Cheat Lake is a 1,730-acre man-made reservoir located in Monongalia County, West Virginia. This region features forested hillsides and the scenic Cheat River, creating diverse landscapes suitable for outdoor pursuits. It offers opportunities for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, mountain biking, jogging, and more, set amidst a vibrant natural environment.
The Cheat Lake area provides a range of outdoor activities, with 4 routes across several sports like hiking, touring cycling, mountain biking, jogging,…
50
Routes
4.5
(10)
Average rating
374
People visited

8
hikers
8.08km
02:17
180m
170m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
hikers
7.06km
02:07
230m
220m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
hikers
1.94km
00:34
20m
110m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

942m
00:20
60m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3
riders
31.6km
02:02
290m
270m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
51.4km
03:22
610m
620m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
11.4km
00:45
140m
140m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
riders
58.7km
04:06
1,070m
1,070m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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1
riders
11.6km
01:18
380m
380m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

7.30km
00:43
140m
140m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.3
(3)
7
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(2)
4
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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30
riders
41.5km
02:08
190m
190m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

29
riders
35.9km
01:53
160m
160m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

14
riders
42.9km
02:22
410m
410m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5
riders
45.1km
02:34
690m
690m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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25
runners
13.6km
01:27
130m
130m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
runners
9.89km
01:13
110m
110m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
runners
11.6km
01:13
110m
110m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Cheat Lake is a 1,730-acre man-made reservoir in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It was formed by a dam on the Cheat River in 1925 and spans nearly 13 miles, offering diverse landscapes for outdoor activities.
The Cheat Lake region offers opportunities for hiking, touring cycling, mountain biking, and jogging. Water sports such as kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, power-boating, and jet skiing are also popular on the lake.
Yes, the Cheat Lake Trail is a 4.5-mile (7.2 km) paved, 12-foot-wide path along the northeastern shoreline. This trail is handicap-accessible and suitable for walking, cycling, and jogging. A 2-mile (3.2 km) section of the North Trail also offers an easy, well-maintained gravel path.
Hiking trails are available along the Cheat Lake Trail, which offers an easy experience. For more varied terrain, nearby Coopers Rock State Forest provides additional hiking opportunities. More information can be found in the Hiking around Cheat Lake guide.
While the Cheat Lake Trail is primarily for touring, Coopers Rock State Forest, located about 10 miles (16 km) east, is a popular destination for mountain biking. It offers diverse and challenging terrain for riders. Consult the MTB Trails around Cheat Lake guide for details.
Yes, the Cheat Lake Trail offers an easy 7.1-mile (11.4 km) touring cycling route. This paved trail provides scenic views along the lake. Additional routes are detailed in the Cycling around Cheat Lake guide.
Key natural attractions include Cheat Lake itself, Coopers Rock State Forest with its panoramic Coopers Rock Overlook, and the Raven Rock Viewpoint. These locations offer views of the Cheat River and surrounding forested hillsides.
Cheat Lake is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 500 visitors sharing their experiences. The routes in the region have an average rating of 4.24 out of 5 stars.
Yes, the Cheat Lake Trail is well-suited for beginners and families due to its paved, flat, and accessible nature. A 2-mile (3.2 km) section of the North Trail also provides an easy gravel path. For more options, refer to the Easy hikes around Cheat Lake guide.
Komoot offers several guides for the Cheat Lake area, including Hiking around Cheat Lake, Cycling around Cheat Lake, Easy hikes around Cheat Lake, MTB Trails around Cheat Lake, Running Trails around Cheat Lake, and Road Cycling Routes around Cheat Lake.
Information about marinas and restaurants can be found at CheatLake.com. For specific comments or questions regarding Cheat Lake Park, contact Lake Lynn Generation (Allegheny Energy) via cheatlake.today/contact/. Sunset Beach Marina can be reached at (304) 594-0050 for boat and kayak rentals.

