Deckers Creek Trail

Trail Location: Morgantown to Reedsville
Trail Length: 19 miles
Counties: Monongalia, Preston
Nearby Towns: Morgantown, Sabraton, Masontown, Reedsville, Arthurdale

Activities:
Walking, Biking, Cross Country Skiing, In-line Skating (on asphalt), Handicap Accessible

Trail Surface(s):
Asphalt (3 miles), Crushed limestone (16 miles)

Trail Description:
Beginning at Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park in Morgantown, the trail parallels Deckers Creek and Scenic Byway Route 7 East to slightly west of Reedsville, WV in Preston County. From the confluence of Monongahela River in Morgantown, the rail-trail follows scenic Deckers Creek upstream with noticeable elevation change of 1,000 feet over 19 miles. In Morgantown city limits, the trail is asphalt, outside Morgantown the trail is surfaced with a smooth crushed limestone. This trail provides easy access to Marilla Park, a Morgantown city park with a swimming pool & water slides, tennis courts, and playground as well as neighboring restaurants & food stores. Outside of Morgantown city limits, the landscape becomes very scenic and secluded with hardwoods, hemlock & rhododendron, and rock outcroppings. The trail provides a close-up view of Greer Limestone, an active limestone mine. Near the communities of Masontown and Bretz, the trail passes an abandoned row of coke ovens, remnants from a large coal-mining industry. The Bretz Coke Ovens are listed as a National Historic Landmark and are currently being considered for restoration & interpretation. Highly-experienced kayakers paddle Deckers Creek, which has some Class VI rapids and rock climbing is also popular in the region. The trail currently ends at Morgan Mine Road. Less than a mile from the trail on Route 92 is the Arthurdale Heritage District and Museum. The entire community of Arthurdale is on the National Register of Historic Places, recognized as the Nations First New Deal Homestead Community.

Parking & Trail Access:
There is parking available in Morgantown at Ruby Hazel McQuain Riverfront Park and in Sabraton at Marilla Park, Masontown and Reedsville also have trailheads with parking.