Visited this state park for the first time earlier this month and had a blast!…read more I parked at what I think is the main lot, up above the mill itself. I didn't take a tour of the mill (which the park volunteers and staff do offer throughout the day) but I did walk through it and read the information in it about the history of the mill. Definitely enjoyed exploring and learning. That said, I was really there for the trails, so I spent most of my day hiking. I took a loop trail down from the mill and back (with a detour up a short trail to some falls) and it was great! I love being outside and I love a good challenge; these trails were not paved or even at all and I had a great workout navigating them. During hydration breaks I'd find a nice rock to sit on by the water, which was wonderful. It was noisy as heck by the mill because of the families, but the further out I got the more peaceful it got. Definitely met my goal of unplugging for a day during my trek on the trails. I want to come back in the future and begin to try to walk the Slippery Gorge Trail, as it sounds like the gorge is another beautiful part of the park. But that is definitely a long term goal, because that trail is not a short one! I loved visiting this park and I'd be back for sure. To everyone else, PLEASE remember water and wear the proper footwear - while I enjoyed my walk in the park, these trails are definitely not a walk in the park!

If you live in Pittsburgh or are just visiting the area, McConnells Mill is one of the best day…read moretrips around. It's only about 40 miles north up I-79, so it's an easy drive from the city, but it feels like a completely different world once you get down into the gorge. I've been going there for years with friends and family, and it became my go-to spot to take people when they would visit from out of town. Everyone always loves checking out the historic old gristmill and the red covered bridge right next to it. It's a great, classic view, and if you go during the summer, they usually open up the mill for tours so you can see how it all used to work. The hiking there is fantastic, too, with a good mix of trails depending on what you're up for. You can take a pretty easy walk back to Hell's Hollow Falls, or you can tackle the rougher, rockier trails that run right along Slippery Rock Creek. You definitely want to wear sturdy shoes because the terrain gets steep and the rocks get slick, but the scenery with the rushing whitewater and massive boulders is totally worth it. It's just a beautiful, simple place to get outdoors for a few hours. Whether you want a challenging hike or just want to sit by the water and look at the old bridge, it never disappoints.

Been going here for 50 years . All the garbage has been cleaned up . Railing has been fixed , it's…read moretruly a beautiful place . It won't be long though when the view is gone , you can only see a very little bit of the river now because the trees are getting too tall . It needs cut all the way to the dirt road below like the old days when the whole river could be seen . Nice trails below , watch for snakes .

I saw this on the Uncovered Pennsylvania facebook page as a place to see…read more It is a lovely drive through rolling hills and fields. When I arrived, mid September, the air was crisp, cool and the leaves just giving a hint of changing. There are several park signs explaining the rivers and scenery. I'm glad I stopped.

Wonderful kayaking and birding here at the park. If you want to see Osprey, this is the place to…read morego. This park is most lake, but Lake Wilhelm is quite extraordinary. The facilities are well maintained, but the stars here are the wildlife. There is a 12 mile paved bike trail that circumnavigates the lake. The trail has nice views of the lake, depending on the season.

A very nice park and lake area. I was in the area for a high school crew meet (octuple scull…read morerowing). Ran into a very polite ranger, the area we were at was very clean and well kept, and the boat launches were in great shape (Launch area 2).

This one is going to be a partial review. Why partial? Well, we barely scratched the surface of…read morewhat's at this beautiful state park and I want to come back to see more. On our way from Ohio to the other side of PA, we took a detour to get a look at where the modern petroleum industry got its start in this country. One big downside is that because this was ad-libbed, we entered the per se, "wrong side" of the park which doesn't have a much to see as the other side. Let me explain: As the below map shows, the park is laid out in a thin vertical line. Instead of arriving at the northern end where the Drake Well Musuem is, we showed up at the southern tip by the Egbert Farm Day Use Area. The big problem with that goes back to the adlibbing and not knowing that the bridge that leads over Oil Creek is long term closed to vehicles. It's possible to go around but it's a PIA and we didn't have enough time. www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/OilCreekStatePark/pages/maps.aspx We saw Coal Oil Johnny's House, some of the Blood Farm Area and walked a bit of the snowy/muddy Gerard Trail before we ran out of daylight. uncoveringpa.com/things-to-do-oil-creek-state-park Jim at unoveringpa.com has a great list of stuff to do in the park and later this year I'm hoping to do a longer tour of the area and hit this place up for a few days along with Cherry Springs and Hyner Run. We didn't spend a long time here, but the appetite has been whet for more.

