HomeWest VirginiaHedgesville › Stauffer's Marsh Nature Preserve

Stauffer's Marsh Nature Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 112 Google reviews · Running trail in Hedgesville, West Virginia · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Stauffer's Marsh Nature Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

LoopScenicFlat & fastTrailhead parkingQuiet

Managed by the Potomac Valley Audubon Society, this nature preserve has trails, a pond, and wildlife.

What runners say about Stauffer's Marsh Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (112 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“I took a nice ride through the country and ran across this beautiful Park trails are nice and flat around the lake 4/15/2020”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Went for a late evening stroll on a November Sunday around 5pm and there was no one there so it was really nice and quiet.”

👟 good for all levels 3 mentions

“A nice little Audubon Wildlife Preserve with a few benches and a short, easy walking path.”

Nice quiet place to walk with easy paths to walk which is important for me. Birds, butterflies, flowers, frogs. Large parking lot. No restrooms. Wish they had a sign showing the paths and how long they are etc. This would be helpful for people with disabilities or children.

★★★★☆ — Truth , Aug 2022

Go in early-mid spring. Not because of flowers or anything... but because the air tends to cool to a temperature colder than the water. These steamy-foggy conditions can give your photos a haze like effect! But if you like flowers... I have spotted trillium near the river(creek?

★★★★☆ — Ryan , Nov 2020

A very nice place to walk, with variety (Marsh, woodland and meadow), with east to walk paths, and doable even if you have older knees. Plenty of wildlife to see, and great for photos. Well maintained and clean. 3 thumbs-up.

★★★★★ — Christine , Sep 2023

Went for a late evening stroll on a November Sunday around 5pm and there was no one there so it was really nice and quiet. The sun had just gone down so there was still some light. It was a perfect easy little walk, exactly what I needed before heading home for the night.

★★★★★ — Fernanda , Nov 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 112 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 9 mentions

“I took a nice ride through the country and ran across this beautiful Park trails are nice and flat around the lake 4/15/2020”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“At least 8 - 10 parking spots at the entrance.”

More trails like this →

Flat & fast 3 mentions

“I took a nice ride through the country and ran across this beautiful Park trails are nice and flat around the lake 4/15/2020”

More trails like this →

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Went for a late evening stroll on a November Sunday around 5pm and there was no one there so it was really nice and quiet.”

More trails like this →

🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“There are a few trials that run through this preserve, the back creek trail loop, and the marsh trail.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Stauffer's Marsh Nature Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitepotomacaudubon.org
  • Phone+1 681-252-1387
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Where to find Stauffer's Marsh Nature Preserve

Back Creek Valley Rd, Hedgesville, WV 25427

Get directions

Running trails near Hedgesville

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Beacon Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 18 reviews

Hedgesville, WV

Natural surfaceScenic

2.9 miles away

Poor House Farm Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 981 reviews

Martinsburg, WV

Scenic

Sprawling county park offering a stocked lake, multiple event pavilions, disc golf & mid-1800s barn.

5.5 miles away

War Memorial Park Martinsburg

4.5 ★★★★★ 1,062 reviews

Martinsburg, WV

Scenic

Park featuring pools, swings, playgrounds and a monument.

8.7 miles away

P.O. Faulkner Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 87 reviews

Martinsburg, WV

LitDog-friendly

Casual park with tennis courts and a baseball field (home to Bulldog Baseball), plus a playground for kids.

9.3 miles away

Spruce Pine Hollow Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 102 reviews

Hedgesville, WV

ScenicDog-friendly

Wooded park featuring picnic tables, trails for hiking and a creek.

13.8 miles away

Yankauer Nature Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 269 reviews

Martinsburg, WV

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Relaxing nature preserve for birding and birders, hosting well maintained trails, some of which are easy, as well as seating.

15.8 miles away

All running trails in Hedgesville, WV →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.