Cheat Narrows & Lower Canyon
About
Class IV-V continuous drops through the Cheat Canyon from Albright to Cheat Lake define 11 miles of West Virginia's most demanding whitewater, with commercial outfitters like Rivers Expeditions guiding rafters through the technical boulder gardens at flows between 1,500 and 5,000 CFS. The Cheat system spans 78 miles through Preston and Tucker counties in the Monongahela National Forest, averaging 2,400 CFS on USGS gauge 03070260. Above the canyon, the Cheat Narrows from Albright to Jenkinsburg drops through Class III-IV water over 11 miles, while the Upper Cheat from Parsons to St. George offers Class II-III family floating through the headwaters. The Monongahela and Shawnee peoples knew the Cheat Valley long before European settlement, and by the late 1800s logging and mining had heavily impacted the watershed. Friends of the Cheat formed in 1994 to coordinate acid mine drainage recovery efforts that continue today. The river earned protection under West Virginia's Scenic Rivers Program, though specific designation dates vary by section.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.