For a town of its size, Fayetteville is seriously well stocked for adventure. Climbers head to Water Stone Outdoors for gear, crash pads and guidebooks; paddlers go to ACE Adventure Gear for safety kit; and riders pick between New River Bikes downtown and Arrowhead Bike Farm, right at the Arrowhead trailhead. Three of the four are a few blocks from the courthouse, and Arrowhead is out on Gatewood Road. Heading out on a guided raft trip? Your outfitter supplies the river gear, so you'll only need a shop for climbing, biking or whatever got left at home.
Which Fayetteville gear shop sells or rents what?
Hours and prices from each shop's own site, checked September 22, 2026. Hours shift with the seasons, so call before driving over.
Fayetteville, West Virginia outdoor gear shops: what each sells and rents, posted hours, and distance from the courthouse | Shop | Sells | Rents (published price) | Hours | Walk from the courthouse? |
Water Stone Outdoors
101 East Wiseman Ave
304-574-2425 | Climbing gear, camping equipment, apparel, books | Crash pad $20/day, climbing shoes $10, stick clip $7, guidebooks $5, disc golf set $10 (deposits apply) | Mon to Thu 9 to 6; Fri 9 to 8; Sat 8 to 8; Sun 8 to 5 | Yes, on the courthouse block |
ACE Adventure Gear
239 N Court St
304-574-1900 | Paddling safety gear ("PFDs, helmets and more") and outdoor gear | Call for rentals | Daily 9 to 7; "Seasonal or Holiday hours may differ" | Yes, on Court Street |
New River Bikes
221 N Court St
(304) 574-2453 | Bikes (Kona, Specialized, Transition, Rocky Mountain, Esker, Revel, Salsa, Surly), parts, repairs | Full-day bike rental $40 with helmet; car racks and trailhead shuttle | Mon and Tue 10 to 6; Thu and Fri 10 to 6; Sat 10 to 4; closed Wed and Sun | Yes, on Court Street |
Arrowhead Bike Farm
8263 Gatewood Rd
304-900-5501 | Bikes, repairs, clinics; The Handle Bar + Kitchen on site | Full-day Trek mountain bike rentals; call for price | Shop Sun to Thu 10 to 6, Fri and Sat 10 to 8 | No; drive to the Arrowhead trailhead |
Mountain Surf Paddle Sports
184 South Court St
304-470-7873 | Paddleboard and flatwater kayak rentals and tours | See the outfitter pages | Call ahead | Yes, on Court Street |
Climbing gear: Water Stone Outdoors
Water Stone has been "keeping it real since 1994," and it's the climbers' shop in town. New River Mountain Guides meets its clients here, River Expeditions starts its guided climbs here, and the New River Gorge CVB's climbing guide sends you here (or to ACE) for gear. It also opens at 8:00 AM on weekends, earlier than any other downtown shop, which is exactly when you realize you forgot your chalk.
Rentals are short and sweet: a bouldering crash pad is $20 a day (with a $100 refundable deposit), climbing shoes $10 ($50 deposit), a stick clip $7 ($20) and a disc golf set $10 ($20). The three local guidebooks, New River Rock Volumes 1 and 2 and New River Gorge Bouldering, rent for $5 a day each. Harnesses aren't on the list. Two rules to know: "All rentals must be returned by the end of business day on the day it was rented, unless other arrangements have been made," and "Call before you come in to make sure we have the gear you need." Planning a multi-day bouldering trip? Sort it out at the counter.
Need a coffee first? Attached to the shop is The Brew Garden, a coffee and beer garden pouring Cherry River Roasting Company coffee. Traveling with a dog? Visit Fayetteville has mentioned a dog section with life jackets and leashes; check visiting with dogs for more. For a guided day on the rock, compare the climbing guides.
Paddling gear: ACE Adventure Gear
ACE Adventure Gear, at 239 North Court Street, is the retail arm connected to ACE Adventure Resort, and its shelves run from rafting and whitewater kayaking to flatwater kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and fishing. It's open daily 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, though "Seasonal or Holiday hours may differ," and Sunday closing may come earlier (around 5:00 PM), so call on a Sunday afternoon. Want to rent a kayak or paddleboard? Ask by phone; rental prices aren't posted.
For stand-up paddleboards and flatwater kayak tours, Mountain Surf Paddle Sports has a storefront at 184 South Court Street, covered with the other outfitters.
Bike shops: New River Bikes or Arrowhead Bike Farm?
New River Bikes, downtown
"The full service bike shop" has been spinning wrenches in town since 1989, Visit Fayetteville says, and stocks Kona, Specialized, Transition, Rocky Mountain, Esker, Revel, Salsa and Surly. A full-day rental is $40, and "Bike Rentals include the use of a helmet, and of course free trail advice!" No rack on your car? They rent those too, and run a shuttle to the trailhead of your choice. Guided rides are $250 for a half day for up to three riders (plus $75 per extra rider) and $400 for a full day for up to three (plus $100 each). The shop is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10 to 6 and Saturday 10 to 4, closed Wednesday and Sunday; call to confirm before you plan around it.
Arrowhead Bike Farm, at the trailhead
At Arrowhead Bike Farm you rent, roll out the door and you're on the Arrowhead Trails, no car needed. It's a full-service shop selling and renting Trek bikes (the county CVB lists Pivot too), with clinics and year-round camping, and the on-site Handle Bar + Kitchen keeps later hours for post-ride food and drinks: 11 to 9 Sunday to Thursday and 11 to 10 Friday and Saturday. Shop hours are 10 to 6 Sunday to Thursday and 10 to 8 on weekends, though another page says 10 to 6 daily, so ring ahead for a late start.
Call for current rental prices (visitor rentals were $39 on a 2024 beginners' ride night). Reviews on TripAdvisor run from "Loved the bike farm!" to "Great atmosphere, hateful prices," and kitchen reviewers mention food waits of 25 to 80 minutes on busy days, so order before you're starving. The Arrowhead Trails guide covers the riding.
Guidebooks, river photos and fishing tackle
Mike Williams's New River Rock Volumes 1 and 2 are the climbing bibles here, and Water Stone rents both by the day. The Canyon Rim Visitor Center bookstore, open daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM except three winter holidays, is another stop for maps and park books.
On a guided raft trip, helmets and life jackets come with the ride, so the one thing you'll probably buy is the photo of your boat mid-rapid: Whitewater Photography, 140 South Court Street, shoots commercial trips and sells the pictures through outfitter stores. Anglers should try PRO River Outfitters, at 3224 Court Street on the edge of town, which sells fishing equipment and custom rafts alongside guided trips. The rafting company comparison lists what each outfitter provides.
More places to stock up
Local crafts, galleries and the Saturday farmers market are in the Fayetteville shopping guide. For basics, Walmart Supercenter (204 Town Center Road) and Lowe's (46 Fayette Town Center Road) are on the U.S. 19 strip. Farther afield, Wild Outdoor Sporting Goods is at 115 Main Street in Gauley Bridge, and Sarge's Dive Shop is at 1706 Airport Road in Summersville, handy for the lake on the Summersville Lake page. Court Street parking is famously tight, so park once and walk between the three downtown shops.
Which gear shop should you go to?
Shop by what you're doing. Climbing shoes, a crash pad or a guidebook for the day? Water Stone, and it opens earliest on weekends. A PFD, helmet or other paddling kit? ACE Adventure Gear. A bike for riding from town, with a shuttle to the trail, points to New River Bikes (any day but Wednesday or Sunday), while riding Arrowhead itself is easiest from Arrowhead Bike Farm, open all week. The Fayetteville town guide has the rest of what's downtown.
