There is a HUGE opportunity for cheap and easy fun for anyone visiting Golden Anchor Cabins and Canaan Valley… a kayak float on the Cheat River! Fact is, it might be the best way to spend an afternoon in Tucker County. Yet when I search online, information isn’t out there and no one is talking about it. Today, I aim to change that.
Daniel here again from Golden Anchor Cabins. As always, it is my goal with our blog to bring you valuable information about our area if you plan on vacationing with us. Today, I’m going to give you all the info you need to know including where to get equipment, a handy map of the river and access points, a list of what to bring with you and my own personal cheat sheet for knowing current river levels. Plus, I’ll share tons of our personal images on the river!
Cheat River Water Trail Outfitter
First things first, we need to get you geared up. Unless you have your own equipment for your afternoon on the river, you need to know about Blackwater Outdoor Adventures (BOA). BOA is the closest outfitter to Canaan Valley. They will make floating down the Cheat River easy for anyone vacationing in the area. There are several rental options to choose from for a float. You can rent a canoe or a kayak for a 4 mile, 8 mile or 11 mile trip. They will deliver you and your equipment to the put-in spot. From there, you can simply float back to them!
Kayak rentals are $30 per person but they have other options as well. You can rent a tube to enjoy a hot summer day on the flatwater of the Cheat River and add a cooler tube for the ultimate lazy river experience. They also have stand up paddle boards as well if you want a different perspective of the flat river. BOA’s shuttle times are offered daily on the hour. Reservations are suggested.
https://www.blackwateroutdoors.com/index.html
Our Guide to Floating Down the Cheat
West Virginia is widely known for its river activities from lazy floats to wild white-water rafting. But the Cheat River Water Trail (CRWT) is a hidden treasure for the locals and visitors lucky enough to find out about it.
The CRWT map spans from Hendricks all the way to Rowlesburg but I’m going to focus on the portion between Parsons and St. George. This is the stretch of the river that I do with my family. This also happens to be the 11 mile section of the river BOA floats. This portion of the river is safe for first timers on the water. You won’t need any prior experience or a guide to canoe/kayak along the Cheat all afternoon. The actual time spent on the river is going to be up to how much water there is, how much you paddle and how long you spend on the islands skipping rocks or eating lunch. That said, it typically takes us around 5 hours to get from one end to the other.
The access point where you put in is labeled CJ’s Pizzeria BUT that business has since changed hands, so you’ll actually want to park by Fat Olives to access the river. Golden Anchor to Fat Olives Map
Almost immediately, you will know whether you’re going to be in for an afternoon of navigating shallow water because one of the worst spots is about 200 yards down river. Most of the trip is going to be extremely gentle where you will have to modestly paddle to keep any kind of momentum up. But every now and then the river narrows and speeds up just a little. It will be enough to make you laugh but not enough to make you nervous.
If you’re like me, you will have your GPS on and will be watching Google Maps the first time you go down the river so you won’t miss your take out point. Now that I’ve done it, I honestly don’t think you need it. If you do bring it with you, remember you are traveling north on this stretch of the river. You can’t go wrong while you’re floating down the river. There are going to be a few islands in the river that might make you think you need to make a crucial decision but no matter what you decide, you’re going to end up in the same place so just sit back and enjoy the ride.
The first notable landmark you will encounter is where Shavers Fork merges with the river you’re on. This is one of those places where the river gets just a touch fast. After that you will go under the Holly Meadows Bridge. This is also the location of the next access point on the river trail so it is a nice place to stop if you need to take a break.
All along the Cheat you will enjoy WV wildlife including deer, geese and the occasional bald eagle! While much of the trail will give you a near-wilderness experience, in actuality you are never very far from civilization.
My family’s next favorite spot is another mile or so down the river on the left side of one of the islands. This particular spot has a great shallow beach where we typically stop to have some lunch and see who can skip a rock the most. Nate ALWAYS wins this contest!
I don’t know the distance to my next landmark but based on the timestamps between pictures, it is about thirty minutes from the beach to the ruins of a walking bridge. Somewhere along the way the river got deeper because all of Nate & Jamie’s fishing photos are from this point on!
At the end of your relaxing river afternoon there is one final landmark you’re looking, the St. George Bridge. When you see it in the distance, that’s your cue to start heading over to the left side of the river. The take out access point is located at Blackwater Outdoor Adventures HQ on the left just before you go under the bridge.
Cheat River Water Trail Map & Access Points
There are currently nine access points on the upper Cheat River Water Trail. These points are owned and managed by public entities, private landowners and businesses. Please observe all posted rules and regulations, and respect areas surrounding the sites to ensure continued access for future paddlers.
Access conditions and regulations are subject to change. Please visit the site kiosks and review all pertinent information.
Friends of the Cheat monitors bacteria levels at public access sites throughout the Cheat Watershed – view the findings at http://www.theswimguide.org and stay current at http://www.cheatriverwatertrail.org.
Caution – the segment between Hendricks and CJ’s Pizza is classified as “Intermediate”. It is not ideal for a kayak float on the Cheat River. This section of the trail includes fast moving water containing rocks, holes, currents and waves. If this is your first time, start a little farther down river.
