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.[3]
| Greenbrier State Park | |
|---|---|
 Sunset over Greenbrier Lake | |
  Greenbrier State Park Location in Maryland | |
| Location | Frederick and Washington counties, Maryland, United States |
| Nearest town | Boonsboro, Maryland |
| Coordinates | 39°31′48″N 77°36′36″W / 39.53000°N 77.61000°W[1] |
| Area | 1,408 acres (570 ha)[2] |
| Elevation | 1,411 ft (430 m)[1] |
| Established | 1963 |
| Administered by | Maryland Department of Natural Resources |
| Designation | Maryland state park |
| Website | Official website  |
History
editGreenbrier and Janes Island State Park were created in 1963.[4] 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.[5]
Activities and amenities
editThe 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.[3]
- 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.[6]
- 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.[6]
In the news
editIn 1995, two rare albino deer were spotted in the park.[7] 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.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b "Bartman Hill". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "DNR Lands Acreage Report" (PDF). Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ a b "Greenbrier State Park". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
- ^ "Maryland State Park History". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
- ^ a b "South Mountain Recreation Area Adventure Guide". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. 2012. pp. 4–7. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
- ^ Tasker, Greg (January 8, 1995). "Two albino fawns spotted at Greenbrier State Park". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
- ^ Gardner, Karen (July 17, 2008). "$130,000 awarded for turtle crossing". Frederick News-Post. Frederick, Md. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
External links
edit- Greenbrier State Park Maryland Department of Natural Resources
- Greenbrier State Park Map Maryland Department of Natural Resources