The Waterfalls on Decker’s Creek

The Waterfalls on Decker’s Creek

Deckers Creek tumbles alongside Route 7 from Masontown to Morgantown in West Virginia. Although its lower stretches are polluted from an old mine leak, the upper section has some great little waterfalls that are well worth a visit! On one side is the road, on the other is the rail trail bike and hiking path and you are spoiled for choice in how to access them. Having tried both, I think that parking in the rest area on the right is the best option – at each end of the area you will find steep but passable paths down to the water.

The upper falls are more suited to tighter shots which focus on the water cascading over the dark rocks:

Cascade of waterfall into swimming hole with blurred motion on Deckers Creek running by Route 7 near Masontown in Preston County West Virginia
Cascade of waterfall into swimming hole with blurred motion on Deckers Creek near Masontown in Preston County WV. Prints available in my store

This area is probably my favorite, and it changes significantly depending on the flow of water in the river. This second image was taken in 2021 and the flow over the rocks to the left is reduced to a single trickle. I do like the way the leaves have just parted to give room for this tiny flow of water!

Cascade of waterfall into swimming hole with blurred motion on Deckers Creek running by Route 7 near Masontown in Preston County West Virginia
Cascade of waterfall into swimming hole with blurred motion on Deckers Creek. Prints and more available in my online store.

Clambering down the rocks a little to get a broader view gives this combination of falls. Nothing dramatic in terms of height, but pretty all the same!

Cascade of waterfall into swimming hole with blurred motion on Deckers Creek running by Route 7 near Masontown in Preston County West Virginia
Cascade of waterfall into swimming hole with blurred motion on Deckers Creek near Masontown in Preston County WV. Prints available in my store

I did think this would be intriguing as a Black and White print – much moodier!

Black and White treatment of a cascade of waterfall into swimming hole with blurred motion on Deckers Creek. Prints available in my online store
Black and White treatment of a cascade of waterfall into swimming hole with blurred motion on Deckers Creek. Prints available in my online store

If you climb down the steep valley sides at the lower end of the parking area (nearest to Morgantown), you see a different collection of falls. Much wider this time, reaching the width of the river:

Lower cascades of waterfalls on Deckers Creek running by Route 7 near Masontown in Preston County West Virginia.
Lower cascades of waterfalls on Deckers Creek running by Route 7 near Masontown in Preston County West Virginia. Prints available in my store

This is a side view of that area showing a few leaves gathered on the rocks. Going a bit further downstream gives this much wider perspective on those falls:

Cascade of waterfall during autumn with blurred motion on Deckers Creek in West Virginia. Prints available in my store.
Cascade of waterfall during autumn with blurred motion on Deckers Creek in West Virginia. Prints available in my store.

So next time you have a hankering to see some cascading water, head to Deckers Creek and satisfy that urge!

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This Post Has 8 Comments

  1. Lovely scenery, and I particularly like your descriptions of how to get there. I remember admiring the view out the window on my last Amtrak trip through that area.

    1. Yes, it’s a very pretty area and great in the fall! Plenty to paint!

  2. Well with a name like “Decker Creek” this is obviously going to have to go on my bucket list! Nice work Steve.

    1. Yes, of course! This must be one that you try to visit!

  3. This sounds like a wonderful place to visit! It looks like it would be a different view each time you visited, depending on the season and the water flow. Beautiful waterfalls!

    1. Yes, it’s a nice place to have close to home!

    1. Thanks Louis – yes, having a neutral density filter makes all the difference for these sort of images. I think my shutter speed is normally in the range of 1 – 2 seconds to get this sort of smoothing.

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