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Greenland Gap Preservation © Harold Malde

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

What to Expect View All

Plan Your Visit

How to Prepare for Your Visit View All

Get Directions

Location:  Grant County, WV

Size:  250 acres

What to See: Plants
Plants typical of higher elevations can be found in cool woods along the creek, including Canada yew and red elderberry.

What to See: Animals
Animals include Allegheny woodrats among the rocks, migrating hawks (mid-August through October), and breeding birds normally found at higher elevations, including Blackburnian warblers and winter wrens. 

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The preserve is used for research in the ecology of the Allegheny woodrat, which is declining throughout its range. 

Why You Should Visit
The primary feature of the preserve is the well developed, symmetrical water gap formed by the North Fork of Patterson Creek.  The entire Gap is ringed by Oriskany Sandstone cliffs, which rise 800 feet above the cool, clear waters of the creek.  The gap was also the site of an April 1863 battle between a small band of federal troops and General Jones’ cavalry.

Things To Do

Two trails, one on each side of the Gap, take visitors to the top of the cliffs for dramatic views.  Both trails begin near the car pull-off and main entrance sign on the east side of the Gap.  The trails are very steep and rocky and are difficult unless you are in good physical condition.  Do not attempt to hike these trails without water, hiking shoes, kicking stick, and well conditioned legs and heart.

Plan Your Visit

While October with its fall foliage is the most dramatic and colorful time to visit, every season is beautiful at Greenland Gap.  Hundreds of turkey vultures and ravens can be seen in the summer circling in the Gap’s warm updrafts.  Take extra care on the trails in wet and snowy weather.

Directions

From Petersburg:

• Take State Route 42 North to Scherr. 
• At Scherr, turn right on State Route 93 and go approximately 500 feet and turn right on Country Road 1. 
• Keep left across the bridge and go for approximately one mile to the town of Greenland and turn right (do not keep straight on the gravel road) on County Road 3/3. 
• You will enter the preserve after about 1/8th mile.  The main entrance sign is at the east end of the preserve on 3/3. 

From Route 50:

• Take State Route 42 south at Mt. Storm. 
• Proceed to Scherr and turn left on State Route 93 and then follow above directions.

At the east end of the Preserve, park at the pull-out near the main entrance sign.  The north side trail can be found by crossing Patterson Creek (no bridge) and walking down the old road until the 4x4 post is seen on the left.  The trail begins here.  The south side trail can be found by walking towards the main entrance sign from the pull-off.  The trail head is about 30 feet from the pull-off, on the same side of the Gap as the main entrance sign.

Discussion

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