Find the top rated dog walking trails in Clarksburg, whether you're looking for an easy short dog walking trail or a long dog walking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a dog walking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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I rode round-trip from Hendricks to Highland Park (Elkins) and back for a 50-mile trip and never saw another cyclist. On a hot July day the northern half was much more pleasant (shady and scenic), and the grade was very manageable. The southern half is much more open, and the trail occasionally all but disappears into thin lines of gravel. There are really no amenities on the trail, and the southern end stops about half a mile from Elkins, but it is an easy ride on street or sidewalk to town. As noted by another reviewer, the trail is closed from Mile Marker 15-17 for construction work for the Corridor H highway, but I was riding on a Saturday and was able to pick my way past the big idle machines and over the chewed up roadway, rather than detour onto the road.
I'm normally a moderate level trail biker, but visited this trail as a walker instead, with 2 - 50+ companions - one human and one canine. I will say you see much more when your pace is slower, even though we only covered a short section of this trail. Due to time constraints and the intense summer heat, we chose the section close to Morgantown over the more rural (and probably more scenic) southern section. Parking is available and adequate at Marilla Park and another dedicated trail parking area nearby. We picnicked in the park and walked over the creek via boardwalk to access the paved trail. It's partly urban views - mobile home park, businesses along rt 7 - but the creek is nearby the entire length. Board of parks employees were very visible on a Monday - running a day camp at the park, mowing the grass, and completing a new trail access bridge. Approaching downtown, there is a nice dog park and benches. The intersection with Hazel Ruby Mcquain Park is, well, interesting. There is a trail parking area I imagine is accessed from one of the downtown streets, and I agree that the bus station parking area is best avoided. The Mon and Caperton Trails intersect here but didn't appear to be well marked coming from the Deckers Creeks Trail, it just ends near the bus station where there are many other walkways, as well as restrooms and a water fountain. This also seemed to where displaced persons congregate - they did not bother with us, or us with them. There was light traffic when we visited, although when WVU is in session I would think it would be busier. I look forward to bringing my hybrid to see the rest of the trail next time.
The trail is closed from Mile Marker 15-17 for construction work for the Corridor H highway. If anyone has any knowledge of when this will be completed as it pertains to the trail closure please post.
Had a great time. Went from Shinnston to almost Monongah. Very beautiful and pretty easy ride. There is 2 parking lots at the beginning of the trail in Shinnston. There is a sign where you turn in to them.
Stay within lost creek and fire house and you will enjoy your walk. Between firehouse and Cemetery is pretty bad, barriers removed that would end your day on a bike if you caught one. They protrude about 5" up. Lots and lots of used tires and trash past firehouse also.
I am rating this based on my experience only. Riding mountain bikes..started at the end of the trail, around mile 70 went about 8 miles in and turned around.
The trail started out very muddy and then after that we were riding mostly on grass, although the ground was hard as if it was previously paved so it wasnt an impossible pedal. Not very scenic in the parts I saw, riding mostly alongside a highway and near homes.
I would not recommend this trail
We biked this in early October. Parked in Monongah at the lot next to City Hall. The trail is nicely paved except for less than three miles at the southern end in Shinnston. DO NOT try to park at the Mary Lou Retton park shown at the North end of the map. The loop shown on the map is a rural residential area with very narrow roads and you have to go down a short, steep dirt hill to get to the real trail. I've uploaded pictures of the trail's sign, which shows several parking areas along the trail.
This is our local rail trail, so we use it because it is convenient for biking with the family. We have covered from North Bend State Park to the Eastern Terminus near Wolf Summit on hybrid bikes and a trailer for our two small children.
The Good: The section between Ellenboro and North Bend State Park is beautiful! Surface is good, very scenic, a joyous experience! From Central Station to Smithburg has been re-surfaced this year, and is also very nice. Central Station Tunnel is now well surfaced and passable. Tunnels in general are really cool! The kids get a kick out of them. I like the fact that there is little concern with road traffic, especially with the children in tow.
The Bad: While the section b/w Ellenboro and North Bend State Park is great, it is also frequented by horses. With horses comes manure...that is sometimes impossible to dodge. Trail surface around Central Station is in progress (uneven, industrial gravel, etc). Trail surface east of Smithburg is fair until you get past the Long Run Tunnell, and then things get iffy quickly. The surface between Long Run Rd and West Salem is non-existent in places, there is a large slip between miles 61-63. The trail through that section has a slight uphill grade, which we definitely felt while pulling a trailer and a tag-along bike through tall grass and mud. The trail surface is also horrible in places, muddy, lots of rocks and debris, etc from East Salem to the Eastern terminus in Wolf Summit. Plan accordingly.
We will keep riding this trail because it is local. It's a great opportunity to get our nephews out and to explore, have adventures, etc. There is an opportunity for some school projects down the road based on our adventures. However, we also look forward to getting somewhere with some asphalt or finer crushed rock as pulling our kids in the trailer is difficult on the current surfaces of certain areas.
My goal is to ride 10 miles in all 50 states, we have now done 42 states and this is one of the most enjoyable trails that we've done. Great trail!!
Ran here in July while on vacation.Trail was well maintained,friendly people,scenery was just okay.Expected more views of river.Would not travel a great distance to run this trail.
We hiked in from the Lower Trailhead just outside Parsons. As mentioned by a user, it starts out kind of rough after crossing the suspension bridge (This bridge is beautiful). The first 4-5 miles after that are okay, but there are places that I believe a Horse will not be able to navigate, if they made it past the first rough spot. Once the trail crosses Otter Creek with a mild ford (We went in August after a lot of rain the day or two prior) it becomes very overgrown with many logs to maneuver over/under. There is a spur trial around the 6th mile that you should take to avoid a few near washouts along the edge of the creek. This spur trail is pretty good, then you come back to the creek right by Otter Creek Falls. We camped a little ways above the falls in an established campsite.
Overall I rated this good as a backpacker trail. It is a bit rough and was overgrown in August, but there are wild blackberries along the entire trail. As far as horseback? I believe there are too many downed logs as well as tricky areas to maneuver the rocky slick trail.
It is real nice to see some of the old rail ties in a few areas. Many campsites along the way. I believe I will return next year!
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