Cheat Lake

Cheat Lake was formed in the early 1900s when a dam was built on the Cheat River to generate hydroelectric power, flooding a stretch of the river valley and creating the long, narrow reservoir seen today. The lake remains a working part of the power system, so its levels can rise and fall, but for most of the year it presents a broad, inviting sheet of water winding between forested ridges.

The Cheat River itself is famous among paddlers for its wilder upstream stretches, and the lake offers a calmer face of the same river. The valley here was long part of the ancestral homeland and hunting ground of the Lenape, the Shawnee, and the Haudenosaunee peoples, none federally recognized in West Virginia today, with descendant nations continuing elsewhere, who traveled the river corridors through these northern mountains.

Boating is the lake's great draw. Its long, winding shape and many coves give powerboats, pontoons, kayaks, and canoes plenty of room to roam, and marinas and public launches provide easy access. On warm weekends the lake fills with boats, and its quieter arms reward paddlers looking for calm water and wooded solitude away from the busier stretches.

Anglers prize Cheat Lake as well, fishing its shoreline and coves for bass and other species. The mix of open water and hidden inlets, deep reaches and shallow flats, makes for varied fishing, and the wooded shores keep the setting scenic. Whether under power or paddle, the lake is the outdoor centerpiece of the Morgantown area's warm-weather life.

For those who prefer to stay on land, the Cheat Lake rail-trail follows an old railroad grade along part of the shoreline, offering a flat, easy route for walking, running, and biking with the lake spread out below. It is a favorite for a casual outing, letting visitors enjoy the water and the wooded ridges without a boat.

The trail connects lakeside parks and access points and gives good views across the reservoir, especially in the softer light of morning and evening. In fall the surrounding hardwood ridges turn color and reflect off the water, making the shoreline trail one of the more scenic easy walks in the Morgantown area.

Cheat Lake's great advantage is its setting on the doorstep of Morgantown, a lively university city with restaurants, culture, and the campus of West Virginia University. A day on the lake pairs naturally with time in town, from the historic Woodburn Hall on campus to the city's riverfront and its unusual personal rapid transit system.

Just beyond the lake lies Coopers Rock State Forest, whose famous cliff-top overlook gazes down on the Cheat River gorge, making an easy addition to a lake visit. Summer is the peak season on the water, fall the most colorful on the shore, and together the lake and its surroundings give the northern mountains one of their most accessible outdoor bases.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Cheat Lake, near Morgantown in northern West Virginia, is a long, scenic reservoir on the Cheat River, a popular destination for water recreation nestled among wooded hills. Formed by a dam, the lake stretches for miles through the forested landscape, offering boating, fishing, swimming, paddling, and waterfront relaxation, with marinas, a lakeside trail, and parks along its shores. Close to Morgantown, it is a beloved spot for lake fun and scenery. With its long waters, boating, and wooded shores, Cheat Lake offers a rewarding destination in West Virginia.

You can boat, kayak, paddleboard, and fish on the long lake, swim, relax at the waterfront parks and marinas, walk or bike the lakeside trail, and enjoy the scenic wooded setting. Boating and fishing are especially popular, and the lakeside trail offers pleasant walking with water views. Its closeness to Morgantown makes it an easy getaway. With its boating, fishing, swimming, and lakeside trail, Cheat Lake offers a rewarding water-recreation experience near Morgantown in northern West Virginia.

When boating or paddling, always wear a life jacket, watch for winds and boat traffic on the busy summer lake, and be cautious of the deeper water, while swimmers should watch children closely and be aware of drop-offs. Summer storms can arise quickly, so watch the weather. The water can be cool. Following basic water-safety practices, wearing life jackets, and supervising children ensure a safe and enjoyable visit to Cheat Lake near Morgantown in West Virginia.

Summer is the prime time for boating, swimming, and lake recreation, when the weather is warmest and the lake most inviting, though it is the busiest season, while late spring and early fall offer pleasant weather with fewer crowds for boating, fishing, and the lakeside trail, and fall brings beautiful color to the wooded hills. For warm-weather water recreation aim for summer, and for quieter visits with pleasant weather, late spring or early fall, at Cheat Lake near Morgantown in West Virginia.

Cheat Lake is near Morgantown in northern West Virginia, within reach of Coopers Rock State Forest above the Cheat River gorge, Morgantown with Woodburn Hall and the WVU Personal Rapid Transit, and Pricketts Fort State Park near Fairmont. That makes Cheat Lake a rewarding stop to combine with Coopers Rock State Forest, the Morgantown attractions, and the other sights of northern West Virginia on a visit to the state.