Larry A. Smail's Blog

McConnell’s Mill

One will find the beautiful and rugged McConnell’s Mill State Park as an area of awe. The Lawrence County, Pennsylvania park has a lot to witness. The landscape around the park covers often steep slopes with big, to huge boulders all around. The park surrounds a

Slippery Rock Creek moving slow.

section of Slippery Rock Creek Gorge.

This park has eleven miles of trails to hike and enjoy nature at its best.

The original mill was built in 1852 by Daniel Kennedy. Fire destroyed the mill, but a second mill was built in 1868. Thomas McConnell purchased the mill in 1875. This mill closed down in 1928.

These waters can rage during other seasons.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy obtained the are in 1942 wishing to preserve the area’s wealth of natural beauty.   McConnell’s Mill State Park became reality in 1952.

Immediately south of the old mill one will find a covered bridge over Slippery Rock Creek. (The bridge is currently as I type under renovation for preserving the structure.)  the bridge was built in 1874.

Slippery Rock Creek is a beautiful flow of water offering some danger. Far too many people have succumbed to the water’s treachery. For this reason the area at the park has no swimming. trout fishing is fine here.  Huge smooth boulders are found along the water’s edge. When wet they can become like an ice patch. Some stretches of the creek are smooth slower moving water and some are considered white water.

Trail

Female Hummingbird

Slippery Rock Creek Gorge received a listing as a Natural Area and a National Nature Landmark in 1974. The creek received  designation as a State Park natural Area in 1998.