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West Virginia | Cheat Narrows
Cheat RiverRowlesburg City Park to Preston FOC
Cheat River Rowlesburg City Park to Preston FOC is a 8.0 mi Class II-III 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
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Cheat Narrows run with Class II-III current and a consequential Calamity Rock pourover.
Access map
Put-in
Rowlesburg City Park accessReconfirm both WVDNR accesses, parking, and current wood or closure alerts.
Take-out
Preston Friends of Cheat accessDo not run Calamity Rock without a current scout and rescue plan.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Reconfirm both WVDNR accesses, parking, and current wood or closure alerts.
- Do not run Calamity Rock without a current scout and rescue plan.
Watch for
- USGS discharge outside 450–10,000 cfs or rapidly rising water.
- Calamity Rock, other pourovers, cold water, and remote exits.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
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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 Rowlesburg, 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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Next 8 hours
Short-route 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.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
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 Rowlesburg, 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 6,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 450 cfs |
| High threshold | 10,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater reach 2346 discharge range 450–10,000 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 corridorRowlesburg City Park to Preston FOC; 8.0 mi; Class II-III
American Whitewater documents the reach, Rowlesburg gauge, and Calamity Rock hazard.
- Access endpointsRowlesburg City Park to Preston Friends of Cheat access
WVDNR District 1 guidance supports the public access context; confirm current closure status.
- GaugeUSGS 0307020015 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
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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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.
Quick answers
Cheat River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Rowlesburg City Park to Preston FOC route on the Cheat River?
Paddle Today watches Cheat River at Rowlesburg, WV and treats 600 cfs to 6,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the Rowlesburg City Park to Preston FOC route on the Cheat River start and end?
This route starts at Rowlesburg City Park access and ends at Preston Friends of Cheat access, 8.0 mi on the water.
Is the Rowlesburg City Park to Preston FOC route on the Cheat River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
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