Going Greene: Enlow Fork of Wheeling Creek

In the extreme northwestern corner of Greene County is perhaps one of the most beautiful locations in the area. Few have been there, although it is part of the State Game Lands, and it isn’t the easiest place to find or get to, but it is well worth the journey.

From Waynesburg, take Route 21 west through Rogersville, Graysville and into Wind Ridge, and turn right onto Crabapple Road. Follow that several miles to the bottom of the hill, and travel Day Road, then turn left onto Nebo Ridge. This is a beautiful drive through the countryside and rural beauty that is western Greene County. From Nebo Ridge, turn left onto Raymer Road, take it to the bottom of the hill, and make a sharp left-hand turn. Follow the road into the State Game Lands, you’ll be right along Enlow Fork of Wheeling Creek.

This area is notable for the Wildflower Walk held there every spring and is a beautiful area. The road will take you into a parking area, and there you will see a gated trail that takes you on a beautiful walk through the woods. This trail was once a state road, and many years ago the Fisher family had a farm here, and there were several other houses along the old state road that is now a trail through the game lands. The trail goes on for miles and miles, approximately 6.5 miles.    

Walking out the trail, you’ll go up over a small hill, and descend back down to an old iron bridge that dates to the very early 20th century. Just beyond the bridge is a very large sycamore tree, shaped rather strangely, that is an old Native American trail tree. These trees were bent in the direction of a an oft-visited location. This massive sycamore is estimated to be at least six hundred years old. Following the trail further, it runs just above the floodplain of Wheeling Creek. On the northern side of the trail, you’ll occasionally see ruins of old foundations of farm buildings, and some interesting rock outcroppings. If you walk the trail far enough, you’ll find stone abutments that are all that remains of another ancient iron bridge that crossed Wheeling Creek on a side road that once met the road that is now the trail.   The trail goes further on, and will eventually lead you to a dry dam, and more beautiful woodland scenery.

If you need a peaceful destination to escape the world, Enlow Fork is the place to go. There is much solitude there, though you may encounter a fisherman or two, as Wheeling Creek is a great fishing spot!  But for a nice peaceful walk, there is no better place.

About Matt Cumberledge

Matt has been a lifelong resident of Brave, in Wayne Township where his family first settled in the 1770s. Matt graduated from Waynesburg Central High School in 2000, and afterwards worked for Developed Structures Inc, in Waynesburg where he was in charge of quality and control of drawings going to steel fabrication shops throughout the country. Matt then spent 7 years in the Army National Guard, based out of Waynesburg PA, and was deployed to Iraq twice. Following the military, Matt worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections until 2018. He is currently the Greene County Historical Society’s executive director. Matt joined the GreeneScene team in early 2019, as a contributing writer providing the “Going Greene” and “Greene Artifacts” columns, as well as additional articles. “Writing for the GreeneScene has been one of the most fun decisions I have ever made,” according to Matt, “I love the positive nature of the paper and the support it provides to the community.” Outside of work, Matt is involved in many local organizations: Cornerstone Genealogical Society, The Warrior Trail Association, The Mon Yough Chapter of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Greene County Tourism and several others. Matt is a hobbyist blacksmith, and enjoys doing carpentry work.