The Cheat River is a major, untamed river that flows about 156 miles through northern West Virginia. It starts high in the mountains from five forks (like fingers on a hand) that meet at Parsons, and it ends where it joins the Monongahela River near the Pennsylvania border.

The Cheat Valley’s early iron industry was crucial for the War of 1812. Later, extensive coal and timber extraction led to heavy pollution and severe flooding. The river was so polluted by the mid-1990s that it was listed as one of the country's most endangered rivers.

A dam built in 1926 created Cheat Lake near the river's mouth. Today, thanks to cleanup efforts, fish have returned, and the river's wild character has become its greatest asset. Whitewater rafting is now a main industry, attracting visitors who enjoy the river's fast, fierce waters.