Friends of the Cheat

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Albright, WV
Friends of the Cheat

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To restore, preserve, and promote the outstanding natural qualities of the Cheat River watershed.

To restore, preserve, and promote the outstanding natural qualities of the Cheat watershed.

10/16/2026

Dolly spotted a flock of Canadian geese and a pair of Wood ducks on the northern trailhead pond this week.

Spooky season is a great time to visit the trailhead and talk a stroll or ride on the rail-trail. Share your fall pics in the comments!

10/07/2026

Cheat River Trailhead Notice

The main parking lot and bathrooms at the Cheat River Trailhead will be closed tomorrow, October 8th, through Friday morning, October 9th, for painting and parking lot line striping.

The rail-trail will remain accessible during this work.

Visitors may use the upper parking lot (prior to FOC's gated yard) and access the trail from there.

Visitors may also park at the National Guard Center parking lot and cross Route 72 to access the Cheat River Rail-Trail.

We appreciate your patience as we improve the trailhead.

09/11/2026

The Cheat River Trailhead river access improvement work finished early - and the take out is open! What a transformation - go check it out!

09/10/2026

West Virginia is the Mountain State, but there is no question that our rivers play a major role in defining our state.

From our biggest rivers to our smallest headwater streams, West Virginia's waters connect communities, shape our landscapes, and give us countless reasons to be proud of where we live.

For World Rivers Day on September 27, the WV Watershed Network wants to celebrate those places through the people who know and love them best.

Show us your river! 🩵

Send us a photo of a river or stream that means something to you, tell us where it is, and share a memory, story, or reason it’s special. Then, on World Rivers Day, we’ll share submissions from across West Virginia and build a collective celebration of the waters that make West Virginia home.

Here is the submission form link: bit.ly/showusyourriver

As a thank you for your participation, you will be entered* in a drawing to win a Camp Snap CS-Pro camera so you can continue making and capturing memories on our waters.

*Entry must be of a river or stream in West Virginia.

09/08/2026

TRAIL ALERT: TREE REMOVAL AND CLEANUP

Please be advised that a section of the Cheat River Rail-Trail will be temporarily closed to all trail users on Friday, September 11, and Monday, September 14.

The closure will extend from the viewing area, past the Little Heather Run Bridge, to the City of Kingwood water intake access road.

The temporary closure is necessary to safely remove the large downed tree currently blocking the trail and two additional trees that need to be removed from the trail right-of-way in this section. Crews and equipment will work in and around the trail corridor, so the area must remain closed while work is underway.

Please do not enter the closed section during these dates. Follow all posted closure signs and directions from crews on site.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to keep the Cheat River Rail-Trail safe and accessible for everyone.

Please plan your hike or ride accordingly.

08/27/2026

Send a message to learn more

08/26/2026

Starting this Friday, Solid Rock Excavating will mobilize equipment to the Cheat River Trailhead parking lot as construction begins on improvements to the river access. Crews will be clearing and grubbing the access area from the pond to the river.

The river access will remain open for private and commercial trips through Sunday, August 30.

Beginning Monday, August 31 through Monday, September 14, the Pond Area and River Access will be closed to all users while construction is underway.

The improvements will create a gentler, more accessible grade to the river and refresh the trail surface, making the access better for paddlers and visitors.

Please respect the construction crews, equipment, and work areas, and give them plenty of space to safely operate.

Thank you for your patience as we make improvements to the Cheat River Trailhead!

08/17/2026

Notice: Section of the Upper Cheat River "closed" - The river will be closed for a few weeks just downstream of Parsons to the new 48 bridge crossing. The Holly Meadows river access is still accessible.

The immediate section of the Cheat River where the new bridge for RT 48 is crossing just outside of Parsons will be impassable starting tomorrow 8/15/26 for approximately 4 weeks.
This is so crews can safely place the beams and connect the bridge across
All other areas are unaffected by this particular project.

Address

Albright, WV

Telephone

+13043293621

Website

http://www.cheat.org/

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