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West Virginia | Cheat Canyon

Cheat RiverAlbright FOC / Muddy Creek access to Jenkinsburg Bridge

Cheat River Albright FOC / Muddy Creek access to Jenkinsburg Bridge is a 9.35 mi Class III-IV+ run documented by American Whitewater and official access partners.

Route location

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Distance9.35 mi
DifficultyHard
Typical timeAbout 5–8 hr depending on flow
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Cheat River at Rowlesburg, West Virginia.
Route photoCheat River at Rowlesburg, near the Cheat Narrows routePhoto by Tim Kiser via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distance9.35 miAlbright FOC / Muddy Creek access to Jenkinsburg Bridge
DifficultyhardHard expert-only Class III-IV+ wilderness water; appropriate rescue training and a committed team are mandatory.
ShuttleCar shuttleUse a high-clearance shuttle vehicle; stage at Jenkinsburg and inspect the steep take-out before putting in.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific permit is published for the named public endpoints. Follow current West Virginia boating/PFD rules, posted access rules, and any closure or water-quality notice.
CampingOptions nearbyNearby basecamp only; no on-route wilderness camping is assumed.
SeasonApr-OctSpring through fall only with current expert-level conditions; September requires a same-day gauge, weather, and road decision.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Expert-only Cheat Canyon commitment with large hydraulics, remote exits, and demanding shuttle logistics.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

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Start

Put-in

Albright FOC / Muddy Creek access
Open mapDirections to put-in

Verify Albright/Muddy Creek and Jenkinsburg access, road condition, and current wood alerts before travel.

Finish

Take-out

Jenkinsburg Bridge access
Open mapDirections to take-out

Do not substitute this route for a lower Cheat section; its Class III-IV+ commitment is materially different.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Verify Albright/Muddy Creek and Jenkinsburg access, road condition, and current wood alerts before travel.
  • Do not substitute this route for a lower Cheat section; its Class III-IV+ commitment is materially different.

Watch for

  • USGS stage outside 10.7–18.0 ft or a rapidly rising trend.
  • Large holes, boulders, undercuts, cold water, steep take-out, and limited rescue access.

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.

Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Cheat River at Rowlesburg, West Virginia.
Cheat River at Rowlesburg, near the Cheat Narrows routePhoto by Tim Kiser via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY-SA 2.5

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named route corridorAlbright FOC / Muddy Creek to Jenkinsburg Bridge; 9.35 mi; Class III-IV+

    American Whitewater documents the expert difficulty, stage range, hazards, and accident history.

    Source

  • Access and shuttle warningSteep take-out and high-clearance shuttle considerations

    WVDNR and American Whitewater access context require a current road and wood-alert check.

    Source

  • GaugeUSGS 03070260 stage telemetry

    Official same-river gauge used for the route planning screen; verify current value and trend before launch.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in West Virginia

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West Virginia route guideBrowse every tracked West Virginia route.Cheat CanyonJump to routes in this region.

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Nearby routes within 75 miles

Tygart Valley RiverValley Falls State Park to Hammond / Twist and Shout take-out · about 25 straight-line mi awayHard · 1.2 miYoughiogheny RiverLower Yough: Ohiopyle to Bruner Run · about 26 straight-line mi awayHard · About 7 to 7.2 miYoughiogheny RiverMiddle Yough: Ramcat Launch to Ohiopyle Middle Yough Take-out · about 26 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 9.5 river milesNorth Branch Potomac RiverWesternport Soft Access to McCoole Boat Access · about 32 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 4.3 river miles from Westernport to McCoole

Quick answers

Cheat River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Albright FOC / Muddy Creek access to Jenkinsburg Bridge route on the Cheat River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Albright FOC / Muddy Creek access to Jenkinsburg Bridge route on the Cheat River start and end?

This route starts at Albright FOC / Muddy Creek access and ends at Jenkinsburg Bridge access, 9.35 mi on the water.

Is the Albright FOC / Muddy Creek access to Jenkinsburg Bridge route on the Cheat River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a hard route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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