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Pennsylvania
11

Pennsylvania State Parks

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USA Parks
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Region
McConnells Mill State Park
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McConnells Mill State Park Heritage Festival 2012 © Jeff Hudak
Fall Colors at the Heritage Festival. Photo taken on 09/29/12.
McConnells Mill State Park © Randy C. Rosenberger
McConnells Mill State Park © Randy C. Rosenberger
McConnells Mill State Park © Randy C. Rosenberger
McConnells Mill State Park © Randy C. Rosenberger
McConnells Mill State Park © Randy C. Rosenberger
McConnells Mill State Park © Randy C. Rosenberger
McConnells Mill State Park © Randy C. Rosenberger
McConnells Mill State Park © Randy C. Rosenberger
McConnells Mill State Park Summer © Jeff Hudak
Picture taken on 08/23/09.
McConnells Mill State Park Heritage Festival 2012 © Jeff Hudak
Fall Colors at the Heritage Festival. Photo taken on 09/29/12.
McConnells Mill State Park © Rachel OBradovich
McConnells Mill State Park © Rachel OBradovich
McConnells Mill State Park Summer © Jeff Hudak
Picture taken on 08/23/09.
McConnells Mill State Park Hells Hollow © Douglas Kaup
Hells Hollow trail in the morning
McConnells Mill State Park Hells Hollow 2 © Douglas Kaup
Hells Hollow trail in the morning
McConnells Mill State Park Rocks © Douglas Kaup
Rock formation near one of the lower bridges.
McConnells Mill State Park McConnells Mills Covered Bridge © Gary E. Sauer
A nice shot taken from the Slippery Rock creek level looking at the bridge and beyond is the Mill
McConnells Mill State Park © Christi Palladino
McConnells Mill State Park A bridge along a river trail at the Mills © Gary E. Sauer
Along the river trail we came across a unique bridge
McConnells Mill State Park Hells Hollow falls © Douglas Kaup
Last falls before the water meets with the Slippery Rock Creek.
McConnells Mill State Park © Monnie Ryan
McConnells Mill State Park © Eric Breindel
McConnells Mill State Park © Eric Breindel
McConnells Mill State Park © Eric Breindel
McConnells Mill State Park Rocks and stream © Douglas Kaup
Rocks and stream under one of the lower bridges.
McConnells Mill State Park Overlook © Douglas Kaup
contributing stream under one of the lower bridges.
McConnells Mill State Park © Eric Breindel
McConnells Mill State Park © Rachel OBradovich
McConnells Mill State Park © Rachel OBradovich
McConnells Mill State Park Hells Hollow 3 © Douglas Kaup
Hells Hollow trail bridge.
McConnells Mill State Park Upper falls © Douglas Kaup
Upper falls on the Hells Hollow trail.
McConnells Mill State Park © Eric Breindel
McConnells Mill State Park © Eric Breindel
McConnells Mill State Park © Eric Breindel
McConnells Mill State Park © Eric Breindel
McConnells Mill State Park The Mill in January © Jeff Hudak
Winter Hike at The Mill
McConnells Mill State Park The Mill in January © Jeff Hudak
Winter Hike at The Mill
McConnells Mill State Park The Mill in January © Jeff Hudak
Winter Hike at The Mill
McConnells Mill State Park The Trail in January © Jeff Hudak
Winter Hike at The Mill
McConnells Mill State Park The Trail in January © Jeff Hudak
Winter Hike at The Mill
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MCCONNELLS MILL STATE PARK
MCCONNELLS MILL STATE PARK
RR 2 Box 16
Portersville, Pennsylvania   16051

Phone: 724-368-8091
Toll Free: 888-727-2757
Reservations: 888-727-2757
Email: park email button icon
McConnells Mill State Park, in Lawrence County, encompasses 2,546 acres of the spectacular Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round.
History of the Area
Glacial History

If you stood at the Cleland Rock Vista (see the map for location and below for a photograph) 200,000 years ago, you would be standing on a ridge at a drainage divide. Water to the north flowed north and water to the south flowed south. If you stood at the same location about 140,000 years ago, you would be standing at the edge of a small lake dammed by several hundred feet of ice. The ice was the edge of a continental glacier that covered most of North America north of Cleland Rock. The glacier dam created small Lake Prouty by Cleland Rock. To the north was larger Lake Watts (modern Lake Arthur is a small recreation of Lake Watts) and further north was giant Lake Edmund.

Eventually Lake Prouty spilled over the ridge near Cleland Rock and began carving Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. As the glacier retreated, Lake Watts drained into the channel, enlarging and deepening the gorge, then Lake Edmund swiftly poured into the channel, scouring the gorge to over 400 feet deep. When the glacier finally retreated back to the north, Slippery Rock Creek Gorge was so deep that streams that normally flowed north, now flowed south, as the streams do today. The swift erosion of the gorge created its swift water and the many boulders that offer great challenges to modern whitewater boaters.

Which Rock is Slippery Rock?

