See all 5 routes on Cheat River
West Virginia | Upper Cheat River Water Trail
Cheat RiverHannahsville Ford to Riverview Lounge
Cheat River Hannahsville Ford to Riverview Lounge is a 12.78 mi Class I-II run documented by American Whitewater and official access partners.
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Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Approximately 12.78-mile Upper Cheat day route from a WVDNR-listed public boat access to the privately owned Riverview Lounge water-trail access; current parking and check-in rules apply.
Access map
Put-in
Hannahsville Ford public accessAt Hannahsville Ford, verify ford approach, carry, parking, and wetted-edge entry after rain or high water.
Take-out
Riverview Lounge water-trail accessAt Riverview Lounge, use only the currently directed south gravel lot across the street, stop by after the paddle if requested, and confirm current business/access rules before launch.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- At Hannahsville Ford, verify ford approach, carry, parking, and wetted-edge entry after rain or high water.
- At Riverview Lounge, use only the currently directed south gravel lot across the street, stop by after the paddle if requested, and confirm current business/access rules before launch.
- No camping is allowed at Upper Cheat water-trail access sites; do not trespass on private banks.
Watch for
- USGS discharge outside 500–8,000 cfs or a rapidly rising trend.
- Rocks, holes, currents, waves, cold water, wood, remote stretches, and private-bank boundaries.
- Hannahsville has limited services/cell coverage; keep an emergency communication plan.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
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USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Cheat River at Parsons, WV. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Cheat River at Parsons, WV |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 600 cfs to 5,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 500 cfs |
| High threshold | 8,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Upper Cheat reach 11739 discharge range 500–8,000 cfs |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 corridorHannahsville Ford to Riverview Lounge; approximately 12.78 mi; Class I-II
American Whitewater lists Hannahsville Ford at mile 16.24 and Riverview at mile 29.02 on the Upper Cheat reach, establishing the distinct lower section and distance.
- Endpoint access and coordinatesHannahsville Ford 39.245, -79.708; Riverview Lounge 39.320, -79.684
The WVDNR District 1 access guide lists both sites as Cheat River lot/boat-access locations; Friends of Cheat identifies Riverview as private, and current access guidance directs paddlers to the south gravel lot across the street and to check in after the paddle.
- Camping postureNo water-trail access camping
Friends of Cheat states that none of the Upper Cheat water-trail access points allow camping; plan this as a day route with separate lodging or basecamp.
- GaugeUSGS 03069500 discharge telemetry
Official same-river gauge used for the route planning screen; verify current value and trend before launch.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
Quick answers
Cheat River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Hannahsville Ford to Riverview Lounge route on the Cheat River?
Paddle Today watches Cheat River at Parsons, WV and treats 600 cfs to 5,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the Hannahsville Ford to Riverview Lounge route on the Cheat River start and end?
This route starts at Hannahsville Ford public access and ends at Riverview Lounge water-trail access, 12.78 mi on the water.
Is the Hannahsville Ford to Riverview Lounge route on the Cheat River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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