But some deaths on the rivers earlier this year put a damper on the start of the season.

Now its the midst of the busy season guides and companies want people to know the river is not only fun, but also safe.

They took our own reporter Courtney Dunn and photographer Chris Marrs through the whitewater to prove it.

I'm here with WV Adventures on the banks of the lower new river. I can honestly tell you that I've never been whitewater rafting before but their guides are ready to show me their skills and take me safely down the river.

We've jumped in and pushed off, but that's not where the trip begins. It starts on the decks of West Virginia Adventures, with guide Benjamin Monast and our first safety speech.

"Anyone of you guys or anyone of us can be really seriously hurt and or killed out here on the water," said Monast.

Comforting for an amateur like me.

But at least I know our guides are well trained.

"I'm a swift water rescue instructor, I'm also certified in emergency care so you are in pretty good hands but you need to watch out for yourselves today too," he explained.

Which means lifejackets and helmets before safety talk number two.

Learning the dangers of the rafters.

"The most injuries that occur out here on the water believe it or not are from you guys smacking each other in the faces with your paddles," Monast explained.

He also explained the dangers of the river.

"You'll be swimming and it'll be game on," he said, and how to be proactive in your own rescue.

"Anytime when you're in the water whether you're on your stomach or on your back I want you to have your feet up towards the surface of the water." Monast demonstrated.

"The dumbest thing you guys could do today is try to stand up on the bottom of the river."

Raft guide Travis Ferguson explains why.

"The water is a very powerful thing," Ferguson explained, "it can push you over, lay you out on the bottom of the river and then your head is down under the water."

That's just one of the many dangers out here on the river.

"It's not Disneyland, there are no tracks underneath this ride," he added.

Which is why guides want you to enjoy the ride but expect the worst.

"We like the perceived risk to be a lot higher than the actual risk," Monast said, "That's just good for everybody involved."

And I can tell you by my first rapid, I believed every word.

With the first thrill over the rafters are relaxing and having fun.

But the guides are always working, reading the river.

"Lots of people think that the river goes from A to B and well it doesn't," Monast said.

"It hits all of these rocks along the way and lots of different turns. "

From the spinning, to the surfing, to the scenery, guides say the rewards are worth the risk.

"It's a lot of fun," Monast said.

"Everybody thinks whitewater rafting oh it's so scary, and dangerous well, it's really not all that dangerous."

He added:

"Statistically proven you're more susceptible to be hurt in a car accident than you are out here on the whitewater."

And even if you're still nervous, guide trainee George Parnell offers this advice.

"If you listen to the guide and you do everything that he says then you'll be fine as long as you just pay attention and keep your eyes open."

At the end of the trip I'm happy to say I safely made it in one piece.

And let me tell you it was actually was way more fun and a lot less scary than I thought it was going to be.

Now if you want more information on West Virginia Adventures click on the link below.