This park is an intriguing blend of history and nature. This is the site of an oil boom town, and…read morethere are a number of historical indicators left memorializing it. An interpretive trail is located near the visitor's center that lets you stroll what used to be an old street in the town. None of the actual buildings remain, but the signage is great. There is a train visitor center where a train still runs through at times. There is also a nice playground and picnic tables available. The Blood Farm area is also beautiful - there's a nice large green space near the Oil Creek, with picnic tables, a playground, and shelterhouses. The Blood Farm Interpretive Trail provides an enjoyable short hike with some information about how the Blood Farm became a site where oil was discovered, and you can still find stopped off oil wells, old equipment and old farm buildings to view. Several waterfalls can be found here during certain times of year; unfortunately, the friendly staff told us that they weren't really running at the time of our visit. Very interesting park!

Another great visit to cook forest in the books!!! I grew up, coming to cook forest and fall in…read morelove again every time I visit. The fire tower is an absolute must, and although there are trails to take to reach the fire tower, I love the drive through the forest, the best. Since many are visiting the fire tower along with Seneca point I always try and visit earlier in the mornings when there's not a lot of people. I also am a fan of the lodging in the area. The cabins (River & McBeth) are very affordable & comfortable and sometimes we even stay nearby in Brookville. A lot to book up fast but they do have availability from time to time so even if its last minute, still check their websites. The sawmill is so fun to shop at as well as Parkers Indian trading Post. We love Cook Forest & will always return!!

I love visiting Cook Forest State Park! If you enjoy being outdoors, this is a place you should add…read moreto your bucket list. There is truly something here for everyone. If you're the hiking type, there are 52 miles of trails to explore. If you're a birder, you'll definitely want to grab your binoculars and check out different parts of the park, as numerous birds inhabit the forest. If you prefer spending a day on the water, you can go swimming in the Clarion River, as well as rent kayaks, canoes, and river tubes. It's not hard to find a good spot to fish, and in the winter you can also enjoy cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, and ice-skating. In my case, Cook Forest is just a couple of hours away - a day trip isn't out of the question. Still, it's so much nicer to spend an entire weekend in this beautiful place. Fortunately, that's pretty easy to do! Campgrounds and log cabins alike are available within the park. The cabins are very popular, but have no fear: there are hotels within driving distance of the park as well. Do keep in mind that cell service is not guaranteed here; this is totally OK in my book, but it does mean that having a rough idea of where you'll be driving is essential. Grab a map or write down some directions from Google Maps - then go forth and enjoy your time in this beautiful place!

I spent a few hours exploring Hassan Park while visiting the area. The park has hiking trails, disc…read moregolf, play grounds and four pavilions with grills. You can rent the pavilions for private parties and gatherings. The 18 hole disc golf course has score cards and course maps located next to the large pavilion. The course will challenge you with water hazards and natural obstacles. Adjacent to the park is ball fields, public swimming pool and more.

