Recreation
Clarksburg is home to many parks and trails providing endless recreation opportunities for visitors! Whether you’re looking to explore a new hiking trail, spend a summer day at a water park, or enjoy an outdoor concert, Clarksburg has you covered.
Explore our local parks, trails, and recreational opportunities:
Veterans Memorial Park
Clarksburg’s largest park is located along Route 98 near the intersection of Route 19 and sits in conjunction with the Louis A Johnson VA Medical Center. This 50-acre recreational park has much to offer residents and visitors to Clarksburg!
Veterans Memorial Park offers the following features:
Splash Zone
Splash Zone is a 385,000-gallon water park that includes a lazy river, waterslides, a 25-meter competition pool and zero-entry children’s play area as well as bathhouses. This water park is great entertainment for kids and parents alike. There is simply no other facility in North Central West Virginia that compares to City Parks of Clarksburg Splash Zone. It will be the summer destination for swimming recreation!
Clarksburg Amphitheater
Named “The Best Outdoor Concert Venue in West Virginia” by TravelPulse.com and MSN.com, the Clarksburg Amphitheater is a state-of-the-art facility located at the Veterans Memorial Park. The “AMP” (as it has become known) showcases bands, movies, plays and other forms of entertainment throughout the year.
Since opening in 2009, the AMP has been the site of many great performances. Notable past performers include Florida Georgia Line, Toby Mac, Kansas, Thompson Square, Morgan Wallen, Dan + Shay, Gloriana, Jake Owen, MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Everclear, and many more!
“Movies in the Park” is a free film series that began at the AMP in 2010. This popular event takes place on select Friday evenings throughout the summer months. We roll out the BIG screen to show family friendly movies at dusk (weather permitting). We offer refreshments at our concession stand for movie-goers’ enjoyment and, best of all, admission is FREE!
Mayor’s Fitness Trail
The Mayor’s Fitness Trail is a 1.5 mile gravel trail that winds around the park. Whether you are taking a leisurely walk or a brisk jog, you will appreciate the scenic river views.
People’s Hospice Memorial Gardens
People’s Hospice Memorial Gardens is a beautifully landscaped part of Veterans Memorial Park with brick walkways, statues, private garden areas, wooden shelters, benches, trees and shrubbery. It was made possible by people who made contributions in honor of loved ones that have passed away as well as some generous corporate contributors. Memorial bricks, stones and plaques are placed throughout the gardens commemorating those loved ones. This is a relaxing environment to enjoy some solitude. The Memorial Gardens is also available for wedding ceremonies and an outstanding place for taking photographs.
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Additional Park Features:
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- Miniature Golf
- 9-hole Disc Golf Course
- Tennis and Pickleball Courts
- Walkng and Water Trails
- Shelters
- Picnic Areas
- Dog Park
Clarksburg City Park
Located on Route 20 in Nutter Fort, Clarksburg City Park is home to the Frank Loria Memorial Field, one of the best baseball facilities of its kind in West Virginia. It was named after Frank Loria, a Clarksburg native, who was killed in the fatal crash of an airliner carrying the Marshall University football team in 1970. Loria was a coach for the team.
This city park also houses an 18 hole miniature golf course, a softball field and three little league fields, a soccer field and several multi-purpose fields. It also has large play areas with multiple swings and slides, picnic shelters with grills, tennis courts, lighted basketball courts and volleyball courts.
The new “Brother of Hope” playground was named in memory of two children who died in a car accident in the area. All equipment was donated.
Watters Smith Memorial State Park
This 532-acre historical park stands as a memorial to the pioneer spirit of Watters Smith, who settled here in 1796. This historical park, located in Harrison County, features log cabins, period-accurate buildings and a museum that depicts pioneer life from 1796 to the early 1900s. The grounds are open to picnicking, biking, hiking, and the park also is a popular site for bird watching. The museum and Smith Home are open on select days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Group tours are also welcome.
The park offers an activity building that can accommodate up to 60 people and can be reserved, plus recreational courts for volleyball and horseshoes are available for use. In addition, the area has a gift shop and hiking and biking trails.
The Watters Smith Memorial State Park may be reached by taking Exit 110 off interstate 79 (Lost Creek Exit) and following the directional signs to West Milford, and then left on Duck Creek Road (approximately 7 miles). Visitors traveling on U.S. Route 19 should turn off at West Milford and follow the signs three miles to the park.
For More Information, please visit: www.watterssmithstatepark.com or call (304) 745-3081
Harrison County Recreation Complex
Harrison County Parks and Recreation offers a variety of services throughout the year. We have many programs offered on a seasonal basis including enrichment programming, after-school programs, summer playgrounds, instructional programs, youth sports leagues, special population sports, and family events.
Throughout the year, Harrison County Recreation Complex offers enrichment programs to area schools and organizations as an educational resource at no cost. Programing has included, but is not limited to, Christmas Around the World, Home Spun Appalachia, Medieval Times, Outdoor Adventures, Space & Science Encounters and our most popular Walking With Dinosaurs. Each enrichment has scheduled family days, so children can invite their family and friends to share their experiences.
The grounds feature a unique play trail geared to young families including a new ADA-approved playground facility and a Dinosaur themed play space. Don’t miss the historical nature trail leading to the Poor Farm Cemetery. Additionally, an onsite 9-hole disc golf course is free to play and a great way to get some outdoor exercise.
For more information, please visit: hcparks.org or call 304-423-7800
Lowndes Hill Park
This is a 58-acre park that overlooks the city of Clarksburg. Located off 2nd Street, just up-the-hill from Main Street Clarksburg, this park features Civil War history with trenches and earthworks that were constructed by the Union army to defend the city and its important railway.
This park is great for walking and getting a magnificent view of the city while learning a little more about the Civil War.
Harrison North Rail Trail
The Harrison North Rail Trail follows the West Fork River from North View in Clarksburg north, ending at a dead-end just south of the communities of Spelter and Meadowbrook. Recently repaired, the trail offers a scenic, albeit rough, route through dense woodlands with periodic water views.
Harrison South Rail Trail
When complete, the Harrison South Rail Trail will extend south from Veterans Memorial Park and the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg to the rural community of Lost Creek. The trail has a rougher surface more suited to mountain bikes than road bikes, but a planned upgrade should soon remediate some drainage issues and add improved signage and lighting. The trail will ultimately be extended north into Clarksburg via a restored railroad tunnel near the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center. (Note that much of this section between Mount Clare and Clarksburg is technically open but unimproved and only passable with hiking boots.)
Someday it is hoped that Clarksburg will be a destination hub of rail-trails, where the Harrison South Rail Trail, North Bend Rail Trail and West Fork River Trail (via the Harrison North Rail Trail) all meet, replicating the traffic brought by the railroads in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
