First visit
Coopers Rock State Forest
Coopers Rock for the overlook and the boulders, then ride the Caperton and Deckers Creek trails out of Morgantown.
Full guide to Coopers Rock State Forest →Cheat River whitewater and rail-trail network
Mountaineer Country
The northern counties around Morgantown. The Cheat River was severely degraded by acid mine drainage through the twentieth century and has recovered substantially since the 1990s through remediation work led by Friends of the Cheat; the Cheat Canyon is now a well-known Class IV to V spring run and the Cheat Narrows carries easier water. Deckers Creek has undergone similar restoration. About 48 miles of connected rail-trail run through Morgantown, and the Mountaineer Trail Network is building purpose-built singletrack across the region.
The defining fact about northern West Virginia is the recovery of the Cheat River. Thirty years ago it was one of the most acid-damaged rivers in Appalachia. Now people plan trips around it.
A university town with forty-eight miles of rail-trail through it, the best bouldering in the state fifteen minutes east, and a classic big-water run forty minutes south.
Our recommendations
What we'd do here
Second visit
Cheat Canyon
The Cheat — canyon in spring if you're a boater, the Narrows or the water trail if you're not, and Cheat Fest if the timing works.
Full guide to Cheat Canyon →What locals do
Cathedral State Park
Cathedral State Park's virgin hemlock, Valley Falls on the Tygart, and the Mountaineer Trail Network singletrack as it opens.
Full guide to Cathedral State Park →One day here
Morning bouldering at Rock City, the Coopers Rock overlook at midday, an afternoon on the Deckers Creek Trail, and dinner in Morgantown.
Practical note
The Cheat Canyon is entirely rain-fed. There is no dam release and no schedule — it comes up on weather and drops in two days. If you're driving for it, watch the Albright river level daily and be ready to move.
Signature places
- Cheat Canyon — big-water Class IV–V in spring, one of the East's classic runs
- Cheat River Water Trail and the Cheat Narrows for calmer paddling
- Mon River, Deckers Creek and Caperton rail-trails through Morgantown
- Coopers Rock State Forest — bouldering, hiking and the overlook
- Cheat Lake for flatwater and lakeside recreation
- Mountaineer Trail Network Recreation Area singletrack
- Tygart Valley River and Valley Falls
Where to base yourself
What this region does best
Cheat Canyon — big-water Class IV–V in spring, one of the East's classic runs.
Mar–May, Sep–Oct · SeasonIntermediate–Expert · Suits
Where, in this region
Cheat Canyon
River
Valley Falls State Park
State Park
Local organizations
Friends of the Cheat
NONPROFIT
1 place in the Mountaineer Country carry whitewater rafting.
Apr–Oct · SeasonBeginner–Expert · Suits
Where, in this region
Cheat Canyon
River
Mon River, Deckers Creek and Caperton rail-trails through Morgantown.
Year-round · SeasonBeginner · Suits
Where, in this region
Local organizations
Friends of the Cheat
NONPROFIT
Mountaineer Trail Network Recreation Area singletrack.
Mar–Nov · SeasonIntermediate–Advanced · Suits
Where, in this region
Coopers Rock State Forest
State Forest
Valley Falls State Park
State Park
Local organizations
Mountaineer Trail Network
NONPROFIT
Coopers Rock State Forest — bouldering, hiking and the overlook.
Sep–May · SeasonAll · Suits
Where, in this region
Coopers Rock State Forest
State Forest
Local organizations
Bouldering across West Virginia →Cheat River Water Trail and the Cheat Narrows for calmer paddling.
Mon River, Deckers Creek and Caperton rail-trails through Morgantown.
Year-round · SeasonAll · Suits
Where, in this region
Coopers Rock State Forest
State Forest
Cathedral State Park
State Park
Valley Falls State Park
State Park
Audra State Park
State Park
Tygart Lake State Park
State Park
Tomlinson Run State Park
State Park
Oglebay Resort
Golf Course
Local organizations
Mountaineer Trail Network
NONPROFIT
Cheat River Water Trail and the Cheat Narrows for calmer paddling.
Mon River, Deckers Creek and Caperton rail-trails through Morgantown.
Mar–Nov · SeasonIntermediate · Suits
Where, in this region
Coopers Rock State Forest
State Forest
Local organizations
Mountaineer Trail Network
NONPROFIT
Cheat Lake for flatwater and lakeside recreation.