This was always my favorite place to come with my family. It definitely needs some love and help…read morebut it could be great again. Hoping it'll have some funds to make this park great again. Soon

I take our dog to the dog park on a regular basis. It's always clean and well maintained. He…read morereally enjoys getting out, sniffing, running and interacting with dogs of his size and temperament. He's a small dog, shih tzu pit bull mix and is easy to get along with. Taking him there has gotten him on a more social level than just running around our yard. Also I can walk him around the park and let him be as active as he should be. Thank you for making a special place for our furry friends. They deserve it! Jade's Dog Park is truly a blessing for all dog parents . Thank you very much for caring about the special creatures in our lives

My husband and I came here for the day and were pleasantly surprised…read more It is $5 per person to get in. Food They have a snack bar with the typical food you would expect (hotdogs, nachos, pretzels, popcorn) you can purchase a cup and/or a popcorn bucket for $5 a piece and get refills all summer for $1. Pool The pool is amazing! Perfect place to bring children with two kids areas. The have a small rock climbing wall in the deep end by the diving boards. Three slides, one of which is very tall. Children 12 and under can take a swim test to be allowed to swim in the deep end and go on the diving boards and rock climbing wall. You are allowed to bring floating things like noodles etc. which was really nice. You can only bring goggles that don't have the nose part (scuba goggles?) regular goggles are okay. The deep end is 5ft and the diving area is 12ft. I believe I saw that they rent out life vests for children and they also sell swimming diapers. Adult Swim Depending on how you feel about this it will either be good or bad. At the start of every hour they make all of the children get out of the pool for 15 minutes. The only people allowed in the pool are adults and children under 5 who are accompanied by an adult within arms reach. Seating They have chairs that you can use with foot rests and little tables but you have to get here pretty early to get one unless you see someone leaving you can take theirs. I would recommend bringing chairs and blankets to sit and relax on. There is plenty of space to spread out and not be right next to someone else on the grass. They have a few covered areas that you can set up at if there is space left. They also have 2 covered picnic table areas with 4 picnic tables (although I'm sure those fill up fast) Parks We don't have children so we didn't go to the parks but it looked like there was a lot to do and that it was well maintained. Crowds We went on a Sunday and there were a lot of people there but it didn't feel "crowded". We had to wait in line to get snacks but when we wanted a drink or popcorn refill there was a separate line which was nice. Conclusion- we will defiantly be back it was a great day!

While working in Beaver County I have passed this sign to Buttermilk Falls countless times, but…read morenever had occasion to stop until yesterday. It was a gorgeous, sunny, unseasonably warm March day & I was the first car in the tiny dirt parking area on the left as soon as you turn in. The Falls is now directly across from the new entrance to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. There is a big stone covered with graffiti on the right. After you park, you just hop out and hit the path and follow the sound of gushing water. it is a short distance to the Falls, but it is uphill and it is steep and rocky and this is not a suitable path for anybody with physical limitations of any sort. It can also be dangerous for young children. It's very beautiful and it is worth the hike up. If you're sturdy footed (muddy & rocky), you can walk right behind the falls and it's quite beautiful. Highly recommended for a sightseeing but I'm sure it gets crowded and warmer weather.

The hiking trail we went on was not to long and had nice scenery. Parking was easy to find. The…read morewaterfall is definitely worth the hike there. You can go under it, go above it, and go behind it! Also lots of smooth rocks to set up towel and sit in the sun.

Colonel Crawford Park or Woodcock Creek Lake as it is more commonly called, is a great place during…read morea normal year, but unfortunately in early March of 2021, there has been a malfunction in the dam water control system, and the entire lake has unfortunately been drained. I stopped to visit yesterday to see it for myself, and everywhere that once was water is now just mud and ice. Surprisingly, there was still water coming out of the outflow on the back side of the dam, my guess was ice meltoff. I feel bad about all the fish and other aquatic wildlife that have perished due to this predicament. I imagine it will take months, if not a year or more, for the water levels to get back to normal . . . sigh. On a good note, the park was packed with people to try and get a look at the empty lake, but I imagine these crowds won't last, and this will do harm to the local businesses that provide services to all the visitors during the year (especially bad for those that already lost business during the pandemic). Hoping for better days . . . .

A nice green space in good proximity to a number of shops, restaurants, and other businesses. There…read moreare several paved walking paths around the park, plus some nice amenities like benches, picnic tables, a gazebo, and trash cans. It makes it a nice place for a picnic meal. The centerpiece, as suggested by its name, is a large fountain, which is eye catching and nice to check out. Street parking is available around the park.