The Cheat River Canyon, despite a short spring season, is host to one of the more popular whitewater stretches in the mid-Atlantic Region. Each spring thousands of rafters descend on the small northern West Virginia town of Albright prepared to challenge the canyon's acclaimed whitewater. During high water, many of the Cheat's normal Class III-IV rapids—Decision, Big Nasty, Even Nastier, Tear Drop, High Falls, Maze, and Coliseum Falls—become very demanding Class IV-V rapids.
     A historic November 1985 flood on the Cheat River not only destroyed most of the town of Albright near the put-in but also dramatically rearranged large rocks and boulders, creating a vastly different river. Outfitters and paddlers alike claim many of the Cheat's rapids are now bigger, better, and more exciting. Rapids such as Big Nasty and Coliseum have intensified and are more challenging than before.
     On days when water levels are too high to safely run the Cheat River Canyon, outfitters bus rafters south to a put-in near Rowlesburg and run the Cheat Narrows. The Narrows section has a number of exciting Class III-IV rapids including Cave, "S" Turn, Double Hydraulic, Calamity, Wind, and Rocking Horse.
     During moderate- and low- water levels of the late spring and summer, several outfitters offer guided inflatable kayak trips on both the canyon and narrows sections.