Apr–Oct · SeasonBeginner · Suits
Where, in this region
Tygart Lake State Park
State Park
Cheat Lake
Lake
Tomlinson Run State Park
State Park
Prickett's Fort State Park
State Park
Lakeview Golf Resort
Golf Course
8 places in the Mountaineer Country carry fishing.
Year-round · SeasonAll · Suits
Where, in this region
Cheat Canyon
River
Valley Falls State Park
State Park
Audra State Park
State Park
Tygart Lake State Park
State Park
Cheat Lake
Lake
Tomlinson Run State Park
State Park
Prickett's Fort State Park
State Park
Cheat River Water Trail and the Cheat Narrows for calmer paddling.
Apr–Oct · SeasonBeginner–Intermediate · Suits
Local organizations
Friends of the Cheat
NONPROFIT
6 places in the Mountaineer Country carry camping.
Apr–Oct · SeasonAll · Suits
Where, in this region
Coopers Rock State Forest
State Forest
Audra State Park
State Park
Tygart Lake State Park
State Park
Tomlinson Run State Park
State Park
Oglebay Resort
Golf Course
1 place in the Mountaineer Country carry gravel biking.
Mar–Nov · SeasonIntermediate · Suits
Where, in this region
Gravel Biking across West Virginia →Every place we cover here
15 named destinations in this region.
State Forest · Mountaineer Country
Coopers Rock State Forest
A 12,747-acre state forest above the Cheat River Canyon.
12,747 ac forest1,200 ft above the cheat
River · Mountaineer Country
Cheat Canyon
One of the classic big-water runs of the East: roughly 11 miles of Class IV–V through a remote gorge below Albright, with named rapids including Big Nasty, Coliseum and Pete Morgan.
11 mi canyon runClass IV–V at high water
Trail · Mountaineer Country
Mon River Rail-Trail System
About 48 miles of connected crushed-limestone rail-trail through Morgantown: the Caperton Trail along the riverfront downtown, the Mon River Trail running north to the Pennsylvania line and south toward Prickett's Fort, and the Deckers Creek Trail climbing 19 miles east to Reedsville.
48+ mi connected19 mi deckers creek trail
Trail · Mountaineer Country
Mountaineer Trail Network Recreation Area
Purpose-built modern singletrack in Preston County, the anchor project of a regional effort to link northern West Virginia into a single mountain bike destination.
Growing mileagePurpose-built design
Trail · Mountaineer Country
Big Bear Lake Trail Center
A long-established private trail center in Preston County with dozens of miles of cross-country singletrack and doubletrack around a lake, plus camping.
Local knowledge
50+ mi trailsLake on site
State Park · Mountaineer Country
Cathedral State Park
133 acres of virgin eastern hemlock, the last substantial stand of old-growth mixed forest remaining in West Virginia.
133 ac old growth90+ ft hemlock height
State Park · Mountaineer Country
Valley Falls State Park
A series of ledge drops on the Tygart Valley River near Fairmont, popular with photographers, picnickers and — at the right levels — playboaters.
1,145 ac parkLedges river drops
State Park · Mountaineer Country
Audra State Park
A compact park on the Middle Fork River built around a boulder-strewn swimming area and the Alum Cave boardwalk, which runs beneath an overhanging rock shelter above the river.
355 ac parkAlum Cave rock shelter
State Park · Mountaineer Country
Tygart Lake State Park
A 1,750-acre reservoir behind a 1930s Corps of Engineers dam near Grafton, with a lodge, marina, scuba diving and steep wooded shoreline.
1,750 ac lake1938 dam completed
Lake · Mountaineer Country
Cheat Lake
A long, narrow 1,730-acre impoundment of the Cheat River just east of Morgantown, with a shoreline rail-trail, boat access and the closest flatwater paddling and lakeside recreation to the city.
1,730 ac lake13 mi length
State Park · Mountaineer Country
Tomlinson Run State Park
The northernmost park in the system, in Hancock County at the tip of the Northern Panhandle.
1,398 ac park29 ac lake
State Park · Mountaineer Country
Prickett's Fort State Park
A reconstructed 1774 frontier refuge fort at the confluence of Prickett's Creek and the Monongahela River, with living-history interpretation, a boat launch and a trailhead on the Mon River Rail-Trail system.
