Water Trails in north central West Virginia to paddle instead of hike

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — If you aren’t a huge fan of hiking or biking, there’s another type of trail that you can use to explore West Virginia.

Water Trails are designated bodies of water that provide recreational or aesthetic alternative transportation, and there are several of them in north central West Virginia and across the state.

Flatwater trails specifically are perfect for more leisurely and “gentle” activities, according to the West Virginia Geographic Information System (WVGIS) , compared to West Virginia’s famous whitewater rivers which are used for adrenaline seekers like whitewater rafters and kayakers.

Here are the Water Trails in north central West Virginia that are perfect for canoeing, kayaking or even tubing. Keep in mind that even when boating on flatwater, all boaters must follow state boating laws and have a readily available and properly sized life jacket, according to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources .

Upper Monongahela River

This trail goes from where the West Fork and Tygart Valley rivers become the Monongahela River in White Hall, West Virginia to Brownsville, Pennsylvania—just north of Uniontown. In total, the trail is over 65 miles, but there are plenty of launch points throughout the trail so you can do a full trek or just a short section. In West Virginia, much of the trail is alongside the Marion County Rail Trail or Mon River Trail.

You can plan your perfect paddle or float by referencing the following map from the Upper Mon River, which has things to do, boating and general services, and hazards like dams and locks all marked. Information about going through locks is available online here . Keep in mind that only kayaks and canoes are permitted to lock—not paddleboards or tubes.

This trail is best traveled south to north, in the direction that the river flows. Lots of additional resources are available online here .

A few places you can rent equipment along the trail are Morgantown Adventure Outfitters in Morgantown, Jazzy’s Hydrobikes in Star City and Wood’s Boat House in White Hall.

West Fork River

The West Fork River goes from Weston in Lewis County to the Monongahela River in Fairmont, Marion County, a total of 75 miles. The river has 26 access points, including in Weston, Clarksburg, West Milford, Shinnston and Fairmont, according to West Virginia University’s DIY Outdoors . There are several places where boats have to be portaged—taken boat out of the river and carried around an obstacle or dam.

Events like the Old Mill & Float the Fork Festival , which was held May 31-June 1 2024, offer a chance to experience the Water Trail with a large group. Follow them on Facebook to keep up with the latest events.

Rental options for the West Fork include Wood’s Boat House in White Hall and Explore More WV in Bridgeport.

Upper Cheat River

This Water Trail goes from near Parsons in Tucker County to Rowlesburg in Preston County along the Cheat River. There are nine access points along the trail, depending on where and how far you want to paddle. A full breakdown of all of them and the distances between them is available online here. If you decide to start your journey in Parsons, keep in mind that the section of river between the Hendricks footbridge and the Fat Olive access points is considered intermediate and is recommended for experienced paddlers only.

Additional information about the trail and services along it is available on the Cheat River Water Trail website here .

Rental options include River House Lodge in Rowlesburg and Blackwater Outdoor Adventures in Parsons.

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