Cheat River
About
Through Tucker and Preston counties, the Cheat River cuts a 12-mile canyon below Albright that ranks among the most technical whitewater in the Mid-Atlantic. Class III-IV rapids dominate the canyon section down to Lake Lynn Dam, while the upper stretch from Rowlesburg to Albright runs Class II-III with flatwater leading into the canyon entrance. At 2,100 CFS average flow with an optimal range of 1,000-4,000 CFS, the Cheat rewards boaters who can read big water — this is pool-drop territory that gets pushy fast when flows climb. The Seneca controlled these upland Alleghenies before European contact, followed by intensive timber operations from the 1880s through the 1920s that stripped the watershed bare. Acid mine drainage plagued the river for decades until Friends of the Cheat began restoration work in 2009. Below Lake Lynn Dam, the river mellows to Class II for the remaining miles. Tucker County maintains this as a designated recreation corridor, and commercial outfitters including Blackwater Outdoor Adventures and Cheat River Outfitters run regular trips through the canyon 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.