Ruth Eberly Walking-Nature Trails – Wharton Twp Recreational Park

Wharton Township Recreational Park in Farmington is one of my favorite local parks. The park features ball fields, a paved walking trail, a sand volleyball court, basketball courts, tennis courts, multiple playgrounds, a 9-hole disc golf course, bathrooms, covered pavilions, and more.

But my favorite part about this park is the quaint little set of hiking trails, the Ruth Eberly Walking-Nature Trails, perfect for beginner hikers and young children.

I just recently learned the park closes its gates sometime from October to April. I’m not certain of the exact dates. The hiking trails can be accessed by parking in front of the gates by the basketball courts. Be sure to check the Wharton Township site for more information.

Directions

From Uniontown take Route 40 east, make a right on 381 South (the traffic signal just past the Dollar General, at the intersection at Fuel Coffee Works, one of my favorite stops). From Route 40 west, the intersection is the first traffic light past Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Go about .5 miles down 381 South. Pass Wharton Elementary School on your left. The next left-hand turn is the entrance to the park.

When you turn into the park, the trailhead will be on the right-hand side before you start going up the hill into the park. You can park near the entrance to the park by the first set of tennis and basketball courts. If the gates are open, you can also venture into the park and find additional parking.

The Hike

The hike begins at the sign marked “Ruth Eberly Walking-Nature Trails”.

There’s really no set hiking route. It’s not an exact in and out or an exact loop. You can take a turn here or there. But it’s so short you can’t get lost. We completed almost a half-mile. Just come back out the way you came, or loop through and come out further into the park. The trails are wide and a little uneven at times. My two-year-old mostly walked this trail on his own, needing some occasional assistance. I carried my baby in a front-facing baby carrier.

There are a few lovely little sitting benches. There is also a geocache in these trails hidden by yours truly.

My toddler especially enjoyed crossing the little footbridges.

Here is a breakdown of the route we hiked for reference. Leave a comment to share your adventures or tag me on Instagram (@adventureswkelly). I want to see your adventure at the Ruth Eberly Walking-Nature Trails.

Nearby Attractions:

• It’s very hard for us to visit this park without making a stop at Fuel Coffee Works
• Ohiopyle State Park
• Fort Necessity National Battlefield
• Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park – Mill Run, PA
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob
• Wharton Iron Furnace