Trails

There are seven blazed trails at the West Virginia Botanic Garden at Tibbs Run Preserve, each less than a mile long, two short, unmarked trails along the Reservoir Loop Trail, and a wetland boardwalk. All the trails are interconnected, enabling you to make your walk as long or short as you would like.

Barred Owl Trail

  Formerly known as the Wetland Loop Trail, the Barred Owl Trail can be accessed from the Forest Trail to the left of the wooden bridge or from the eastern end of the Wetland Boardwalk. The trail begins in very open forest changing to hemlocks as the slope...

Far Side Trail

  Originating at the diversion dam follow the blazes to a creek crossing downstream from the dam.  The rocks in the creek make this crossing quite easy most of the time.  There is a short boardwalk aiding in the ascent from the stream.  Immediately past this...

Forest Trail

  This trail is central to the other woodland loop trails. The Forest Trail is just a few paces from the wooden bridge and allows travel in either direction.  Following the trail to the right the walker comes to a beautiful open area, the site of the diversion...

Hillside Trail

  Created in 2016, the Hillside Trail begins on the left side of the road just beyond the main gate of the upper parking lot. It descends along a south-facing slope connecting the entrance to the rest of the garden including the George W. Longenecker Shade Garden...

Mine Pit Trail (formerly Noah’s Trail)

  Each end of this rolling woodland trail connects with the Far Side Trail.  It is heavily forested with little understory growth.  The large hemlocks provide great cooling in hot weather.  Parts of the trail are quite steep. There are beautiful views of the...

Pixie Cup Trail

  This trail winding through the sourwoods and alders in the reservoir basin connects to the Reservoir Loop Trail at both ends, with a spur leading out to the custom bird blind by local artist Dylan Collina and Jo Nelson.  Be sure to stay on the trail and keep...

Pond View Trail

  This short loop takes visitors from the Reservoir Loop Trail, through the alder grove and down to an intimate view of the pond and provides the best viewing location for the water outlet tower. Many birders prize this spot for its wildlife viewing.   100...

Reservoir Loop Trail

  The Reservoir Loop Trail encircles the entire reservoir basin, is ADA accessible from the Education and Event Center and Lower Parking area and is the access route to the other features of the WVBG.   This crushed stone loop trail provides views of the large...

Which trail am I on?

Check for the blazes below to find your location.  All the trails loop into one another.  If you’ve lost your way on the far side of Jones Run, look for the Forest Loop Trail or the Wetland Loop Trail for the quickest way back to the parking lot.

White Rectangle Blaze

Hillside Trail

0.28 mile

Reservoir Loop Trail

0.72 mile/ADA accessible
WVBG Logo

Pond View Trail

100 yards
Orange Star Trail Blaze

Forest Trail

0.50 mile
Orange and Green Dot Trail Blaze

Far Side Trail

0.32 mile

Trail Descriptions

 

Pixie Cup Trail

Pixie Cup Trail

  This trail winding through the sourwoods and alders in the reservoir basin connects to the Reservoir Loop Trail at both ends, with a spur leading out to the custom bird blind by local artist Dylan Collina and Jo Nelson.  Be sure to stay on the trail and keep...

read more
Reservoir Loop Trail

Reservoir Loop Trail

  The Reservoir Loop Trail encircles the entire reservoir basin, is ADA accessible from the Education and Event Center and Lower Parking area and is the access route to the other features of the WVBG.   This crushed stone loop trail provides views of the large...

read more
Far Side Trail

Far Side Trail

  Originating at the diversion dam follow the blazes to a creek crossing downstream from the dam.  The rocks in the creek make this crossing quite easy most of the time.  There is a short boardwalk aiding in the ascent from the stream.  Immediately past this...

read more
Barred Owl Trail

Barred Owl Trail

  Formerly known as the Wetland Loop Trail, the Barred Owl Trail can be accessed from the Forest Trail to the left of the wooden bridge or from the eastern end of the Wetland Boardwalk. The trail begins in very open forest changing to hemlocks as the slope...

read more
Tibbs Crossing Trail

Tibbs Crossing Trail

  Hiking past the diversion dam on the Forest Trail a sign directs the walker to the lower end of the Tibbs Crossing Trail, so named because two crossings of the creek are necessary to complete this loop.  It is worth wet feet to follow this path along a lovely...

read more
Forest Trail

Forest Trail

  This trail is central to the other woodland loop trails. The Forest Trail is just a few paces from the wooden bridge and allows travel in either direction.  Following the trail to the right the walker comes to a beautiful open area, the site of the diversion...

read more
Pond View Trail

Pond View Trail

  This short loop takes visitors from the Reservoir Loop Trail, through the alder grove and down to an intimate view of the pond and provides the best viewing location for the water outlet tower. Many birders prize this spot for its wildlife viewing.   100...

read more
Mine Pit Trail (formerly Noah’s Trail)

Mine Pit Trail (formerly Noah’s Trail)

  Each end of this rolling woodland trail connects with the Far Side Trail.  It is heavily forested with little understory growth.  The large hemlocks provide great cooling in hot weather.  Parts of the trail are quite steep. There are beautiful views of the...

read more

Trail Connectors

There are two connection points between the Core Garden Trails and the Woodland Trails.

This walkway connects a spur from the Reservoir Loop Trail to the Wetland Loop Trail through the heart of a scrub-shrub wetland.  Interpretive signs highlight intriguing aspects of wetlands which are very uncommon in West Virginia.
This small bridge connects the Core Garden Trails to the Woodland Trails, through a direct connection of the Reservoir Loop Trail and the Forest Trail.

Interpretive History of the Tibbs Run Reservoir

Learn about the history of our site, and its role in providing water to the visitors of Morgantown, through interpretive signage along the Reservoir Loop Trail, installed in 2013 as part of the centennial celebration of the opening of Tibbs Run Reservoir.
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