Whitewater:

Cheat River Canyon

Description:

This is a high volume solid class IV River. It is very powerful at high water (above 4 ft on the Albright Bridge Gauge). This is a beautiful “must see” canyon close to Morgantown. 12 miles makes for a big day especially with the length of the shuttle. The roads down into the canyon are passable only by high clearance vehicles with 4 wheel drive suggested.  Commercial outfitters offer trips on this section. Map (pdf)

Stories:

2017 Cheat River Kayak Race (Highland Outdoors)
Rise of the Phoenix: Cheat River Revival (Highland Outdoors)
Paddling the Cheat: Then & Now (Highland Outdoors)
Ro" Shambo, Group Paddle on Cheat River (Highland Outdoors)
Cheat Canyon WMA Dedication & Trail Opening (Highland Outdoors)

Directions:

Take out (Google map link below)  39.595058, -79.747347 - There are two ways to get to the take out.  Both are potentially rough roads that are better navigated by a high clearance vehicle or 4x4.  From Masontown (Rt & to CR 23 to Bull Run Rd)  Take Pleasant Valley rd. and go for about 8 miles on CR 26/16, 14/3, 14 & 14/4 (Bull Run Rd) to Jenkinsburg bridge and the take-out at the bottom of the canyon. From  the other side of the canyon on Rt. 26, turn on  at Valley Point and travel on CR 15 and 14-4 for 8.3 miles to the bridge . To get to the put-in from here, go up and out of the canyon  to Valley Point, then turn right (south) on rt 26 and go towards Albright. Put in at the Friends of the Cheat access site by driving through Teter’s Campground 39.513569, -79.644771.

Activities:

Whitewater, Swimming Hole

Web resources:

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/2347/

ORC Resources:

Book – “A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to West Virginia”

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