Murphy Preserve

Murphy Preserve © Tina Hall

Why You Should Visit
The Murphy family donated this 276 acre tract to The Nature Conservancy in 1967 so that there would always be a place where natural processes could continue without human intrusion.  The preserve consists of two tracts of older oak-hickory forest on rolling topography of hills and coves.  The two ponds on the property have a large number of amphibians and have been the subject of several research projects.

Location:  Ritchie County, WV

Size:  276 acres

What to Expect
The preserve has no formal trails but hiking is easy since the mature forests have an open understory.

Directions
From Parkersburg:

• Take U.S. Route 50 east for 30 miles. 
• Just before Pennsboro, turn right on Bunnell Run Road, 50/21.
• Go approximately 3 miles and look for an old oil tower. 
• Park on the left next to the gas line right-of-way.  Hike up the hill on the right-of-way.
   
• Circling around to the other side of the preserve is possible in a high clearance vehicle. 
• Continue down Bunnell Run Road, and turn right at the stop sign. 
• After you pass a church and cemetery, turn right onto Cunningham Run Road. 
• The opposite side of the preserve begins at the gas pipeline and continues up to the AT&T building on right side of road. 
• Continue up this road to orange flags on the left that mark the beginning of Tract 1. 
• Tract 1 continues to new dirt road on left, from which you can exit back out onto Route 50. 
• The stone preserve sign is about mid-way on the left side of the road.

What to See:  Plants
Spring has bountiful wildflower displays.

What to See:  Animals
Summer has nesting birds, including the Cerulean Warbler.