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GREENBRIER STATE PARK

Greenbrier Closure Notice: The Maryland Park Service will temporarily close Greenbrier State Park from May 5-9 as contractors repave the entrance road as part of ongoing upgrades to the park’s front entrance and contact station.
Read more here.

Greenbrier State Park will be making improvements to the park entrance and camper registration building during the 2024 season. Effective immediately, the park will not accept new reservations for the Ash and Birch camping loops and the Evergreen youth group camp site, as well as all gazebos, bus reservations, and special events. In addition, the South Parking Lot will be closed to Day Use visitors and the Camper Registration Building will be closed. Campers will register at the Greenbrier Visitor Center. Be advised that the left hand turn lane into and out of the park will be closed from Memorial Day to Labor Day, please utilize Exit 35 if traveling to the park from Interstate 70. The park will not be accessible from westbound Rt. 40, all visitors must enter the park from eastbound Rt. 40. Guests are encouraged to check https://parkreservations.maryland.gov/ or this page for closure updates. Thank you for your patience as we make these needed improvements.

Sky view of the park, vast blue lake surrounded by mountains and trees as far as you can see

Park Reservations
1-888-432-CAMP (2267)
Fees and Hours of Operation
Park Passes
En español

Two young hikers with walking sticks looking out over the lake from behind shade trees

Greenbrier State Park
c/o South Mountain Recreation Area
21843 National Pike
Boonsboro, MD 21713

Beach by the lake, white sand, lifeguard and swimming area surrounded by mountains and forests

Information:
Contact Reservation Service: 1 (888) 432-2267
Contact Greenbrier Camp Office: 301-791-4767
Email Greenbrier State Park
8 a.m. to sunset.

Welcome!

Located in the Appalachian Mountains, Greenbrier State Park is a multi-use park providing many kinds of recreation. The 42-acre man-made freshwater lake and white sandy beach draw many visitors who enjoy swimming, canoeing, boating and fishing. A visitor center is open year-round and features information on the South Mountain Recreation Area and a small gift shop.

Almost eleven miles of hiking trails meander through a variety of wildlife habitats. Rock outcrops show much of the earth's geologic history. A portion of the Appalachian Trail enters the eastern edge of the park on Bartman's Hill Trail.

Greenbrier State Park offers 164 campsites in a forest setting with fresh water and bathhouses in each camp loop. Suited for a variety of campers, the park offers two pet-friendly camping loops, one electric camping loop and tent and RV sites.

Greenbrier State Park offers an accessible visitor center, picnic areas and some campsites. A beach wheelchair is also available. For additional accessible amenities in Maryland State Forests and Parks, visit the Accessibility For All section of this website.

Details about the Park

Information

Greenbrier State Park Information

Location:
Washington County
Greenbrier State Park
21843 National Pike
Boonsboro, MD 21713-9535

Contact:
301-791-4767
E-mail Greenbrier State Park

Hours of Operation:
8 a.m. to sunset

Hunting Policy:

General hunting permitted in 500 acre designated hunting area
Nighttime Furbearer hunting by permit only
Hunting permitted Monday-Saturday

Pet Policy:
Pets are allowed in Greenbrier State Park in the following areas:

Pets are allowed in the Cedar and Dogwood camp loops
Pets are allowed on trails outside day-use area (access from outlying parking areas)
Pets are permitted in the day use area after Labor Day Weekend to Memorial Day Weekend. When the swim ropes are not in the water, pets are permitted on the sandy portion of the beach.

Map

Trails and Trail Map

Trails

Click here for a Trail Map

Eleven miles of hiking trails meander through a variety of wildlife habitats and afford a view of the area's geological history.

Most of Greenbriar’s trails are classified as moderate to strenuous, so be prepared for some fairly steep hills and rocky terrain.

You will need appropriate footwear (the trails can be very rocky), clothing and gear, including drinking water.

