Located just 25 minutes from Morgantown, Bull Run is one of my favorite places to take the Jeep out for a little drive. It’s a fairly short drive and non-technical but has a lot to offer. As soon as you leave Morgantown on Route 7 towards Masontown, you’re instantly in for a beautiful drive. Following Decker’s Creek, you have beautiful views of the water and the surrounding forest. There are numerous points to pull off and walk down to the creek, which is highly recommended.
Masontown has a lack of what I would call vibrancy, so I usually go straight to Bull Run. The road starts as a typical West Virginia back road following streams and passing by scattered houses, many with yards full of things collected over the years. Around 2.5 miles in, you’ll leave the houses and follow the mountain as you make your way down to the Cheat River.
The trip from this point is what I love best about West Virginia Jeeping. You’re on a dirt road, surrounded by trees, and views of the water at the bottom of the mountain. It doesn’t get much better than this. The “end” of the trip is the Jenkinsburg bridge and Blue Hole, a favorite spot for kayakers, campers, off-roaders, and kids looking to party. While there used to be issues of people picking up after themselves, it seems to be well taken care of now. The Friends of the Cheat has taken on a leading role in keeping the area in proper condition, which was very welcome.
Before crossing the bridge, a road cuts off to the left that leads to mud holes and you can actually drive down to the river for an amazing view. A stock Jeep or un-modified vehicle will likely have issues getting all the way down so make sure you are prepared. This area makes a great place to camp for a weekend. Both sides of the river offer dispersed campsites and there is even an island you can get to as well if you have a kayak or the water is low enough. In addition to mudding and kayaking, it’s simply a beautiful and relaxing place to spend a few days.
On most trips, I leave by going back through Masontown. On this trip, we decided to keep going and come out on the other side, ultimately heading towards Albright. With every country mile I drive, I realize how much of my home I haven’t seen and this was no exception. As we passed by, we spotted a beautiful set group of falls off the side of the road that we later found out is locally called Muddy Falls Park but is less of a park and more of just a roadside stop. But it was an absolutely gorgeous spot that is worth stopping to see.
There is so much to explore in this area for nature lovers and Bull Run should be on everyone’s list to visit, whether you want to hit the mud holes, camp, or simply go for a relaxing Sunday drive.
Gallery
