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Raccoon Creek's location, two hours from Akron, is biological crossroad for nature enthusiasts, hikers
By Bob Downing
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Mar 22, 2009
HOOKSTOWN, Pa.: Raccoon Creek State Park is widely known for its stellar wildflower displays.
The centerpiece is the park's 314-acre Wildflower Reserve, with 5.6 miles of trails. The area sits off U.S. 30 at the eastern end of the 7,323-acre park. It is in southern Beaver County, 25 miles west of Pittsburgh and about two hours from Akron.
The tract contains one of the most unique and outstanding stands of wildflowers in western Pennsylvania.
That's because the reserve is located at a biological crossroads, with plants at the edge of their natural ranges. In addition, Raccoon Creek curves around a rocky east-west ridge and creates sunny southern and dim northern exposures for select plant species.
More than 500 species of wildflowers can be found in the reserve, purchased in 1962 by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. It became part of the state park in 1971.
Trails lead visitors through a variety of habitats: from oak-hickory forest to pine plantations, from abandoned fields to flood-plain forests. The trails are short and many connect to form loops, the Jennings Trail at 1.4 miles being the longest.
Peak wildflower blooms occur from late April through May and from August through early September. The blossoms typically begin in mid-March with the skunk cabbage and end in October with witch hazel.
The reserve also features an interpretive center that offers programs and guided walks. For information about center programs, call 724-899-3611.
I visited in July and found salmon-colored joe-pye-weed dominating the fields near the center.
On the Meadow Trail, ironweed, with its powerful purple blossoms and wingstem, and green-headed coneflowers
with their yellow blossoms dominated the meadows with stands 6 to 10 feet high.
I hiked the Jennings, Meadow and Audubon trails to form a loop. It was an easy hike, although there was one stiff climb to a ridge top. I began at the center, where I picked up a trail map and a list of late-summer flowers.
The Jennings Trail, I was told, features some of the greatest plant variety, and color is usually out by mid-April with trailing arbutus, coltsfoot and snow trillium.
The peak month for woodland flowers is typically May, when you will find several species of trilliums and violets, along with blue cohosh, marsh marigold, Virginia bluebell, Miami mist, dwarf larkspur and Solomon's seal. The reserve also features 28 species of ferns.
Rules are simple: No picking or collecting. Trails are for walkers only. Smoking on the trails is prohibited. Pets are not permitted on the trails or in the center. Picnicking is not permitted. Hours are 8 a.m. to sunset daily.
There's more to see and do at the state park.
Despite the name, the main stream is Traverse Creek, which flows into Raccoon Creek. The park features wooded, steep stream valleys.
A dammed section of Traverse Creek forms the 101-acre Raccoon Lake, which is stocked with brook trout and rainbow trout. Only boats with electric motors are permitted on the lake, along with canoes, kayaks and paddleboats.
The park features an 800-foot-long sand-and-grass beach that is open from late May to mid-September. Lifeguards are on duty in the summer.
The campground has 172 sites. There are also 10 cabins and one three-bedroom cottage. The park has about 400 tables in five designated picnic areas.
Raccoon Creek offers 44 miles of hiking trails plus 16 miles of bridle trails.
That includes the park's green-blazed 19.5-mile Backpacking Trail. It is composed of the Heritage, Forest and Appaloosa trails, plus the Lakeside Lodge Road. You can camp at designated sites along the trail. Permits are required.
The park's longest individual trail is the 9.5-mile Heritage Trail. It is moderate-to-difficult for hikers. The blue-blazed trail runs along the park's southern boundary and passes through the first lands settled in Beaver County. It follows old wagon roads at the park's western end.
The park also offers 17 miles of multiuse trails and roads for mountain bikers. Most of the trails are open to cross-country skiers in the winter. Much of the park is also open to hunters, in season.
The mineral springs, touted for their healing qualities, were a big tourist draw from 1790 to 1932, and the Frankfort Mineral Springs Resort boomed. It is south of the park office off state Route 18. A historical brochure is available.
In 1790, Edward McGinnis built the Frankfort House, a three-story inn, to accommodate fans of the mineral springs. A dance hall, cottages, a livery, an ice house, orchards and a farm grew up around the inn. The nearby community of Frankfort Mineral Springs became a spa.
The spa closed in 1912. The water was bottled and sold as an elixir and was later filtered and added to car batteries. A fire leveled the Frankfort House in 1932.
You can view the springs with their 15 minerals, mostly iron and sulfur, after a short hike up Mineral Springs Hollow. Visitors are warned against drinking the spring water because it is not monitored for pollution.
King's Creek cemetery in the park's southwestern corner has graves from some of the first settlers along Raccoon Creek.
In the 1930s, the National Park Service created what was known as the Raccoon Creek National Recreation Demonstration Area by buying up old farms. Facilities were built by workers from the federal Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration.
The state park was created in 1945. The lake was added in 1948; swimming and picnicking areas, in 1950; the campground, in 1956; and the cabins, in the 1980s.
For information about Raccoon Creek State Park, write to the park at 3000 State Route 18, Hookstown, PA 15050 (724-899-2200). You can also call 888-PA-PARKS. The Internet site is http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateParks/parks/raccooncreek.aspx.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.
HOOKSTOWN, Pa.: Raccoon Creek State Park is widely known for its stellar wildflower displays.
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Comments
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Canton, OH
Posted 04:42 PM, 03/22/2009
I wanna go there. . .
