Put In: At the junction of Highway 26, Woolen Mills road and a smaller road, There is a large open area between Woolen Mills road and Muddy Creek. Paddlers tend to park here or further north along Woolen Mills Road.
Take Out: The Cheat Festival site is on creek left at the confluence of Muddy Creek and the Cheat River. There are parking areas, informational kiosks and changing rooms. From Interstate 68, head South on Route 26. After about ten miles, take a sharp right into Teter's Campground. Drive through Teter's campground to land owned by Friends of the Cheat. This is an AW paddlers' easement.
Kevin Williams relates: Fun run with 2 slides- one narrow and reminiscent of the last slide on Meadow Run (but not as steep). Watch out for the undercut ledge along the left side and a piton rock near the bottom. The other slide (right at the old furnace) is 25 meters long with a ledge on the left side, a consistent slide on the right and what looks to be a really nasty pinning rock jumble right in the middle. Portage on the right. . The run was pretty low for us. Take a look at the 2nd slide at the furnace; if there is enough water to run the right side, it will probably be a nice level. Take out at the Cheat putin.
For years, heinous water quality deterred paddlers form running the lower section of Muddy Creek. This Creek had been severely impacted by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) from abandoned coal mines for decades. The volume of AMD, commonly known as “yellowboy” was overwhelming after the 1994 blowout at the T&T Mine. However, this stretch of whitewater is now runnable again with excellent water quality.
In 2018 the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) in cooperation with Friends of the Cheat (FOC) implemented a watershed scale restoration project on Lower Muddy Creek. This includes an AMD Treatment plant at the old T&T mine, as well as In-stream lime dosing systems throughout the watershed. The water quality on lower Muddy Creek has improved dramatically over the last year.
Launch near near the junction of Woolen Mill Road and Highway 26p . There is a bit of parking on the north east corner of the intersection. Woolen Mill Road follows Muddy Creek upstream.
The remains of the old furnace appear to be on river left towards the end of the slide.
The take out is a public access point located on the Friends of the Cheat property. The takeout includes a moderately sized parking area with information Kiosks, bathrooms, and changing rooms. This is also considered one of the Cheat Canyon put-ins as well.
From Interstate 68 at Bruceton Mills, head south on Route 26. After about ten miles, take a sharp right into Teter's Campground. Drive through Teter's campground to land owned by Friends of the Cheat. This is an AW paddlers' easement.
Funs run with 2 slides- one narrow and reminiscent of the last slide on Meadow Run (but not as steep). Watch out for the undercut ledge along the left side and a piton rock near the bottom. The other slide (right at the old furnace) is 25 meters long with a 5
5 years ago
by Michael Gallimore
Based on a recommendation by Steve Ettinger. Note that this is an "indicator gage," from a nearby stream in the same watershed. These indicator gages are best used as a guide--a way to figure out whether it's even worth looking at the stream or not.
Permits are not required for this reach.
39.514768,-79.644592
39.549589,-79.644592
NA
We have no additional detail on this route. Use the map below to calculate how to arrive to the main town from your zipcode.
Muddy Creek
Muddy Creek 2
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Get your groove on baby! This year Gauley Fest is a 60’s themed event to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. To memorialize that historic event we are flashing back to another era for a 60’s throwdown. Started in 1983 to celebrate the derailment of a hydro-electric project that would have disrupted the flows on the Gauley River, Gauley Fest has grown to become the largest paddling festival in the world.
American Whitewater received the following open letter to boaters from the rangers and staff of the Gauley River National Recreation Area. This letter will keep you up to date on important management actions of the National Park Service on the Gauley River. Enjoy your paddling season on this classic whitewater river. As in past years, American Whitewater has leased the field above Masons Branch, also known as the Legg field, for overflow parking.
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