History and General Information

 

The Warrior Trail Association was founded in 1965 by a group of outdoorspeople and history enthusiasts led by W. Bertram Waychoff, long time District Attorney and attorney of Waynesburg, PA. For years, local historians recognized that native Americans traveled all over the Ohio River drainage trail network for trade, hunting, and warfare. One part of this trail system extended across southwestern PA, the West Virginia panhandle, and eastern Ohio, ending at Flint Ridge, near the present town of Zanesville. Evidence of this path includes old maps and historical accounts, as well as, locally, a 2-3-foot deep rut worn into the soil by many years of usage. Remnants of this can still be seen near Nettle Hill .

The Trail was first studied in the 1930's by a group of Waynesburg College professors.  They estimated that the Trail had been used for as long as 5,000 years.  Numerous archeological digs have taken place along the Trail and the Association has assisted in other projects by Carnegie Mellon researchers. 

Currently the Trail Association has programs with both Mapletown and West Greene High Schools.  The students provide community service by supplying trail maintenance.  Mapletown has developed curriculum based on the Trail and uses it several different classes.  Subjects such as geography, history, geology and biology are covered. 

The trail crosses Greene County in a generally east-west direction, 6 miles north of the Mason-Dixon line (Figure 1). For 45 miles, it follows a stream divide separating the drainages of Whiteley and Dunkard creeks. An additional 22 miles in West Virginia's Marshall County follows the ridge between Fish and Wheeling creeks.

 

 

The Warrior Trail Association meets for a "pot luck" dinner and a program, weather permitting, at 6:30PM on the third Thursday of each month. Most meetings are held at an old one-room schoolhouse at Fordyce, southeast of Waynesburg . Visitors are welcome.

 

Practical Advice

 

Before you decide to hike all or part of the Warrior Trail, you should know that this is an intermediate trail maintained by volunteer workers. The trail is located entirely on private property. Please respect land owners’ rights. Be careful not to damage fences. We are fortunate to have been granted access to these many miles of trail. You hike this trail at your own risk. In addition:

 

  1. The trail is marked with yellow paint blazes. It is blazed in both directions. Don't become confused by white blazes, which mark boundaries of state gamelands.

     

  2. Turns are marked by 2 yellow paint blazes, the smaller of which points in the direction of the trail.

     

  3. Each mile is marked by a creosoted wood post, with "Warrior Trail" inscribed on the front and approximate mileage from the Monongahela River carved on the back.

     

  4. Adirondack-style shelters for campers are located near miles 111/2, 24, 351/2 Other than shelters, no amenities are provided. The shelters are located on private property, so please pack out all trash and use discretion when making "pit stops" in the woods.

     

  5. Easy access to the trail is provided by several highways, as shown on the small scale map (Figure 1). Other access points can be found on the detailed maps.

     

  6. In the guidebook are detailed maps plotted on sections of standard U.S. Geological Survey topographic quadrangles. Names of appropriate quadrangles are printed on each map. Individual quadrangles can be ordered from:

    Map Distribution

    U.S. Geological Survey

    Box 25286

    Denver, CO 80225

     

  7. Points of interest (or problem areas) for each detailed map in the guidebook are numbered and keyed into the text. We hope the information supplied adds to your enjoyment of the trail. The latest information about the trail, maps, and sources of drinking water may also be obtained by calling one of the contact numbers.

     

  8. Those who have hiked the trail repeatedly recommend that you wear long sleeved shirts and long trousers. Multi-flora roses, greenbriers, and poison ivy all occur and are difficult to avoid.