Friends of the Cheat

announces the official opening of the

first three miles of the long-awaited

Cheat River Rail-Trail.

The newly opened section starts at

FOC’s trailhead on 10922 River Road,

Kingwood. It runs approximately three

miles north, nestled between the Cheat

River and the Cheat River Scenic Byway

(River Road/W.Va. 72.)

After 25 years in the making, FOC and

its many partners, including volunteers

from the legacy Preston Rail-Trail Com-

mittee, gathered Friday to cut the ribbon

and officially open the trail in anticipa-

tion of Celebrate Trails Day on Saturday

and the annual Cheat River Festival tak-

ing place May 2-3.

The trail features both crushed lime-

stone surfaces and a paved section next

to Camp Dawson’s facilities. Visitors can

access the trail from dawn until dusk.

Parking for the trail is located at the

Cheat River Trailhead, which has picnic

areas, water fountains, restrooms, and

river access. No motorized vehicles are

permitted on the trail.

The next phase of trail construction

is underway, with WVDOT’s CenForce

crew actively working to rehabilitate the

430-foot trestle bridge across the Cheat

River adjacent to the trailhead.

For visitors’ safety and out of respect

for this ongoing construction and the

workers, FOC asks that people stay off

the trestle bridge and the southern sec-

tion of the trail. Later this year, FOC will

release the contract for the construction

of the southern five miles of rail-trail.

For more information on the Cheat

River Rail-Trail, visit cheat.org/cheat-

river-rail-trail.