In times of work, stress and exams, it can be difficult to wind down, but there’s something about the College’s 10 miles of trails and hundreds of acres of woods that can help bring peace and serenity to even the most frazzled college student. Getting lost in the Matoaka Trails, among the sounds and sights of nature, is one of the most rewarding things a student can do during their time at the College, and it’s something that can be done at any time of the year.
The Matoaka Trails are well concealed in the vast expanses of woods that surround them, but, although they can take some time to find, stepping onto the trails reveals well-worn paths and bridges that have been trod on by students for generations.
Walking this trail helps one remember the history of the campus, and it’s a worthwhile activity for any student that hasn’t yet wandered through the woods.
Loop Trail, one of the more exciting trails, takes you from Jamestown to the 81-year-old abandoned Matoaka Theater. The area is a picturesque image of nature overtaking an abandoned structure. Looming where students would have sat is an overgrowth of trees that overlooks Lake Matoaka. Walking this trail helps one remember the history of the campus, and it’s a worthwhile activity for any student that hasn’t yet wandered through the woods.
Students have been enjoying the gorgeous trails at Matoaka since they were created in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. For those that have to walk through some stretch of the woods every day to get to class, the trees of the College might seem mundane, but it’s hard to imagine another school where you can decide to take a hike through the woods without having to travel somewhere.