A portion of the Appalachian Trail enters the eastern edge of the park on Bartman's Hill and passes through the park.

Camping

There are 165 campsites offering conveniently located bathhouses with hot showers. Forty sites have electric hookups.

Click here for the Campground Map

Each campsite is equipped with a table, fire ring and parking area. Fires must be kept inside the fire rings. A dump station is available.

Click here for camping season beginning and ending dates, and camping and shelter service charges.

Seniors citizens with a valid Golden Age Pass receive a half price discount on camping when staying Sunday through Thursday.

Reservations are required and can be made by visiting parkreservations.maryland.gov or calling 1-888-432-2267.

Late Arrivals

The park entrance gate closes at sunset. If campers anticipate arriving after sunset, please call the park directly for instructions. The Greenbrier State Park office can be reached at 301-791-4767, weekdays from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Campground Scouting Policy

During the week (Sunday after 3 p.m. through Friday before 3 p.m.) visitors are welcome to tour/preview the Greenbrier campground after registering their vehicles with the camp office staff. During a park capacity closure, visitors looking to tour/preview the campground will not be permitted to enter the park.

Youth Group Camping

Youth group camping is available at Greenbrier and Washington Monument State Parks. There is a $16.26 reservation service fee in addition to a $3 per camper service fee.

Youth group camping pass applications can be downloaded from the youth group web page.

Reservations are required and can be made by visiting parkreservations.maryland.gov or calling 1-888-432-2267.

Picnicking and Gazebos

Gazebo Reservations

Greenbrier has four lake-front gazebos available for rent. Gazebos (32 capacity) are $106.25 for a full day plus the day use entry fee. Reservations can be made by visiting parkreservations.maryland.gov or calling 1-888-432-2267.

For additional information, call the park at 301-791-4767.

Day Use

The park is open 8:00 a.m. - sunset.

Day-use Service Charges

Memorial Day Weekend-Labor Day - weekdays $3 per person, weekends/holidays $5 per person
Day after Labor Day-Friday before Memorial Day - $3 per vehicle
May and September Weekends - $3 per person.
Note: Out-of-state residents add $2 to all day-use service charges.

Senior citizens with a Golden Age Pass and visitors with a DNR Universal Disability Pass are admitted free.

Children in car seats are admitted free.

Veterans are admitted for free.

Greenbrier often fills to capacity on summer weekends and holidays. If the park fills, all additional visitors will be turned away (no exceptions). To ensure entry, all party members are encouraged to arrive at the park early.

Swimming, Fishing and Boating

Swimming

Swimming is permitted only when swim ropes are in place from the first weekend of May through the last weekend of September. Lifeguards are on duty at the swimming area of the lake from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day. Swimming is permitted at your own risk when lifeguards are not on duty and swim ropes are in place.

Boating

Bring your own boat (electric trolling motors only) or rent rowboats and paddleboats by the hour during the summer.

Fishing

The 42-acre freshwater lake is stocked with trout, largemouth bass and bluegill. A Maryland Angler's License is required for all fishermen 16 years of age or older. All Maryland fishing laws apply.

South Mountain Recreation Area Guide

2022 South Mountain Recreation Area Guide
(Published by the Herald-Mail Media)

Visitor Center

The ADA accessible Visitor Center at Greenbrier State Park is your gateway to exploration of the South Mountain Recreation Area. Encompassing six state parks and over 13,000 acres of public lands, the South Mountain Recreation Area has an abundance of experiences. Friendly staff are ready to provide information to park guests about amenities as well as the surrounding communities. A small gift shop is available.

Greenbrier State Park offers an accessible visitors center, picnic areas and some campsites. A beach wheelchair is also available. For additional accessible amenities in Maryland State Forests and Parks, visit the Accessibility For All section of this website.

The Visitor Center Highlights:

Greenbrier State Park:  A recreational park featuring swimming beaches, picnic sites, gazebos, hiking trails, camping and nature exploration.

