Morgantown: Cycling Trails, Culture and Nature

Morgantown offers a range of ways to plan a trip: long bike rides, self-guided explorations through downtown, cultural events and experiences in nature. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Morgantown can plan their days around whether they want to focus on outdoor activity, culture or the landscape.

Cycling Trails for Different Day Plans

The Mon River Rail-Trail System comprises the Mon River Trail, the Caperton Trail and the Deckers Creek Trail. The Caperton Trail is a paved, 6-mile section in the central part of the Mon River Rail-Trail and runs through Morgantown. The Deckers Creek Rail-Trail branches off from the Caperton Trail in Morgantown and runs 19.5 miles along the creek.

This makes it possible to include different distances in your trip planning. The 6-mile Caperton Trail and the considerably longer Deckers Creek Rail-Trail offer a clear comparison for anyone who would rather spend their days cycling than follow a fixed sightseeing itinerary. The Caperton Rail-Trail also runs through the WVU Core Arboretum as part of the larger Mon River Rail Trail System.

Culture and History Downtown

The Metropolitan Theatre has been a cultural anchor in Morgantown’s Downtown Historic District for almost 100 years. In its historic building, it presents plays, films and other events. Another cultural destination is the Monongalia Arts Center. It is a local museum, theater, arts education center and cultural center.

Anyone who wants to explore Morgantown independently can use the Historic Downtown Morgantown Audio Walking Tour. The self-guided tour explores the city center’s classic architectural styles. It is available via an audio guide, as a printed guidebook, through Google Maps or as a downloadable booklet. This allows visitors to adapt their downtown sightseeing to their own daily schedule without having to follow a fixed tour format.

The Art Museum of West Virginia University also expands the cultural offerings. Alongside its exhibitions, it offers artist demonstrations, workshops, lectures, concerts and theater performances. Hazel Ruby McQuain Park is also home to the Ruby Amphitheater, an outdoor concert venue with more than 1,500 seats in historic downtown Morgantown.

Nature and a Special Day-Trip Destination

The WVU Core Arboretum covers a 91-acre area of slopes and valley floor near Hope Coliseum, between Monongahela Boulevard and the Monongahela River. It offers 3 miles of walking trails. Together with the Caperton Rail-Trail running through the arboretum, it creates a natural destination that can be incorporated into either a more active or a more relaxed day of travel.

Another specific destination is Walnut Street Landing at 2 Walnut Street. It has a public, wheelchair-accessible kayak launch with an EZ-Launch system. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore consider in advance whether cycling trails, downtown culture, walking trails in the arboretum or time by the water should be the main focus. This decision helps align your search for a suitable holiday apartment in Morgantown with your own travel plans.

More Local Ideas

For further orientation, you can also explore Westover, Cheat Lake.

For the overarching travel overview: Monongalia.