188 ac park1774 fort date
Golf Course · Mountaineer Country
Oglebay Resort
A municipal resort park in Wheeling with multiple public golf courses, including the Speidel Course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
1,700 ac parkRobert Trent Jones Sr. speidel design
Golf Course · Mountaineer Country
Pete Dye Golf Club
A private club near Bridgeport built on a reclaimed coal mine, routed past preserved mine structures and through a former haulage tunnel.
Private accessReclaimed mine site
Golf Course · Mountaineer Country
Lakeview Golf Resort
A resort on Cheat Lake outside Morgantown with two courses, the Lakeview and the Mountainview, plus lodging and conference facilities.
2 coursesCheat Lake setting
On Instagram
AdvertiseThis space is available
Local outfitters, lodging and shuttles
Regional placement for operators based in or serving the Mountaineer Country. Capped at three per page.
List your business hereQuestions about the Mountaineer Country
What is the Mountaineer Country known for?
The defining fact about northern West Virginia is the recovery of the Cheat River. Thirty years ago it was one of the most acid-damaged rivers in Appalachia. Now people plan trips around it.
What can you do here in one day?
Morning bouldering at Rock City, the Coopers Rock overlook at midday, an afternoon on the Deckers Creek Trail, and dinner in Morgantown.
Which counties are in this region?
Monongalia, Preston, Marion, Taylor, Harrison, Barbour.
Where should I base a trip here?
Morgantown, Kingwood, Fairmont, Clarksburg, Bridgeport, Albright.
Organizations working here · 19
Agencies, watershed groups and access organizations tied specifically to this region.
Adventure WV / WVU Outdoor Recreation Center
Outdoor programs, recreation, education and regional resources through West Virginia University.
Visit Friends of the Cheat
Rivers
Cheat River restoration, recreation, water trail, access, events and conservation. Its work specifically combines restoration with promoting recreational opportunities.
Visit Cheat River Water Trail
Rivers
Paddling access points, river sections and recreation information along the Cheat.
Visit Friends of Deckers Creek
Rivers
Deckers Creek restoration, trails, water quality and outdoor recreation in Monongalia and Preston counties.
Visit Guardians of the West Fork
Rivers
West Fork River watershed protection, cleanup and river access advocacy.
Visit Save the Tygart Watershed Association
Rivers
Tygart Valley River watershed protection and recreation access.
Visit
Upper Monongahela River Association
Rivers
Monongahela River recreation, boating, riverfront development and quality-of-life initiatives.
Cheat Lake Environment & Recreation Association (CLEAR)
Rivers
Cheat Lake water quality, shoreline recreation and lake access advocacy.
Mountain Project — West Virginia
Climbing
Essential route-level climbing database for the New River Gorge, Summersville Lake, Meadow River, Gauley, Seneca Rocks and other climbing areas.
Visit Cheat Canyon Climbers Coalition
Climbing
Climbing access and stewardship in the Cheat Canyon region near Morgantown.
Visit Upper Mon River Water Trail
Paddling
Monongahela River water trail access from Fairmont to the Pennsylvania line.
Allegheny Trail
Hiking
West Virginia's roughly 300-mile north–south long-distance hiking trail.
Visit Mountaineer Trail Network
Biking
Building a connected purpose-built singletrack network across north-central West Virginia.
Harrison Recreational Trails
Biking
Develops hiking, biking, running, equestrian, accessible and water trails in Harrison County.
Mon River Rail-Trails Conservancy
Biking
Maintains the Mon River, Caperton and Deckers Creek rail-trails through and around Morgantown.
Visit Monongahela Grotto
Caving
Morgantown-area NSS grotto with regular trips and beginner-friendly outings.
Mountaineer Chapter Trout Unlimited
Fishing
North-central West Virginia TU chapter — stream restoration, education and youth programs.
Visit Mountaineer Country
Tourism
Morgantown, the Cheat, Coopers Rock and the Mon River rail-trail system.
Visit Oglebay Resort Golf
Golf
Public resort courses in Wheeling, including the Speidel Course by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Visit Every organization we link to: local tourism offices, the state and federal agencies that manage the land, the nonprofits and clubs that keep access open, and the universities doing the research.
West Virginia has roughly 1.5 million acres of public land and a handful of places that carry almost all of the attention. The consequence is that a great deal of very good ground sits nearly empty, usually for one of three reasons: nobody has heard of it, the road in is gated or rough, or it is undeveloped and has nothing to advertise. Those are the places below — of them across regions.