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Tom’s Run Preserve

May 3, 2020 - May 9, 2020

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CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19:

This project will expand hiking trails within a public access area of mature hardwood forest in the 325-acre Tom’s Run Preserve (TRP), a conserved natural area owned and managed by West Virginia Land Trust. Located on the outskirts of Morgantown, the state’s most rapidly growing metropolitan area, the preserve hosts over 2 miles of wooded hiking trails, and offers tremendous potential as a public greenspace for non-motorized outdoor recreation. Trails in Tom’s Run Preserve wind through a sloping wooded area and are built on a mostly soil base. Some areas have rocks which may need moved or used to build berms, waterbars, or other trail features. There may be some underbrush and fallen branches to be cleared during construction. The trail work for the project was designed by Rick Landenberger – WV Land Trust’s Science and Land Management Specialist, and a research assistant professor of geography at West Virginia University – who will provide oversight and assistance for the trail crew. Trail building in 2020 will expand into the TRP Backwoods area, specifically extending the Elizabeth’s Woods trails with the the Saddle Loop, and Backwoods Connector Trail.

Host

West Virginia Land Trust

Accommodations

Cabin/Lodge

Hiking/Access

Day hiking up to 2 miles each work day

Project Rating

Moderate

Minimum Volunteer Age

18

Maximum Group Size

15

Area and Attractions

Morgantown is a bustling college town of about 60,000 people for most of the year, which then transforms into a relaxed mountain town of about 30,000 people during the summer months. Situated along the Monongahela River in the mountains of North Central WV, Morgantown feels both rural and neighborly, but with the added sense of culture, diversity, and community that are fostered by the university. It has all the amenities needed for modern life (shopping, restaurants, services, etc), but with way less traffic. Most critically, Morgantown is ideally situated to take advantage of the tremendous recreation opportunities offered by the mountains of WV. While there are several local greenspaces in Morgantown with walking trails (a few that allow MTB access), you are only a 20 minute drive from anywhere in town to Cooper’s Rock State Forest, with beautiful overlooks of the Cheat Canyon, and excellent opportunities for hiking, rock climbing/bouldering, and mountain biking. The Cheat River nearby is much-loved whitewater destination for boaters from around the region. You can be outside the city limits in 10 minutes from just about anywhere

Accommodations Description

Lodging will be provided by Camp Muffly Park (campmufflypark.com), which is located less than three miles from Tom’s Run Preserve, and just six miles from downtown Morgantown, WV. Camp Muffly is home to a 4-H summer camp which serves over 300 children throughout the summer. The team members will be staying in a cabin with central A/C, beds and bathrooms, and kitchen. Cleaning tools and supplies will be provided for the crew to maintain their lodging, and toilet paper is provided. For downtime, meetings, and finding a quiet place outside the cabin, the crew will have access to the Camp Muffly grounds, assembly hall with audio/video equipment and A/C, a large campfire circle, outdoor grills and pavilions, and large, well-maintained swimming pool (if it is open by the project date). There are no laundry facilities on-site, but a full-service laundromat is located in downtown Morgantown, just a few minutes from Camp Muffly. Volunteers should bring their own linens (twin sized sheets or sleeping bag, pillow, and towel) and personal items.

Travel

Airport Pickup Provided from Pittsburgh International Airport. Airport pickup and dropoff times will be sent to registrants when the trip is confirmed.

Location

Tom’s Run Preserve
1477 Four-H Camp Rd, Morganton, WV 26508 United States
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