Gathland State Park: A historic site featuring museums that tell the story of George Alfred Townsend, his mountainside estate and the Battle of Crampton’s Gap during the 1862 Civil War Battle of South Mountain. The Appalachian Trail passes through the center of the park.

South Mountain State Park: A backcountry park featuring the 40-mile section of the Appalachian Trail in Maryland. Designated camping and shelter areas are along the trail.

Washington Monument State Park:  A historic site featuring a museum depicting the story of the first completed monument dedicated to George Washington in 1827. The museum also features the history of the 1862 Civil War Battle of South Mountain. Picnic area, playground and youth group camping. The Appalachian Trail passes through the center of the park.

South Mountain State Battlefield:  A pivotal Civil War battle fought on September 14, 1862, just three days prior to the decisive Battle of Antietam. The Battle of South Mountain raged from the area around Turners Gap and the National Road, and south through Fox Gap and Cramptons Gap at today’s Gathland State Park. The battle effectively ended the Confederate’s first invasion of the North, the Maryland Campaign.

Visitor Center Hours

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Bus Reservations

Buses are welcomed at Greenbrier and reservations are required. A maximum of 5 buses are permitted into the park per weekday. Groups in buses seeking to enter the park without a reservation may be denied entry.

There is a reservation fee of $11.75, plus a $6.26 service fee, totalling $18.00 per reservation.

Groups with a bus reservation that also possess a Youth Group pass will not have to pay the park entry fee; all other groups will need to pay the park entry fee.

No buses are permitted on summer weekends and holidays.

When swimming or wading in the beach area of the park, groups entering in buses need to maintain a ratio of 1 adult for every 5 children. This is to assist the lifeguards in maintaining safety and order on the beach.

Bus reservations can be made by visiting parkreservations.maryland.gov or calling 1-888-432-CAMP (2267). For more information, call the park directly at 301-791-4767.

Volunteer Opportunities

Message from the Park Manager

Welcome volunteers. As a volunteer at the South Mountain Recreation Area, you are about to assume an important role in the preservation of 11,000 acres of public land, two national historic monuments, Maryland’s first State Battlefield and one of Maryland’s most popular multi-use recreation parks. Your duties and responsibilities will ensure the safety of and provide a great experience for 680,000 visitors. The success of the operation of the South Mountain Recreation Area is a direct result of our volunteers.

Be safe and enjoy your time and the work you do with us.

Volunteer Opportunities

Camp Hosts

There are many benefits to hosting in a state park in Maryland. By working 25-30 hours a week, you camp for free in a beautiful setting and become part of our family. Water, sewer and electric are all included.

Greenbrier has 165 campsites. We stay very busy during our camping season and there is a lot to do. Duties for hosts include:

Introducing yourself to each of your campers as they arrive and supplying them with Greenbrier’s camping rules and information about the park and surrounding area.
Cleaning the campground bathrooms. Although we have a cleaning crew, it will be your job to make sure the bathrooms are clean during the times when the cleaning crew is not here. Also, you will need to inspect the bathrooms for necessary repairs.
Cleaning the campsites after they are emptied (grills, trash, raking the pads). The fire rings can be heavy, so you should be capable of lifting 20 pounds.
Organizing weekend activities and programs for the campers.
Picking up trash throughout the park, especially in the evenings after a busy day.
Assisting park staff with other aspects of the park’s operation.
Assisting with special functions or activities.
Staffing the toll booth or camp office.
Monitoring the park’s trails so that they stay clean and beautiful for the visitors.

We will provide an orientation/training class to all hosts. A camp host is a very important job. You make people feel welcome. A host can turn a negative experience into a positive one.

Picking Up Trash on the Beach

There is a beautiful white, sandy beach at Greenbrier. Camp hosts are assigned days to pick up trash, including holidays and weekends. We supply you with latex-free gloves, trash-pickers and trash bags. You would just need to bring appropriate footwear for a sandy beach and a desire to pick up all kinds of trash, from cigarette butts to beach toys. The beach is within easy access of the parking lot.