What to Bring – SUPER IMPORTANT – DO NOT SKIP THIS!
Food and Drink – You’re going to be out on the river for a while so bring enough water to stay hydrated. Don’t drink river water unless you want the green apple quickstep. I recommend packing a lunch too; picnics on the river are just too much fun to pass up on the opportunity. Also remember that everything is going to end up wet at some point on the river so use waterproof boxes for your food and valuables.
Footwear – Your choice of shoes will probably be the most important choice you make all day. Wear an old pair of tennis shoes or secured sandals. NO FLIP-FLOPS! First, if you have to get out of your boat, the only way to walk on the slippery river rocks is with a sturdy pair of shoes with good treads. Second, the river can have hidden objects like broken glass, rusty metal or old fishing hooks. You don’t want any of that near your feet.
Clothing – Dress appropriately for the weather. In the summer, most people will wear swim suits, shorts and a t-shirt. There’s nowhere to hide from the sun when you’re on the river so also bring a floppy hat and some sunscreen, especially if you’re like me and have the pallor of an Irish vampire.
You might also want to leave an extra set of clothes and a towel in your car to make your trip back to your cabin more comfortable.
Understanding water levels with the Cheat River Cheat Sheet
When planning your kayak float on the Cheat River, consider that it is rain dependent meaning that when the recent weather has been dry, you might have to get out of your boat and drag it across some of the shallower portions. If this concerns you, call Blackwater Outdoor Adventures ahead of time and see what the water levels are like. Or better yet, you can use my patented Golden Anchor Cabins Cheat River Cheat Sheet!
First, a disclaimer: If you’re an adrenaline kayaker, don’t pay any attention to me. I’m writing to the newbies, the novices, the average Joes. This blog is for the everyday vacationer looking for a fun, relaxing day on a safe stretch of the river.
If you want to know if the river levels are good enough for a kayak float on the Cheat, the trick is to keep an eye on Blackwater Falls. The Blackwater River flows into the Dry Fork just above Hendricks then combines with Shavers Fork just a few miles downriver from Parsons. All of these forks feed the Cheat and they see similar rainfall. Consequently, deciphering the different phases of the waterfall can give you a really good idea of what you will be facing when floating down the Cheat
You will want to get on a Facebook page that closely follows Blackwater Falls and look at the recent photos. Any public page will do the job but I would recommend the group “I Love Canaan Valley, WV”. They have a lot of active members in the group. While the falls aren’t technically in Canaan Valley, it is close enough that lots of people post their pictures of the Blackwater.
Image 1 – Too Low
Look at the left hand side of the falls. If you only see two decent ribbons of water, chances are you’re going to scrape the bottom of the kayak quite a bit all the way to Holly Meadows Bridge or beyond. You will have to guide your kayak across the shallowest parts. If that far left ribbon is gone, you probably don’t even want to mess with it. You’ll be doing more walking than you will be floating.
Image 2 – Goldilocks Begins
The left hand side of the falls has a nice curtain all the way across and the rock prowl is exposed. This is the lower end of the Goldilocks Zone. The river should be happy for the most part. You will probably still scrape on the shallow parts but you shouldn’t have to get out of the boat.
Image 3 – Goldilocks Ends
Notice how the water levels are just beginning to make it over the prowl of the waterfall but you can still see the rock underneath. There is a hint of brown in the ribbons. This means we are in the higher end of the Goldilocks Zone. The river will be a little swifter meaning you won’t have to do as much paddling to keep your momentum. You’ll be up high enough that you won’t have to navigate around the few stray rocks. It should be a great float!
Image 4 – Too High
The prowl is completely covered and the brown/yellow color of the river is pronounced. Don’t try it. I wouldn’t try it. The river is going to be way up and moving fast. There will be debris in the river. And even if the river is passable, it just isn’t what we’re looking for. That’s thrill-seeker water. If you see these kinds of photos posted, actually go to Blackwater Falls State Park and see this for yourself. The energy of the river falling over this cliff is something you have to be there to really appreciate. You will hear it from a 1000 yards away and you will feel it in your chest before you ever see the falls as you climb down the stairs. While you’re there, check out Elakala and Pendleton Falls too! Now you have a new plan for your day.
Kayak floating down the Cheat River really is something you should do if you’re staying with us. My family and I truly love the simple pleasure of a kayak float on the Cheat River. Hopefully this post gave you some insight and helpful tips on how to make the most of your river adventure!
That’s all I have for this post. If you have any questions about vacationing with us, feel free to email me at goldenanchorcabins@gmail.com. You can also call me at 304-704-8764. I also send out a monthly newsletter where I keep all our guests up to date with what is going on at our cabins and the area. If you’d like to hear from us you can sign up for the newsletter here. Finally, you can always see all our current cabin availability and book your stay online at https://guest.rezstream.com/search/golden-anchor-cabins. Thanks so much for reading, we hope to host your next cabin getaway soon!
—————————————————
Article written by Daniel Marsh. Daniel and his family have owned and operated Golden Anchor Cabins in Canaan Valley, West Virginia since 2014.
KEYWORD: Cheat River Kayak Float
