McTrail Meredith Tunnel: West Virginia Hiking with Kids and Dogs (PLUS Discover 11 FUN Things to do in Fairmont for Families)

Marion County Rail Trail AKA “McTrail” is a connector trail in Fairmont, WV.

McTrail offers paved access; connecting to Prickett’s Fork State Park and Mon Trails .

Is Meredith Tunnel haunted? What’s the story? It is well-lit and seems safe.

Feel the thrill and chill as you lurk through the Meredith Tunnel.

Lurk through the tunnel and connect with History as you go back in time at Prickett’s Fort State Park.

Fairmont is FUN! Discover 11 things to do for families.

Discover the FUN in Fairmont, West Virginia with Kids and Dogs!

Planning the Adventure

As “Mon” County residents, we go over our neighbors in Marion County quite a bit. It’s usually something boring. An errand type trip. We get the “to-do” checked off. Now what?

On such trips; we try to make our time “worthwhile” and make plans afterwards.

Marion County has so much to offer for families.

11 FUN things to do in Fairmont for Families:

Fairmont is FUN!

• Palatine Park concerts
• Splash Pad
• Wave Pool
• Rollerskating Rink
• HUGE Playgrounds
• Arcade
• Mini Golf
• Telephone Museum
• Blueberry Farm
• Valley Falls State Park
• Prickett’s Fort State Park

Happy McTrails!

After finishing “business” in Fairmont. We wanted to do something “different”. Something we’ve never done before.

A quick Google maps search yielded: Meredith Tunnel Marion County Rail Trail.

A TUNNEL?! Let’s go!

Only FOUR minutes away from the Dairy Creme Corner.

THREE minutes from the O.G. Gaberiel Brothers! I’d consider it an “off the beaten” path stop. The store is like, a step back in time. Major old school thrifting vibes, ya know.

Arriving the Destination:

Zig zagging through the neighborhood of Northern Fairmont; we reached a small parking area. Parking is first come, first serve.  Limited.

Starting the trail, it’s almost 1/2 mile from the parking area to the entrance of the tunnel.

What is Lurking in Meredith Tunnel?

In connection to the B&O Railroad; Meredith tunnel was built in 1914 by the Monongahela Railroad.

The glory days of the railroad are behind us. As of today, North Central West Virginia is connected through “Rail Trails” .

There are a few folklore stories of the paranormal. If that’s your thing; check out:

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Tunnels in West Virginia that are believed to be haunted

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For me, tunnels always have this “creepy” feel. However, Meredith tunnel is well-lit and feels genuinely safe for kids and dogs!

At 1200 ft in length; you’ll have a few minutes to “cool off”, as you make your journey through the mountain.

Reflect the Journey:

The paved walkway is well-maintained and smooth; ideal for cyclists or rollerskaters.

However, I’m used to DIRT! I love the feel of the ground underneath my feet. The asphalt doesn’t quite fuel my soul.

We walked exactly two miles. Five miles would make the connection to Prickett’s Fort State Park.

The little bits of wildlife and the cove of trees were spectacular!

It’s a gorgeous area, really. The tunnel is the “main attraction”. It makes for an excellent quick jaunt adventure!

“A way to spend the day“.

If you’re looking for a full-day adventure;

Meredith Tunnel is only 22 miles by bike! Starting off from Downtown Morgantown; enjoy the scenic views of the Mon River. Abundance of wildlife.

Whether you find yourself “hiking” or biking; the Rail Trails are a valuable source to our community.

Cherish the Journey 💙💛