Trail Overseer

With almost 11 miles of trails, Greenbrier State Park can always use volunteers to walk the trails and pick up trash, note fallen trees and other trail maintenance issues, and in general, be an extra pair of eyes and ears in the more remote sections of the park. You would need appropriate footwear (the trails can be very rocky), clothing and gear, including drinking water. We would supply trash latex-free gloves, trash-pickers and trash bags. Most of the trails are classified as moderate to strenuous, so be prepared for some fairly steep hills and rocky terrain. Some training and familiarity of the park would be required.

Appalachian Trail in Maryland

ALERT: Parking lots for the Appalachian Trail lots fill quickly. To avoid parking fines and/or towing please do not park outside of designated parking areas, on private property, and on the sides of roadways.

The Appalachian Trail is a footpath across 2,168 miles of Appalachian Mountain ridgelines from Georgia to Maine. Almost 40 miles of the A.T., as it is affectionately known, cross Maryland, most of which follow the ridgeline of South Mountain.

Applachian Trail History

In 1921, Benton MacKaye, a Harvard-educated forester and self-styled philosopher, came up with a revolutionary idea: a linear park, extending from Georgia to Maine. Thousands of volunteers and many legislators helped make it happen. With the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the trail became a reality by 1937.

Trail users of all types enjoy the A.T. -- most just for short day hikes or an overnight backpacking trip. Others set out for weeks or months on the trail. Hundreds of people each year "thru-hike" the trail -- hike the entire length of the trail in one season. This takes four to six months, lots of planning and incredible strength of body and mind. Others who hike the entire trail may take many years to do it, as time, money and other constraints restrict them to doing a section at a time. Either way, it is a rewarding experience.

Maryland's 40 miles are considered fairly easy by A.T. standards, with only a 1,650 foot change in elevation from the low point at the Potomac River (250' elevation) to the high point at High Rock (1,900' elevation). There are few rocks and steep climbs compared to other parts of the trail in other states. However, it still offers plenty of challenges and some impressive scenery. For beginning backpackers, those getting in shape for longer trips and those with just a few days to spend on the trail, the entire length of trail in Maryland can be done in a four or five day backpacking trip. Trail shelters and backpackers' campgrounds are spaced approximately a day's hike apart.

Scenic overlooks and historic sites provide a great destination for those looking for a challenging day hike. Some popular day hikes include hiking from Greenbrier State Park to Annapolis Rock and Black Rock, from Greenbrier to Washington Monument State Park and from Gathland State Park to Weverton Cliffs.

Remember, the Appalachian Trail can be strenuous with steep slopes and difficult footing. Please follow safe hiking practices. For more detailed information about the A.T. in Maryland, you can purchase the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club's Maps 5 and 6 -- Appalachian Trail across Maryland and the Appalachian Trail Guide to Maryland and Northern Virginia -- at the Greenbrier visitor center or camper registration office.

Whether your goal is scenic beauty, history, bird and wildlife watching, exercising or just wanting to get away from it all, the A.T. offers all these things and much more. Help protect the beauty of the trail by following Leave No Trace practices -- leave nothing but footprints, and take nothing from the trail but memories.

