Cheat Lake

Cheat Lake is a reservoir stretching about 13 miles long across roughly 1,730 acres, with widths varying between one and three miles at different points. The water sits nestled in West Virginia's rolling terrain, surrounded by wooded shorelines that frame the expansive surface.

The lake formed between 1924 and 1926 when a dam was built across the Cheat River, with water first flowing over the structure on December 23, 1925. This construction project transformed how the river's energy was used in the region.

The area around Ices Ferry shows traces of 19th-century iron production that shaped the region's industrial past. Visitors can spot these old structures along the shore, revealing how nature has gradually reclaimed this working landscape.

Three marinas - Edgewater, Cheat Lake, and Sunset Beach - provide water access and services throughout the year for visitors with boats. The lake's size allows for different activities, and shoreline access points are spread across multiple locations.

The Lake Lynn Power Plant continues to generate electricity from the water flowing through the dam while maintaining levels for recreational use. This dual purpose allows the lake to serve both as an energy source and a place for people to enjoy water activities.

Location: Monongalia County

Elevation above the sea: 267 m

Length: 305 m

GPS coordinates: 39.71944,-79.85667

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:53