Greenwell Historic Barn Adventure

Introduction To Quest

Your Park Quest adventure will allow teams to enjoy a scenic 1.6-mile stroll past historic barns and farm fields. Historic barns, such as those found at Greenwell State Park, are true icons of Southern Maryland charm and heritage.

Quest Information

Greenwell State Park’s Quest is a moderate hike that begins on the Historic Barn trail (approximately 0.15 miles) and continues onto the Red Trail (approximately 1.6 miles). Keep your eyes peeled along the trail for seven letter posts containing one letter of the alphabet to unscramble and spell out a word to solve a riddle. The seventh and final post will have the last letter, the riddle for unscrambling the letters, and the riddle to unlock the box containing the stamp and inkpad. Once you have unlocked the stamp box, stamp your Park Quest booklet and record the answer to the letter scramble next to the stamp in order for this Park Quest to be valid.

From the parking lot, follow the farm road to the Historic Barn Trail. Just outside the barn will be a post with the first letter. Continue and make a right heading for the Red Trail. Next letter post will be at the head of the loop for the Red trail. Third letter post will be near the first handicap sign in the trees. Fourth letter post will be at the canoe campsite. Fifth letter post will be at the last lookout point of Hog Neck Creek. Sixth letter post will be at a midpoint between the fifth and the seventh letter post, and the seventh letter post will be at the other handicap sign just before the finish of the trail loop.

Park Questers must write the answer to the riddle for unscrambling the letters next to the stamp in order for the Park Quest to be valid. From there, Questers can either follow the rest of the Red Trail back to the Historic Barn Trail to the parking lot, or will be free to explore the other trails nearby.

Park information

Greenwell is a 596-acre state park located on the Patuxent River in St. Mary's county, Maryland. Created from a farm donated by John Phillip Greenwell, Jr., and his sister, Mary Wallace Greenwell, the park provides a rural setting for recreation along an important tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. The park includes ten miles of hiking, cycling and equestrian trails, along with access to the river for kayaking and fishing. Greenwell State Park, in partnership with the Greenwell Foundation, also has a special focus on providing recreational opportunities and programs for the disabled. The Greenwell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization that works in partnership with the Maryland Park Service to provide universally accessible and inclusive programs, services and facilities for all community members, with and without disabilities, in Southern Maryland. The Foundation is based in Greenwell State Park. The Greenwell Foundation offers therapeutic and recreational riding lessons, summer camp and nature camps, kayaking, accessible site rentals and is regularly developing new programs to meet community needs. In 2007, more than 40,000 people visited the park, more than 500 people participated in programs, and more than 1,000 people used the park's accessible facilities for family events and celebrations. The Greenwell Foundation also manages and rents the Rosedale Manor House and the Francis Knott Retreat Lodge.

Greenwell State Park
25420 Rosedale Manor Lane
Hollywood, MD 20636

Tick Safety

• Wear light colored long pants and long sleeves to help keep ticks off your skin and to locate them if they do crawl onto you.
• Tuck your pants into your socks, and tuck your shirt into you pants to keep ticks on the outside of clothing.
• Insect repellant containing 20-50% DEET is recommended for use on adults to prevent tick bites.
• Treat clothes with permethrin (but do not use permethrin directly on skin).
• Check yourself, your children, and your pets daily for ticks after spending time in the outdoors.

Directions to Greenwell State Park

Greenwell State Park is located in southern Maryland in St. Mary's County.

• From I-95 and I-495 near Washington DC: Take MD Route 5 (Branch Avenue) south towards where it joins US Route 301. Follow 5/301 to where 5 splits off again in Waldorf. Follow 5 south to MD Route 235. Continue straight on 235 to Hollywood. After the Hollywood firehouse, turn left at the traffic light onto route 245 (Sotterley Road). Travel about 3 miles and turn right on Steer Horn Neck Road. Proceed about 0.8 miles to second gravel driveway on left with Greenwell State Park sign. Make your first left after you enter the park and park by the bulletin board.
• From Baltimore and points north: From I-695 take I-97 south to MD Route 3. Follow 3 to where it joins US Route 301. Proceed to Upper Marlboro and take MD Route 4 towards Prince Frederick/Solomons Island. Continue on 4 past Solomons and across the Patuxent River to MD route 235. Turn right at traffic light heading north. At third traffic light turn right onto route 245 (Sotterley Road). Travel about 3 miles and turn right on Steer Horn Neck Road. Proceed about 0.8 miles to second gravel driveway on left with Greenwell State Park sign. Make your first left after you enter the park and park by the bulletin board.
• From Virginia and the Potomac River Bridge: Take US 301 to MD Route 234. Follow 234 to Leonardtown and turn left on MD Route 245. Follow 245 to Steer Horn Neck Road. Turn right and proceed about 0.8 miles to second gravel driveway on left with Greenwell State Park sign. Make your first left after you enter the park and park by the bulletin board.