Cheat River Overview

The Cheat River, the largest dam-free watershed east of the Mississippi, has a short and sweet rafting season that lures thousands of river rats to the small West Virginian town of Albright each spring. Cutting through steep mountain canyons, from which water runs off quickly, the Cheat’s a big river that holds its water well. Indeed, Class III-IV rapids like Big Nasty and Coliseum can swell to some pretty fierce Class IV-V water with heavy spring rain and runoff. If things are too tough through the canyon section, outfitters will put in near Rowlesburg to run the nearby Cheat Narrows, offering another perspective on this popular river. Following the Cheat’s spring burst of hardcore action, things slow considerably in late spring and summer, although outfitters continue to offer guided ducky tours on both sections of the river. Despite some the imprint of some heavy mining and logging activity in this part of West Virginia, the Cheat is a scenic float that flashes some memorable mountain and pastoral scenery alongside its whitewater credentials.