Nearly $10 million is being spent at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and Gauley River National Recreation Area in West Virginia to restore areas impacted years ago by oil and gas well sites that have since been abandoned. Overall, bureaus within the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture will address 277 high-priority wells that pose threats to human health and safety, the climate, wildlife and natural resources.

New River Gorge National River Superintendent Lizzie Watts has announced a new Love Your Park Challenge to kick off the winter season and give area residents and visitors a fun way to explore the three national parks of southern West Virginia all year long.

What’s in a name? Well, when you hear Hance, the Big Drop, Lost Paddle, or Lava Falls, we’re talking about some of the largest, craziest river rapids in our national parks. Interesting names, for sure, but how do they rate? We posed this question to our river rats: What are the best rapids in the parks? They came up with quite a list. So, if you’re looking for exciting and death-defying whitewater in the parks…

Rivers run fast and tumbling throughout the National Park System, there are streams with lazy meanders, and placid lakes perfect for dipping a paddle. This diversity poses a delightful dilemma when you have the urge to float and paddle. What follows is just a sampling of the experiences that await you, whether you have hundreds of watery miles under your paddle, or are looking for calm waters to take your youngsters.