guests individually and accommodate their needs. Brody was our guide and was knowledgeable friendly and made a great day for us. read more