Nestled on the banks of the Monogahela River in the heart of Appalachia you’d expect to find a lot of options to get outside and enjoy a quick day hike. With nearby resources like Cooper’s Rock State Forest, Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area, The West Virginia Botanic Garden, a host of city parks, and more, you won’t be disappointed. In this article I’ll break down some of the most popular day hiking spots around Morgantown as well as a couple lesser known gems that are perfect for escaping the crowds on a busy weekend.
Cooper’s Rock State Forest
Cooper’s Rock State Forest is a outdoor recreation cornerstone for the Morgantown area. Offering hiking, biking, climbing, camping, and even cross-country skiing, Cooper’s has something for every outdoor enthusiast. Featuring nearly 50 miles of multi-use trails, you can explore to your heart’s content. Secure a spot at one of the two campgrounds within the forest to allow yourself more time to explore everything Cooper’s has to offer.
Cooper’s Rock Overlook and Rock City Trail
The Cooper’s Rock overlook and exploring the Rock City trail is the classic Cooper’s experience. This overlook of the Cheat River and lake has been featured on many a West Virginia tourism advertisment and for good reason. The overlook is only a few hundred feet from the parking area, making it extremely accessible, and it is quite impressive. What often goes overlooked (pun intended) is what lays beneath this popluar vantage point. The Underlook Trail and the Rock City Trail explore some truely outstanding rock formations formed by a layer of sandstone on the ridge that is fracturing and sliding its way down to the river below. This process has formed corridors of cliff you can walk between and even some caves you can explore. Unlike the overlook, these trails are quite rocky and may even require some light scambling in spots, however, it is worth the effort to see this city of stone.
Henry Clay Iron Furnace
The Henry Clay Iron Furnace is a remnant of a bygone era when a major ironworks complex, the Monongalia Iron Works, operated on the lands we now know as Cooper’s Rock. Constructed in 1834 and operated until 1848, the Henry Clay Furnace was one of three iron furnaces in the area along with a cut nail factory, a stove works, a rolling mill, puddling furnaces, sawmill, and grist mill, and other supporting operations. The hike to the furnace is moderately difficult as it follows Clay Furnace Trail, an old road which actually predates the construction of the furnace. The trail is rocky as it descends to the furnace after about a mile of hiking.
Raven Rock
Raven Rock is another scenic vista that requires a bit of a hike. This is a great option to escape some of the crowds that tend to be drawn to the main overlook. The trail is a 1.5 mile gated access road that starts near the McCollum campground. This moderately difficult hike culminates with a stunning view of the Cheat River Gorge and provide a sense of accomplishment from having “earned” the view.
Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area
If you have been to Cooper’s Rock overlook you have seen Snake Hill WMA. Sitting just across the Cheat River Gorge from Cooper’s, Snake Hill does not see nearly as many crowds. There are several small parking areas along Snake Hill Road which can be utilized to access this area. One of the most popular hikes here is out to the Cheat View overlook. This can be done as a ~2 mile out-and-back or as part of a larger 6.6 mile loop that visits several prominent overlooks. When you’re at one of these overlooks see if you can spot Cooper’s Rock Overlook or Raven Rock across the gorge! Keep in mind that Snake Hill is a wildlife management area. Check the local hunting seasons and avoid this area when hunters are about. If you must visit during hunting season, make sure you wear blaze orange and keep any pets on a leash.
West Virginia Botanic Garden
The West Virginia Botanic Garden at Tibb’s Run Preserve is a beautiful place to get some nature therapy without needing to go far from town. Sitting on 85 acres with about 4.5 miles of trail, the Botanic Garden is located at the site of the Tibb’s Run Reservoir, which supplied drinking water to the city of Morgantown until 1969 and was subsequently drained in 1980. What was left was a haven for plants, wildlife, and nature-lovers alike. Come here to see beautiful mixed deciduous, hemlock, and rhododendron forests with trees up to 250 years old! You can also plan your hike to coincide with one of their events, like their Summer Concert Series. If you visit the Botanic Garden, be sure to bring a few dollars to donate to support their mission “to foster learning, inspiration, and well-being through the beauty and wonder of plants, the natural environment, and culturally enriching experiences.”
Virgin Hemlock Trail
Just on the other side of Rt. 68 from the main portion of Cooper’s Rock and located in West Virginia University’s Forest is the Virgin Hemlock Trail. This 1.7 mile loop explores a 300 year old stand of hemlock trees along Little Laurel Run. The parking is just a pull off along Rt. 73 where you will see a sign for the trail. Be sure to park with the flow of traffic and take care if your vehicle has low ground clearance. This trail is fairly easy without much significant elevation gain although it can get slick and trecherous when wet. This is a great place to go when other spots are overcrowded as there rarely seems to be more than one or two other groups here.