Slippery Rock Creek is 49 miles long and full of slippery rocks, yet is named for one exceptionally slick rock below the Armstrong Bridge. It is believed that an Indian trail forded the creek at a shelf of sandstone near a natural oil seep, which made the rock exceptionally slippery, and gave its name to the creek, a town, a university, a rock formation and many local businesses. In the late 1800s, oil wells briefly flourished in the valley, but the oil was swiftly invaded by groundwater and the wells were abandoned. The oil wells drained the oil seep and the Slippery Rock is no longer covered in oil.

Slippery Rock Gorge Natural Area

The 930-acre Slippery Rock Gorge was designated a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1974 and became a State Park Natural Area in 1998. The steep-sided gorge contains numerous rocky outcrops, boulders, old growth forest, waterfalls and rare plants. Cleland Rock Vista is a great place to view the gorge.

Also part of the natural area, Hells Hollow has a wide array of wildflowers, waterfalls and habitats in addition to what can be found in the Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. A one-half-mile hiking trail leads to a cascading waterfall and an old limekiln.
Camping
No Camping: Camping is not available in the park. Information on nearby private campgrounds is available at the Moraine State Park office.
Swimming
No swimming! Slippery Rock Creek is a very swift and dangerous whitewater creek. Many people have drowned in this dangerous creek. Nearby Moraine State Park has two swimming beaches.


Location
McConnells Mill State Park is located near Beaver, Beaver Falls and Butler
Nearby Parks

Picnicking
There are two picnic areas adjacent to the parking area at the northern end of the gorge near the Old Mill. There are no pavilions in the park but the picnic areas have many shaded tables. Charcoal grills and restrooms are available in the picnic areas. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Trails
The natural character of McConnells Mill State Park, the scenic gorge, waterfalls, rugged hiking trails and whitewater creek, are all directly caused by the geology of the area. The bedrock formed over 300 million years ago as layers of sand, mud and peat in what was a coastal area. After becoming rock, these different layers were lifted to the surface in several mountain-building events. The different strengths of these rocks cause them to erode differently, helping to make the varied landscape of the park. The gorge and the dramatic topography of the park were created by glaciers over the past two million years.
Nature Programs
Guided tours of the restored gristmill are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The daily schedule of the Old Mill is from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Off-season tours are by appointment only.

Guided nature walks are conducted every Saturday and Sunday during the summer season. A variety of topics, settings and subjects are discussed and explored.

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
December 21 We got married here in 1983 by Normajean J
park review stars; one to five This is one of the most beautiful parks I have seen. I love the covered bridge and the Grist mill. I am coming back this spring to relive this memory. My husband passed away last month but he loved this park. We came here one more time after we got married and loved every minute of it.
September 19 My English teacher almost died there by English
park review stars; one to five My English teacher was teaching us about hooks when she told us that he got lost there and was out of water and energy. She said it was her most frightening experience of her life.
March 3 Simply beautiful, but can be dangerous by AmandaMarie
park review stars; one to five Amazingly beautiful park with tons of trails to hike at all levels! Places to have lunch. Old covered bridges w/ historical signs to guide & enlighten. Gorges & hills & amazing waterways! Please be very careful tho.. many people have drowned in these waters from either trying to swim or falling while climbing the many peaks. Other have become lost when they went off path. Great for everything from fishing to hiking to simply walking you dogs!
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Area Campgrounds
Cooper's Lake Campground
205 Corrie Road
Slippery Rock, PA
724-368-8710
Slippery Rock Campground Association
1150 West Park Road
Slippery Rock, PA
724-738-0402
Harts Content Campground
496 Glendale Road
Beaver Falls, PA
724-846-0005
Buttercup Woodlands Campground
854 Evans City Road
Renfrew, PA
724-789-9340
Indian Brave Campground
Route 19 North
Harmony, PA
724-452-9204
Rose Point Park Campground
314 Rose Point Road
New Castle, PA
Bear Run Campground
184 Badger Hill Road
Portersville, PA
Lake Arthur Family Campground
243 West Liberty Road
Slippery Rock, PA
724-406-0445
Rose Point Park Cabins & Camping
U.S. 422
New Castle, PA
724-924-2415
Area Fishing Related Businesses
Shenango China Hunting & Fishing Club
RR 5
New Castle, PA
(724) 657-0286
O Donnell's Sports Supplies
1765 Perry Hwy
Portersville, PA
(724) 368-3418
Moraine Fishing & Camping Ctr
2191 Prospect Rd
Prospect, PA
(724) 865-9318
Rogers' Rifle Rod & Reel
494 Mount Union Rd
Portersville, PA
(724) 368-8127
Wiley Lures
158 Stamm Hollow Rd
Ellwood City, PA
(724) 758-7092
Castlewood Rod & Gun Club
2964 Shaffer Rd
Ellwood City, PA
(724) 924-9010
Area Cabins and Lodges
Bear Run Campground
184 Badger Hill Rd
Portersville, PA
(724) 368-3564
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
The park is about 40 miles north of Pittsburgh, via I-79, near the intersection of PA 19 and US 422.
Nearby Parks

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