My wife and I finally paid a visit to the Core Arboretum recently. We’ve lived in Morgantown for just about a year and I’ve worked in this area for far longer so it was a surprise that we hadn’t visited this local spot already. I wouldn’t say that we’re super outdoorsy people but we enjoy getting outside and easy hikes. We were very happy with out trip to the arboretum and had a great time exploring the trails!
Our Local Greenspace
The Core Arboretum is located basically in the middle of town near the WVU Coliseum and Evandale Campus. From our house it is super easy to get to and they’ve even got short-term parking for free. For context Morgantown has no shortage of greenery being a West Virginia city and the arboretum isn’t the only greenspace in town but it by far the most talked about.
After out visit I can see why. It was awesome! Even just a few steps down any of the trails and it feels like you’ve left the city behind and been transported to a remote hillside forest! You get a gentle reminder that you’re still in Morgantown as you cross the rail train at the bottom of the hill. Only briefly thought because it’s quickly back to calm and quite trails. Once you get closer to the river the trails level out and open up so that it has more of a park feel.
My Favorite Parts
I liked that the arboretum was filled with information signs and markers that had information about the area’s history, geology, plants, and trees. Once we got down towards the river we saw what I think was the best part of our entire visit! Closer to the river the land flattens out as you move onto the Mon River’s floodplain. It’s not a large area but there are fewer shrubs and more grass on the trails.
What I didn’t know is that this area used to be a separate channel of the river and was a small and skinny island in the river. Once the channel closed off from the river a wetland called the Lagoon was left behind that is still there today! While we were down there I managed to step off the trail when the tree line cleared and we could see a clear view of the river. Boy do I love a good river and the Mon doesn’t disappoint!
Before we left I knew that we would have to plan a trip back. In the hour and a half that we spent hiking we only saw a small portion of the arboretum. I cannot wait for our next trip out to try out some of the other trails!