Southwestern Pennsylvania’s bucolic beauty – rolling hills, wandering streams and rivers, and wooded regions – make it the perfect place to get outside and enjoy healthy physical activities such as hiking, biking, kayaking, and more. With miles of trails, state and local parks, and a water park, Greene County has plenty of outdoor activities to appreciate.
The area has many wonderful parks and playgrounds for children and adults to enjoy. In Waynesburg, you can find the Lions Club Community Park, Ritchie Park, West Park, Monument Park, College Park, and Center Township/Rice Energy Park. Ten Mile Creek County Park in Clarksville, Richhill Township Park in Wind Ridge, Richhill Township Park #2 in Graysville, Pumpkin Run and Min-Love Park in Rices Landing, Wana B Park in Carmichaels, and Nemacolin Park in Nemacolin.
Along the Greene County border, the Mason-Dixon Historical Park in Core, West Virginia offers miles of trails and the chance to stand on the Mason-Dixon Line. Trail sights include the Mason-Dixon Marker Stone, rock outcroppings, Tucker Falls, bluebell flowers, and a fairy trail.
At Ryerson Station State Park, 1,164 acres provide ample hiking, camping, fishing and picnicking activities. Ryerson’s aquatic center is still currently undergoing construction and will include a new pool and splash park once opened. More than ten miles of trails wander through mature forests, open fields, evergreen plantations, wetlands, near streams, across an iron bridge, and even venture to an old cemetery in the hills.
The Waynesburg Unity Trail is approximately 2 square miles, including 1.5 miles of walking trails and wooded areas that are preserved for student research and environmental restoration. The trail is also available to the greater Waynesburg community to enjoy and appreciate nature in an urban setting.
Following the winding path of the Monongahela River, the Greene River Trail is ideal for walking, running and biking. The trail offers scenic views of the Monongahela River and travels past several of the county’s coal communities. The Rices Landing Historic District can be viewed from the trail, including locations such as the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry & Machine Shop in Rices Landing. Parks nearby include Pumpkin Run and Min-Love Park.
Forty-five miles of the Warrior Trail’s 67-mile length passes through Greene County, beginning in Greensboro and ending at Pennsylvania’s border with West Virginia. As it winds through the county, the Warrior Trail passes through the towns of Aleppo, Nettle Hill, and Kirby and follows a stream divide that separates the watersheds of Whitely and Dunkard Creeks. The trail is marked by conspicuous yellow dots on trees and posts, as well as both sides of any road crossing. Large portions of the trail pass through private property, so trail users must respect the rights of property owners.
Enlow Fork Natural Area is an easy and scenic 6.5-mile trail. It follows a closed dirt road with two iron bridges along the stream. The forest ecosystem is of special interest for bird watchers and wildflower enthusiasts, as a variety of birds and wildflowers can be spotted in the area. An annual wildflower walk is held in the spring.
In Greensboro, 1.5 miles of bituminous and concrete paved urban hiking and biking trail extends from Greene County’s Mon View Park through Greensboro Borough to the historic Lock Master’s house. If the weather is less than perfect or you’re looking for an indoor activity to get your blood pumping, Mon View Park’s roller rink is open on Fridays and Saturdays year-round, thanks to recent renovations that included air conditioning. Private parties can be booked on Saturdays and Sundays. A recently added kayak launch can also be found along the river.
Just outside of Greene County, the Sheepskin Trail in Point Marion, Browns Run Trail in Masontown, and the trails of Friendship Hill north of Point Marion offer hiking of varying distance and difficulty.
If you’re looking for a little fun in the sun and water, Greene County offers two public pools and a public water park. Public pools are located at both Mon View Park in Greensboro and Wana B Park in Carmichaels. The Greene County Water Park, located adjacent to the Lions Club Community Park in Waynesburg, features a pool, slides, and children’s area.
Kayak launches can be found in various sites around the county, including Waynesburg, Jefferson, Clarksville, Mount Morris, Rogersville, Dilliner, Crucible, Rices Landing, Fredericktown, and other towns. For a great list of kayak launch sites in Greene, visit kayakgreenecounty.com.
Along Rolling Meadows Road in Waynesburg, the Greene County Tennis & Pickleball Courts area features two full-size tennis courts and two newly resurfaced pickleball courts, with outdoor lighting, a water fountain, and surrounding fence. Members of the public are welcome, and participants are encouraged to use the courts when the mixed tennis league is not in session. You can enjoy a walk at the nearby World War I Memorial and the Greene County Veterans Memorial Park. A short distance away sits the Greene County Historical Society Museum and its broad grounds.
If you really want to discover sides of the county you might not have seen before, geocaching sites throughout the county will keep you exploring. Geocaching in Greene County is thriving, and websites like geocaching.com offer a large number of geocaching stops and series, like the Bridges of Greene County series or the Tour of the Townships. The Department of Recreation’s “Cache Me if You Can,” geocaching series also makes various stops around the county. Some of these stops can be found near the trails and parks already mentioned.
If you’re looking for fun outdoor activities, look no further than our own county. Greene County has something for everyone, and with spring arriving and summer just around the corner, there’s no better time to enjoy everything Greene has to offer!