Popular Day Hikes Along the Appalachian Trail

Destination: Annapolis Rock (elevation 1700'): Access Point: Parking lot on Route 40, one-quarter mile east of Greenbrier. Follow blue blazed trail from parking lot to white blazed A.T. Turn right to go north on A.T.
Note: Parking is limited and becomes very crowded on weekends and holidays.; Difficulty: Moderate; Distance: 2.2 miles; Options for Return: Return by same trail to Route 40; Highlights: Annapolis Rock offers a fine view of Greenbrier Lake and Cumberland Valley to the west. Continue north on A.T. one mile to Black Rock, which also offers a westward view.
Destination: Washington Monument (elevation 1600'): Access Point: Parking lot on Route 40, one-quarter mile east of Greenbrier. Follow blue blazed trail from parking lot to white blazed A.T. Turn left to go south on A.T. (cross foot bridge over I-70).
Note: Parking is limited and becomes very crowded on weekends and holidays; Difficulty: Moderate; Distance: 3 miles; Options for Return: Return by same trail to Route 40 or leave a second car at Washington Monument State Park; Highlights: The first monument to our nation's first president offers views to the east and west
Destination: Weverton Cliffs (elevation 750'): Access Point: Gathland State Park; Difficulty: Difficult; Distance: 6 miles; Options for Return: Return by same trail to Gathland or leave a second car at Weverton Road (an additional mile south of Weverton Cliffs on A.T.)
Highlights: Weverton Cliffs offers a view of the Potomac River and the area surrounding Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Black Bear Country

Garrett, Allegany, Washington and Frederick Counties in Maryland are all home to black bears. Recreating in these counties presents the possibility that visitors may see a black bear while hiking, camping, picnicking, etc.

Department of Natural Resources staff work to minimize human and bear conflicts. For more information about recreating in Black Bear Country, visit the Living with Black Bears webpage or BearWise.org.

Driving Directions

Driving Directions:

Greenbrier reaches capacity on weekends and holidays. Expect entry delays. There are no left turns permitted into the park entrance on weekends and holidays.
From the east: Take I-70 west to exit 35. Turn left onto Rt. 66. Go straight to the stoplight at the intersection of Rt. 40. Turn left onto Rt. 40 east. Follow for two miles and the park is on the right.
From the west: Take I-70 east to exit 35. Bear right onto Rt. 66 (follow signs). Go straight to the stoplight at the intersection of Rt. 40. Turn left onto Rt. 40 east. Follow for two miles and the park is on the right.

No pets allowed Memorial Day - Labor Day

Other Things to Know!

Gazebo Reservations
Greenbrier has four lake-front gazebos available for rent. Gazebos (32 capacity) are $106.25 for a full day plus the day use entry fee. Reservations can be made by visiting parkreservations.maryland.gov or calling 1-888-432-2267.

For additional information, call the park at 301-791-4767.

Trails
Eleven miles of hiking trails meander through a variety of wildlife habitats and afford a view of the area's geological history.

Most of Greenbriar’s trails are classified as moderate to strenuous, so be prepared for some fairly steep hills and rocky terrain.

You will need appropriate footwear (the trails can be very rocky), clothing and gear, including drinking water.

A portion of the Appalachian Trail enters the eastern edge of the park on Bartman's Hill and passes through the park.

Click Here for a Trail Map

hikers on a mountain top with an overlook for miles behind them

Photo: Jennifer Cashell

Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a footpath across 2,168 miles of Appalachian Mountain ridgelines from Georgia to Maine. Almost 40 miles of the A.T., as it is affectionately known, cross Maryland, most of which follow the ridgeline of South Mountain.

Popular day hikes along the Appalachian Trail include Annapolis Rock (elevation 1700'). Annapolis Rock offers a fine view of Greenbrier Lake and Cumberland Valley to the west. Continue north on A.T. one mile to Black Rock, which also offers a westward view. Washington Monument (elevation 1600') The first monument to our nation's first president offers views to the east and west. Weverton Cliffs (elevation 750') Weverton Cliffs offers a view of the Potomac River and the area surrounding Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

Beach from the lake, nessled in green trees and framed by a bright blue sky

Park Highlight

Swimming
Swimming is permitted only when swim ropes are in place from the first weekend of May through the last weekend of September. Lifeguards are on duty at the swimming area of the lake from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day. Swimming is permitted at your own risk when lifeguards are not on duty and swim ropes are in place.

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