Cheat Mountain traverses the entire length of central Randolph County, West Virginia, from a northern point just west of Parsons to a southern point about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) south of the Randolph/Pocahontas county line, near the community of Stony Bottom, where it impinges upon Back Allegheny Mountain.

However, all but the northernmost 15 miles (24 km) or so of it is skirted by the Western Maryland Railroad, connecting (from north to south) the communities of Bowden, Bemis and Cheat Bridge.

Cheat Mountain was strategically important during the early Operations in Western Virginia campaign of the American Civil War.

Lee called off the attack and, after maneuvering in the vicinity, withdrew to Valley Head on September 17, 1861.

During the night of October 2–3, Reynolds with two brigades advanced from Cheat Mountain to reconnoiter the Confederate position at Camp Bartow on the Greenbrier River.

After sporadic fighting and an abortive attempt to turn his enemy's right flank, Reynolds withdrew to Cheat Mountain.

In December, Confederate forces under Col. Edward Johnson occupied the summit of nearby Allegheny Mountain to defend the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike.

This commanding stronghold controlled the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike as it passed west into the Tygart River Valley.