Swimmer's Rapids

From West Virginia (WV) Cyclopedia

Also known as Catfish Rock Rapids, this Class II rapids on the Lower New River Gorge whitewater rafting segment is the result of a debris bar deposited from colluvium eroded off the canyon wall. The rapid is located approximately a quarter mile downstream of Lower Railroad Rapids. The coal mining operations at South Caperton were located high on the gorge at river-left, those at Caperton, another half-mile downstream on river-right.

Demarcated in the 1913 USGS map at right, a suspension footbridge once spanned the New River between Caperton and South Caperton.

Map: Swimmer's Rapids (http://www.wvamaps.com/maps/index.php?lat=38.01503154526124&lon=-81.02554321289062&place=-81.02554321289062,%2038.01503154526124&pop=0&state=n/a&county=Unknown&scale=4)