4 adventures in & right around Morgantown
Morgantown is the perfect base camp for adventure: a lively small-city scene, and a gateway to outdoor exploration.
Go exploring, and still make it back in time for dinner at a local restaurant and to hit the town’s vibrant nightlife! Adventure awaits within the city limits and just beyond, and with plenty of transportation options, even the college-town students without cars can find their way to the wilderness.
Here are some of the adventures you can easily get to from Morgantown:
1. Decker’s Creek Trail
Decker’s Creek Trail is one of several ways to get a dose of the great outdoors without ever stepping foot outside of Morgantown’s city limits. Explore 19 miles of trails that parallel a creek of the same name, beginning at the confluence of the Monongahela River and Decker’s Creek near downtown.
The portion of the trail that weaves through Morgantown is paved and passes by urban features, but once the trail moves out of the city, it turns to crushed stone and meanders through fields of florals and craggy limestone corridors.
2. WVU’s Core Arboretum
Next to the West Virginia University Coliseum is the 91-acre urban oasis that is WVU’s Core Arboretum. Stroll along the 3 miles of trails, then stop for a picnic among the trees, shrubs and native West Virginia plants. The wildflowers are a sight to behold every spring. Time your visit between March and May to immerse yourself in the floral beauty of this unique garden.
3. West Virginia Botanic Garden
If you like your cross-country skiing or hiking with a side of botanic beauty, the West Virginia Botanic Garden is for you. The garden has hundreds of hemlock and poplars trees along its 2.5 miles of easy trailways. The best part? It’s free and open to the public from sunup to sundown.
To get to the garden from Morgantown, drive 15 minutes along Dug Hill Road, or go by bus— just hop on the #8 for an easy 30-minute ride with a short walk to the garden from your stop.
4. White Park
Nearing the outskirts of Morgantown, you’ll find White Park, a 170-acre beauty where you can try all sorts of outdoor activities. Hike, bike or cross-country ski your way across the 5 miles of wooded trail.
If you visit in the winter, be sure to check out the BOPARC Ice Arena along Mississippi Street. It’s a lot of fun, and affordable for the whole family!
This post was last updated on March 1, 2022