Daugherty Run,

Co. Rd 3-12 to Cheat River (Daugherty Creek)

Usual Difficulty	V (may vary with level)
Length	6 Miles
Avg. Gradient	203 fpm
Max Gradient	260 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
BIG SANDY CREEK AT ROCKVILLE, WV
usgs-03070500	8.00 - 11.00 ft	V	08h01m	19.23 ft (rc= 3.7 )

River Description

To try to describe this creek in detail would almost be an impossible task. But here is a brief outline just to let you know what you're getting yourself into. Daugherty is a steep low-volume creek run that flows down off the mountain and into the Cheat River just upstream of the Power Plant in Albright, WV. It’s a busy little puppy with an average gradient of 203 feet per mile! The rapids are back to back and range from steep and technical to wide-open slides. Some of the slides go on for 10 to 20 yards, sometimes leading one into another. Throw in a couple of nice 4- to 6-foot ledge drops into the mix and you got the nature of the “Dog”-erty! It reminds me of its nearby neighbor Fike Run – perhaps on Acid!

Gradient (in Feet), Mile by Mile: 130,250,260,250,230,200.

SHUTTLE DIRECTIONS:

To get to the Take-Out; turn off of RT. 26 in Albright,WV and onto CR7-12). It’s just before or after (depending on the direction you're going) where RT. 26 crosses over the Cheat River. Continue on for about 2 miles (you will see the Albright Power Plant on your right) until you come to the first small bridge. This is the Take-Out. There is plenty of room to park on the river left side of the bridge. I suggest you change and load boats here before heading up to the Put-In. Parking at the Put-In is VERY limited.

To get to the Put-In; head back across the bridge and make your first right turn onto CR45-1. Follow this for approximately 4 to 5 miles, always bearing to your right. Then turn right onto CR3-12. According to the Topo map it should be your first right turn. (There is a old School House on the left corner.) This road is rough but passable, to a point, in a two-wheel-drive vehicle. About a mile down there is a clearing for a underground Pipeline that comes down off the hill on your left, goes across the road and cuts down to the creek on your right. This is where I put in. There are a few places to park at the clearing. Make sure NOT to block the road.

If you want to put in higher up, first take a good look at your vehicle: determine if it's a four wheel drive or if you just like to drive it like one. Continue down the road to where it gets narrow and rough. It eventually parallels the creek. I don’t know of a designated place to park and put-in so you will just have to go up the road until you find a good spot. Again parking is very limited. Also there are numerous NO TRESPASSING signs lining both sides of the road. So you have to cross over some private property to get to the creek, do yourself a favor - Be inconspicuous! And try not to make a big deal of the shuttle. Lately there has been a lot of trouble with some locals at Elzey Run, just a mile away.

OTHER NEARBY RIVERS:

Big Sandy Creek, WV
Muddy Creek, WV
Roaring Creek, WV
Morgan Run, WV
Little Sandy Creek, WV
Cheat Canyon WV
Elzey Run

CAMPGROUNDS:

Teter's Campground (Great PLace!)
Rt. 26 Albright, WV
(304) 329-3626
Gauge Readings, Hot Showers, Ice, Firewood
Owners: Ralph and Cathy Teter