State Parks

July 25, 2024 Last Updated: July 18, 2024 08:47 AM

Visitors sit and take in the view at the 19th century grist mill at McConnells Mill State Park for the opening day for the mill on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

McConnells Mill State Park

Address: 2716 McConnells Mill Road, Portersville, PA 16051

or when using GPS: 1761 McConnells Mill Road, Portersville, PA 16051

Telephone: 724-368-8811

Manager: Dustin Drew

Hours: Dawn to dusk, year-round

Website: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/McConnellsMillStatePark/Pages/default.aspx

Founded: 1957

McConnells Mill State Park has 2,546 acres in Perry and Slippery Rock townships in Lawrence County.

Services, activities and attractions: Picnic areas, fishing, hunting, climbing and repelling, hiking and whitewater boating. The gristmill is normally open Memorial Day through late September. Limited hours are available; see the park’s Facebook page.

The water turbine in the 19th century grist mill at McConnells Mill State Park is on display on the opening day for the mill on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

Billy Shaw, a volunteer, gives a tour of the 19th century grist mill at McConnells Mill State Park for opening day for the mill on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

Jack O'Brien portrayed a woodsman during the history walk at the Jennings Environmental Education Center to celebrate George Washington's Birthday on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. O'Brien demonstrated the shot that was fired at Washington. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jennings Environmental Education Center

Address: 2951 Prospect Road, Slippery Rock, PA 16057-5023

Telephone: 724-794-6011

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and summer weekends

Park hours: Picnicking and trails open sunrise to sunset, year-round

Manager: Wil Taylor

Website: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/JenningsEnvironmentalEducationCenter/Pages/default.aspx

Email: jenningssp@pa.gov

Founded: 1980

Jennings Environmental Education Center is a 300-acre park in Brady Township.

Services, activities and attractions: Picnic areas, restrooms, hiking trails, interpretive exhibits and Foltz School, which was built in 1880 and closed in 1963, one of the last one-room schools to close in the state

Winter activities: Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing

The prairie, about 20 acres, is a rare ecosystem that is home to the endangered massasauga rattlesnake. The park also has about 250 acres of mixed hardwood forest, a flood plain meadow and an abandoned coal mine area, used for a water treatment program. The 5 miles of hiking trails includes the 0.22-mile Blazing Star Trail, named for the wildflower that turns the prairie purple in late July and early August.

Cynda Sites, dressed up as period character from the Revolutionary period, grabs a piece of cherry pie during the Jennings Environmental Education Center's hiking event to celebrate George Washington's Birthday on Saturday, Feb. 24. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/24/2024)

Ethan Barley takes a break from during a sailing camp hosted by the Moraine Sailing Club at Watt's Bay Marina in Moraine State Park on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Moraine State Park

Address: 225 Pleasant Valley Road, Portersville, PA 16051

Telephone: 724-368-8811

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, year-round, and weekends during the summer

Park hours: Daily from sunrise to sunset, year-round

Manager: Dustin Drew

Website: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/MoraineStatePark/Pages/default.aspx

Email: morainesp@pa.gov

Founded: 1970

Moraine State Park has 16,725 acres in Brady, Clay, Franklin, Muddy Creek and Worth townships.

Services, activities and attractions: Picnic areas, snack concessions, restrooms, swimming, fishing, boating with up to 20 hp motors permitted, hunting, hiking and biking trails, horseback riding trails, 18-hole disc golf course, and cabins

Winter activities: Cross-country skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice skating and ice boating

Lake Arthur is a 3,225-acre warm-water fishery.

ADA accessible flush toilet restrooms are in the Pleasant Valley Picnic Area, Pleasant Valley Beach, Pleasant View Picnic Area, Bear Run Boat Launch, McDanels Boat Launch, Park Road Boat Launch, 528 Boat Launch, Lakeview Beach Area, and the Davis Hollow and Watts Bay marinas.