There is something almost magical about a river. They are literally a source of life, as they supply us water, and they serve as transportation and a source of fun and recreation. Luckily, we are blessed with a ton of beautiful rivers in the Mountain State. Here are just a few of the rivers in West Virginia that you’ll want to explore for yourself.

1. The Cheat River
Cheat River, West Virginia, USA
Dave Riggs/Flickr
The Cheat River is formed at Parsons, W.Va. and flows northward through Tucker and Preston Counties. It flows through the Cheat Canyon and then the Cheat Lake reservoir before joining the Monongahela River at Point Marion, Pennsylvania. It also has great whitewater in West Virginina.
2. The Elk River
Elk River, West Virginia, USA
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
The Elk River is a tributary of the Kanawha River. It’s formed in Pocahontas County and joins the Kanawha River in Charleston. It’s a source of water for many residents in West Virginia, as we so painfully became aware in January 2014 when a chemical spill into the river contaminated the water for 300,000 and caused residents to stop drinking and bathing in the water for days.
3. The Cacapon River
Cacapon River, West Virginia, USA
Steve 1828/Flickr
The Cacapon (which means Medicine waters) is a 81-mile-long river in the Eastern Panhandle known for fishing, boating, wildlife and scenery. It is one of the cleanest rivers in West Virginia and it emerges from underground in Sandy Ridge. It is the reemergence of the Lost River, which sinks underground east of McCauley. It eventually joins the Potomac River.
4. The Blackwater River
Blackwater River, West Virginia, USA
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Flickr
Blackwater River is a 34-mile river in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. It’s a tributary of the Cheat River. Its dark color is due to spruce and hemlock trees in its watershed, which cause the water to be amber or tea colored, making it one of the prettiest rivers in West Virginia.
5. The Cranberry River
Cranberry River, West Virginia, USA
Tim Kiser
The Cranberry River (also known as Cranberry Creek) is a tributary of the Gauley River. It is formed in Pocahontas County and flows through the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area.
6. The Kanawha River
Kanawha River, West Virginia, USA
OZinOH/Flickr
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio. It’s formed in Gauley Bridge, West Virginia and flows northwest. It flows through Fayette, Kanawha, Putnam, and Mason counties and joins the Ohio River in Point Pleasant.

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7. The Monongahela River
Monongahela River, United States
Jon Dawson/Flickr
Also called the Mon River, the Monongahela River is 130-miles-long and located in north central West Virginia and in Pennsylvania.
8. The Greenbrier River
Greenbrier River, West Virginia, USA
James/Flickr
The Greenbrier River is 173-miles-long and located in southeastern West Virginia and it's a great lake for tubing adventure in the state.
9. The Tygart River
Tygart Valley River, West Virginia, USA
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
The Tygart Valley River (also known as the Tygart River) is a tributary of the Monongahela River. It’s about 135 miles long. It’s another river used for whitewater rafting and it's great for swimming in West Virginia.
10. The Coal River
Coal River, West Virginia, USA
Random Michelle/Flickr
The Coal River is a tributary of the Kanawha River. It’s formed in Alum Creek and flows through western Kanwaha County and joins the Kanawha River at St. Albans.
11. The Gauley River
Gauley River, West Virginia, USA
Randy Watson/Flickr
It looks calm and peaceful here, but every fall the Gauley River turns in to the Beast of the East. Water from the Summersville Dam is released into the river each October, turning it into a very popular place for whitewater rafting in West Virginia. The river is 105 miles long and merges with the New River to create the Kanawha.
12. The Ohio River
Ohio River, United States
Mike/Flickr
The Ohio River forms one side of West Virginia’s borders and separates us from Ohio. At its widest point in Louisville, Kentucky, it is one mile wide. It’s the largest tributary by volume of the Mississippi River.
13. The New River
New River, West Virginia 25085, USA
Stephen Weppler/Flickr
The New River (despite its name) is managed by the National Park Service and is actually one of the oldest rivers in the world. It flows north and is a popular tourist destination because of its world-class white water rapids, which range in difficulty from class I to class V.

Do you have a favorite river in West Virginia? Tell us about it in the comments below.

And if you’re searching for some fun on the water, here are the best recreational lakes in West Virginia.

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More to Explore

RIVERS IN WEST VIRGINIA & RELATED TOPICS

Melanie J. | December 30, 2022

What are the oldest rivers in West Virginia? 

The New River is not only one of the oldest rivers in West Virginia, but it is also one of the oldest rivers in the world. The river is estimated to be between 260 million to 325 million years old. While the New River is one of the oldest rivers in the state, there are a few rivers that have been around for thousands as well as for millions of years and can be counted as some of the oldest rivers in West Virginia. They include:   

Here’s a previous article where you can read more about the New River, one of the oldest rivers in West Virginia.  

What are the most popular rivers in West Virginia?

While the New River might be one of the oldest rivers in West Virginia, there are other rivers that are notable in the Mountain State. Here are some of the most popular rivers in West Virginia.  

  • The Ohio River
  • New River Gorge National River
  • The Blackwater River
  • Monongahela River
  • Elk River
  • Kanawha
  • Potomac River
  • Shenandoah River
  • The Gauley River
  • Greenbrier River

Here is a previous article about some more popular rivers in West Virginia. 

What is the cleanest river in West Virginia? 

By far, the Cacapon River is the cleanest river in West Virginia. Located in the Appalachian Mountains, this 81-mile shallow river is a popular destination for fishing, boating, kayaking, floating, swimming, as well as hunting. It’s a great river to spend a day with the family as it also boasts beautiful scenery and the best paddling in the Mountain State.

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