Spring Bucket List
Spring is the perfect time to get outdoors. The countryside is growing green again and colorful wildflowers are everywhere. Greene County is a nature lover’s dream and a excellent getaway for outdoorsmen. Trails and natural areas for hiking and exploration, waterways for fishing and boating, and recreational sports for participants or spectators — there’s something for everyone.
Hiking, Biking & Boating
Mason-Dixon Historical Park celebrates the wonders of an Appalachian spring with their annual ramp dinner and wildflower walk, held this year on April 29. Ramps, a relation of leeks and scallions, are a broad, two-leafed plant with an onion-garlicky taste. Ramps are one of the first plants to come out in the spring and have long been a staple in Appalachian diets. The ramp dinner at Mason-Dixon features the star ingredient in a multitude of dishes. The wildflower walk is the perfect chance to follow in the footsteps of history while enjoying springtime splendor. The Mason-Dixon’s Bluebell Trail (includes the Fairy Door Trail) also offers a fun hike with a plethora of spring flowers, especially bluebells.
If you want to see even more wildflowers this spring, travel over the Enlow Fork Natural Area. Located close to the Greene and Washington county borders, the 6.5-mile trail travels through some of the best river bottom forest in the Allegheny Plateau. The area has many species of animals and plants inhabiting the area. Bird watchers, be sure to bring your binoculars—birds of all species are scattered throughout the area, including some of the Midwestern and Carolinian (Southern) bird species. If wildflowers are more your thing, the area is a haven for many types of Pennsylvania wildflowers. The Blue-Eyed Mary, with hints of dark and light blue, is prevalent in the area, but you will also see white and red trilliums, wild geraniums, Virginia bluebells, bluets, violets, and more. A wildflower walk is held each spring.
Ryerson Station State Park has 13 miles of trails that traverse a variety of habitats, including forests of deciduous and evergreen trees, streams, a cemetery, open fields, and valley-bottom wetlands. The trails range from easy for beginner trail users to advanced trails with steep grades and obstacles. Trails include short connector trails of less than a quarter mile to trails over two miles long. The park offers several picnic areas to enjoy a rest, and a day use area with a playground, pavilions, and a pool with a splash pad. During the summer, programming is held through different portions of the state park, combining education with nature and physical activities. Fisherman, head out to the park to fish the North Fork of Dunkard Fork. The stream offers fishing for trout and panfish and is stocked each spring by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The old Iron Bridge is a favorite fishing spot.
The Monongahela River runs along the entirety of Greene’s eastern border. Multiple points along the river provide easy access to launch watercraft. Boat launches are available in Rices Landing at the Lock Wall, and access to the Monongahela via Ten Mile Creek is available at Greene Cove Restaurant and Marina. The two-lane boat launching ramp is available for use with a daily or seasonal pass.
The Monongahela and scenic creeks that meander through the county are also excellent places for kayaking. Kayak launches along the Monongahela can be found in Greensboro, Crucible, Rices Landing, and near the Masontown Bridge. Dunkard Creek has at least six launch sites that are easily accessible, and Ten Mile Creek has at least eight; Ten Mile Creek also provides access to the Monongahela River.
Additional fishing in Greene County can be found along the Monongahela River and the many other waterways traveling through the county. Ten Mile Creek, Wisecarver Reservoir, Browns Creek, Dunkard Creek, Enlow Fork, the north and south forks of Dunkard Fork, and Whitely Creek.
The 7-mile Greene River Trail follows the winding path of the Monongahela River, from the Jessop Boat Club in Carmichaels through Rices Landing. The scenic, woodland trail travels through former coal mining communities, offering glimpses of the Monongahela River that once served as a water highway for local industry. Boats and barges still travel the waterway. Markers along the path share the stories of the area’s history, industry, and wildlife. The trail is home to many types of wildlife (squirrels, beavers, muskrat, river otters, and more), birds (Eastern bluebirds, swallows, woodpeckers, hawks, owls, and more), and native trees and wildflowers.
Want a hike that’s a little more challenging? Plan an extended trip along the Warrior Trail. The 67-mile Warrior Trail winds through Greene County for 45 miles, a relic of the area’s indigenous population. Native Americans traveling into Ohio for trading, hunting, warfare, and conferencing used the trail for approximately 5,000 years. The Greene County portion begins at the Monongahela River in Greensboro and ends at Pennsylvania’s border with West Virginia, six miles north of the Mason-Dixon Line; the trail continues to the Ohio River south of Moundsville, West Virginia. The scenic trail follows an east-west course, marked with conspicuous yellow dots on trees and red mileposts. Along the trail, hikers will encounter scenes of Greene County’s bucolic beauty—farms, forests, rolling hills, and small towns.
Take a biking journey through Greene County on Bicycle PA Route A. On your travels through the county, you’ll see historical Mail Pouch Barns, beautiful spring views, and all sorts of wildlife. The route, which stretches from Erie to Greene County, is for more experienced road biker. The northern half is generally flat, while the southern half is gently rolling to hilly. The northern terminus connects to BicyclePA Route Z and the Seaway Trail.
Sports & Recreation
Get outdoors and enjoy some relaxation at Rohanna’s Golf Course in Waynesburg. Set in the rural, rolling countryside of Greene County. While playing a round, players on the 18-hole regulation course will experience a variety of challenges; hills, ponds, and intriguing lies that will be sure to test your shot making ability.
Like your recreation a little higher octane? Nestled in the scenic mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania, High Point Raceway hosts an extensive schedule of Amateur and Professional Motocross racing starting in the spring. It is one of the premier motocross racing facilities on the national circuit. The track weaves its way around a deep valley, treating the riders to constant elevation changes. From the slippery off-camber corners to the high-speed runs to and from the valley floor, no section of this track is completely flat, which makes it a true challenge and fun racetrack. But what makes it tough for the athletes makes it great for the spectators, because several vantage points atop the valley offer full views of the track below. Further, High Point’s jumps were engineered to sit right in front of the main spectator areas, letting fans get close while they watch the riders go big. Some call it moto theater—and it’s a show filled with ups and downs, twists and turns.
