Information
Landmark: Cheat LakeCity: Morgantown
Country: USA West Virginia
Continent: North America
Cheat Lake, Morgantown, USA West Virginia, North America
Overview
Just east of Morgantown, West Virginia, Cheat Lake glitters in the sunlight and offers some of the area’s most beautiful views along with endless ways to enjoy the outdoors.It runs for almost 13 miles beside the Cheat River, tucked between steep, wooded hills where the scent of pine drifts over the water, a place that feels hidden yet humming with life.The lake blends Appalachian beauty with easygoing fun-boats drifting past, kids splashing in the shallows, anglers casting lines, and a dinner table waiting right by the water.Cheat Lake took shape in 1926, when West Penn Power built the Cheat Lake Dam-then called Lake Lynn Dam-to harness the river’s force for hydroelectric power.When the Cheat River was dammed, water surged into the narrow valley upstream, creating a twisting, mile-long reservoir that glitters across about 1,730 acres.The lake may be man‑made, but its steep banks thick with pine and its twisting shoreline make it look like it belongs high in the mountains.The lake’s southern tip sits just outside Morgantown, only a quick drive on I‑68 past green hills.At its northern tip, it slips into Pennsylvania, and the Cheat River keeps winding north, its dark water sliding past mossy banks toward the Monongahela.The hills around us rise from the Appalachian Plateau, where sandstone bluffs tower above oak-hickory forests and, on warm afternoons, a faint pine scent drifts across the water.From above, Cheat Lake unfurls like a river caught mid-turn, its narrow channels curling between steep green slopes, with shaded coves and tiny inlets that spill abruptly into broad, glassy water.All day, the water changes-soft jade in the cool morning, then a rich cobalt as the sun slips below the horizon.The lake’s glassy surface catches the canopy of oaks, maples, and hemlocks so sharply you could count the leaves, as if someone brushed the scene onto a canvas.Autumn transforms the scene into a blaze of reds, oranges, and golds spilling down the ridges, their colors doubling in the still water, while cool air drifts past with the dry scent of fallen leaves.Out in the middle of the lake, you might spot a bald eagle wheeling high above or a great blue heron skimming so close the water ripples under its wings.At Cheat Lake, there’s always something to do - from summer kayaking on glassy water to crisp autumn hikes - making it a year-round haven for anyone who loves the outdoors.In summer, the marinas hum with life, from the splash of paddles to the thud of boots on wooden docks.Boating keeps the lake alive-kayaks glide past, paddleboards drift lazily, and pontoon boats and jet skis sparkle in the sun as they skim across the surface.Local marinas like Edgewater and Sunset Beach will rent you gear, tie up your boat at their docks, top off your tank, and serve fresh seafood just steps from the water.Fishing’s a big attraction, especially when the sun glints off a line cast into the water.The lake holds largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, and catfish, their scales flashing like coins in the sun.Many anglers reel in their best catches beside half-hidden logs or jagged rock points, often in that hush of early morning when mist curls over glassy water.In spring and fall, the cool air makes fishing perfect, and the stillness on the water feels worlds away from summer’s noisy, bustling days.If you’d rather keep your feet on solid ground, the Cheat Lake Trail gives you one of northern West Virginia’s prettiest walks, where leaves crunch underfoot and the water glints through the trees.The 4.5-mile rail-trail winds north from the dam along the shore, weaving through shady trees before breaking into stretches where the lake gleams wide and bright.Bikers, joggers, and families use the trail often, pausing at benches to watch boats glide past or turtles bask on warm, mossy logs.You can swim in the designated spots, with Cheat Lake Park being the most popular-it’s got a patch of soft sand by the water, picnic shelters, and a couple of playgrounds.On summer weekends, children’s laughter rings out, water splashes softly against the dock, and the low hum of boats drifts through the warm air.Despite the fishing boats and swimmers, Cheat Lake still hums with life-herons lift off from the shore, and the water hides a wealth of native species.Deer slip through the wooded hills alongside raccoons, foxes, and bright songbirds, while the lake’s clear water shelters freshwater mussels and native fish.At first light, the mist drifts up from the water while birds cry across the coves, and somewhere in the trees, insects hum like a low, steady chord.As evening settles in, the whole scene shifts, like streetlights warming to a soft amber glow.When the sun dips low, amber light shimmers across the lake, and boaters ease their engines to drift, listening to the hush as the ridgelines lose their final trace of color.Frogs croak and crickets chirp, their chorus drifting through the night and wrapping the place in a hush that feels worlds apart from the city only minutes down the road.At Cheat Lake, life revolves around the water, shaping a unique local culture where evenings often end with the soft slap of waves against the dock.Waterfront neighborhoods and pockets of community-like Cheat Lake Village and Greystone-sit along the ridges, where decks catch the breeze and patios look out over the blue water.Locals and tourists drift to lakeside favorites like The Lakehouse Restaurant or Sunset Beach Bar & Grille, drawn by the scent of grilled fish, the sound of live music, and the slow parade of boats gliding beneath a fading pink sky that makes the place feel like a laid‑back resort.On holidays and warm summer weekends, the lake comes alive with fireworks, lively regattas, and floating meet‑ups, with boats anchored close enough for neighbors to pass snacks across the water.Even when the place is buzzing, you can slip around the bend and find a small, still cove where water laps softly at the shore and a loon calls far off across the lake.Cheat Lake’s charm comes from the way its mood changes-one moment the water’s glassy and still, the next it ripples under a sudden breeze.At dawn, the air is cool and still, and a soft shimmer of silver light dances across the lake.By midday, sunlight flickers across the waves, and the warm smell of sunscreen, smoky grills, and sharp pine carries through the marina air.As evening settles in, the hills deepen to a rich blue, the air turns crisp, and lanterns glow on boat decks while laughter drifts lightly over the darkening water.It’s a place where the hush of pine trees meets the steady rush of a river, blending movement with stillness, play with untamed nature.Glide down the Cheat Lake Trail, drop a line from the dock, or anchor beneath a sky sequined with stars, and you’ll feel time stretch until it almost stops.The lake curves like a ribbon through the hills, its glassy surface holding the sky, a quiet, wild welcome to northern West Virginia.
