Plenty to do at Moraine and McConnells Mill state parks
From photography to snowmobile riding and a lot in between, the spaces at Moraine and McConnells Mill state parks have a lot to offer from sunrise to sundown — and many options to add to a visitor’s enjoyment.
“We have a huge variety of programs,” said Natalie Simon, an environmental education specialist with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of State Parks. “We have, probably, hundreds.”
A calendar of public events at both state parks can be accessed at events.dcnr.pa.gov.
“While they won’t be exactly the same every year — we rotate some in and some out — it will give you a good idea of what’s going on,” Simon said.
Planning the events and programs is a collective effort.
“We have a team of three here,” Simon said. “The nice thing about the outdoor programming services for state parks is we all share ideas among the state park educators at all our state parks.
“For instance, if somebody at Presque Isle has a really good idea that would also apply to the resources here at Moraine, we’ll say, ‘Hey, that was a good idea. Do you mind if I do it?’ ... We’re thinking about our individual parks, we’re getting out to know our parks and some of the unique resources in them, and then we work toward getting the public more aware of some of these things.”
Moraine State Park hosts outdoor events year-round. McConnells Mill does not.
“At McConnells Mill, due to the treacherous nature of the trails — with the ice, the unpredictable nature — we don’t plan a lot of programming throughout the winter,” Simon said.
Though the gristmill closed for the season after the last weekend in October, the trails and picnic area remain open.
Well after the trees turn bare, Moraine will partner with the Butler Outdoor Club for the First Day Hike in January.
“Typically, Winterfest is early in February, and that’s put on by the same friends group that does the Preston’s Pearl (pontoon boat tours) — that’s Moraine Preservation Fund,” Simon said. “Then, we go from there. We always have the big regatta in early August at Moraine. We have the Heritage Festival over at McConnells Mill.”
The less-popular events are also enriching, allowing visitors to learn about “two very different parks very close together,” Simon said.
“Maybe a guided hike will tell them something they didn’t know before about the history or the nature or trees or caterpillars,” Simon said. “That builds upon people’s knowledge base, and that builds their enjoyment of the park.”
Programs boost preservation awareness, as well. Simon urges hikers to remain on the designated trails to look after wildlife — such as mosses that take years to grow and also wildflowers.
“McConnells Mill is especially known for its beauty,” Simon said. “It’s not only one of the special state parks, but the Slippery Rock Gorge — which is within the park — is designated a national natural landmark by the National Park Service.”
There also are designated climbing areas in the park.
Manmade Lake Arthur at Moraine has nearly 42 miles of shoreline. Moraine has a multiuse paved trail on its North Shore that’s almost 7 miles long. The park also has cabins that are open year-round, more than 700 picnic tables, and a nationally recognized disc golf course. It also has specific areas to watch wildlife — namely a waterfowl observation deck off the Prospect exit.
“Really, you can see wildlife from any point in the park,” Simon said.
Getting out to the parks — whether for a visit or to take part in one of the many events or programs — is time well spent.
“There’s so many benefits of being surrounded by nature, for our health and for our well-being — shared family time and shared time with friends,” Simon said. “There’s also skill-building. Some people like outdoor recreation that would involve paddleboards or kayaks. We’ve got the two swimming areas (at Moraine) that are open in season.”
