Greenbrier State Park

Greenbrier State Park is a public recreation area located on South Mountain, three miles (4.8 km) northeast of Boonsboro in Washington County, Maryland, USA. The state park has camping, hiking trails, and a 42-acre (17 ha) man-made lake. It is managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.[4]

Greenbrier State Park
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)[1]
Sunset over Greenbrier Lake
Location in Maryland
LocationFrederick County & Washington County, Maryland, United States
Nearest townBoonsboro, Maryland
Coordinates39°32′10″N 77°37′25″W[2]
Area1,420 acres (5.7 km2)[3]
Elevation1,027 ft (313 m)[2]
DesignationMaryland state park
Established1963
AdministratorMaryland Department of Natural Resources
WebsiteGreenbrier State Park

History

Greenbrier and Janes Island State Park were created in 1963.[5] Between 1964 and 1978, the Maryland General Assembly authorized funding of over $2 million for land acquisition and development of Greenbrier's camping and picnic areas, beach, day-use facilities, parking areas, interpretive center, roads, and trails.[6]

Activities and amenities

The park offers camping, fishing, boat launch and rentals, swimming, hiking, picnicking, mountain biking and hunting. The park's visitor center is open year-round, its nature center seasonally.[4]

Trails

Greenbrier State Park contains ten maintained trails: Bartman Hill Trail, Big Red Trail, Camp Loop Trail, Copperhead Trail, Green Trail, Marked Mile, Rock Oak Fire Trail, Snelling Fire Trail, Water Tank Trail, and Yellow Trail. Trail difficulties range from easy to strenuous, and lengths range from .4 miles (0.64 km) to 4.5 miles (7.2 km). All trails are open to hikers, and most are open to mountain bikes. In addition, the Appalachian Trail crosses a corner of the park and can be accessed from the Bartman Hill Trail.[7]

Lake

Greenbrier Lake is a 42-acre, man-made lake with 1,000-foot (300 m) beach and swimming area that gradually reaches a depth of six feet. Fishing for trout, bass, or bluegill is permitted on the lake, with a state-issued license required for those 16 or older.[7]

In the news

In 1995, two rare albino deer were spotted in the park.[8] In 2008, the park received a federal grant for $130,000 to build concrete culverts to allow box turtles to safely cross Keadle Road within the park. The pilot program was the first of its kind in the United States.[9]

References
  1. "Greenbrier State Park". Protected Planet. IUCN. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  2. "Greenbrier State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. "DNR Lands Acreage" (PDF). Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  4. "Greenbrier State Park". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  5. "Maryland State Park History". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  6. Historical Summary of Capital Improvements Authorized by General Assembly 1964 through 1978 (Report). State of Maryland Department of State Planning. 1978. pp. 43–44. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  7. "South Mountain Recreation Area Adventure Guide". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. 2012. pp. 4–7. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  8. Tasker, Greg (January 8, 1995). "Two albino fawns spotted at Greenbrier State Park". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  9. Gardner, Karen (July 17, 2008). "$130,000 awarded for turtle crossing". Frederick News-Post. Frederick, Md. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
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