A Day in McConnells Mill State Park

May 31, 2025May 30, 2025hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

McConnells Mills State Park spans over 2,500 acres of the Slippery Rock Gorge, a National Natural Landmark. With stunning rock formations, waterfalls, and a picturesque gristmill and covered bridge, this park is worth the drive to Lawrence County, PA. Whether you’re looking to hike the day away or for an outdoorsy spot to bring the whole family, a trip to McConnells Mill is beautiful at any time of year.

Know Before You Go

Free Entry – PA State Parks and Forests are free for all visitors!
40 miles North of Pittsburgh – but not reachable by public transportation.
Navigation – cell service can be spotty, so download trail and driving maps before leaving home
Pet Friendly – leashed dogs are welcome on all trails. Check below for trail difficulty
No Swimming – Swimming is prohibited at the park due to rocks and rapids
Hunting – Some areas are open to hunting, so always wear orange during hunting season! Check the PA Game Commission for more information about hunting seasons.
Accessibility – Handicap parking is available at the historic gristmill. Please note that there are no ADA-accessible trails or facilities available. Call the park office to confirm accessibility for tours of the mill.
Weather – The park area is often colder than the surrounding areas and is prone to icy conditions. Check conditions before heading out and wear proper gear.

How to get to McConnells Mill

There are a few different parking areas for accessing trailheads at the park. The main parking area is the Kildoo Picnic Area. The park is approximately 40 miles north of Pittsburgh on I-79. Take the exit for PA-488, then get onto US-19N. Then follow Kildoo Road (T316) to the parking lot.

Hiking in McConnells Mill

There are over 11 miles of trail in McConnells Mill, including 7.5 miles of the North County Trail. You can combine trails to make a loop or stick to out-and-back trails. This park has plenty to see without a long hike, so it’s a great spot for families or new hikers. The hardest trail is the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail, which only experienced hikers should tackle. See below for a breakdown of the park’s trails!

Easy Hikes

Alpha Pass Trail (1.0 miles, out-and-back) – Start at the gristmill and head to the right on the blue-blazed Alpha Pass. The trail is fairly flat and even, but can be icy in the winter. Be aware that the creek is fast-running and not open for swimming. Leads to Alpha Falls, the tallest waterfall in the park, although best visited after a rainy spell.
Hells Hollow Trail (1.0 miles, out-and-back) – Start at the Schaffer Run Road parking lot. It’s an easy 0.5 miles out and back. The most difficult part is the final staircase down to the falls. The stairs end in the creek, and you’ll have to step over stones for the best view of the falls. Be aware that this can be difficult in the Spring when the water is high.

Moderate Hikes

Kildoo Trail (2.0 miles, loop) – This is my favorite loop in the park. It also starts at the Mill and begins by following along the marked Kildoo Trail to the left of the Mill. This trail hugs the creek and is rocky and full of little waterfalls and runoff streams. It’s very beautiful, but new hikers might find the rocky terrain difficult. After about a mile, reach Eckert Bridge and cross over towards the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail. Bear to the right to hike alongside the opposite side of the creek. This side is higher up and slightly more rocky, but it makes for an exciting challenge. Finally, you’ll close the loop by crossing through the covered bridge.
Breckneck Falls (0.5 miles, out-and-back) – Another short hike to see a lesser-known waterfall in the park. Turn to the left from Eckert Bridge to start on the Breakneck Falls trail. It’s an easy hike with a very shallow stream crossing. The only difficult section is right at the mid-point to access the falls

Difficult Hikes

Slippery Rock Gorge Trail (6.2 miles, one-way) – This one-way (also called point-to-point) trail spans the length of the park, following along Hell Run until it meets up with Slippery Rock Creek. It is a rugged, difficult hike leading through the natural beauty of the Slippery Rock Gorge National Natural Landmark. If only going one way, you’ll need two cars, leaving one at the Schaffer Run parking lot and the other at the Kildoo Picnic Area lot. Starting at the Schaffer Run Lot, follow the signs for the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail (blue blaze). Along the trail, you’ll encounter old-growth forests, a natural landbridge, hidden waterfalls, and stream crossings. The trail leads all the way to the covered bridge and gristmill. For a real challenge, try this as an out-and-back, adding in the Kildoo Trail for a loop at the halfway point before heading back along the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail. If tackling the whole trail, make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks, and give yourself ample time to complete. When a friend and I tackled the full out-and-back, it took the better part of 5 hours.

Other Things to Do

Gristmill Tour

A 19th-century gristmill is a key feature of the park. For decades, this mill served as a hub of the community where farmers brought their grains to be milled into flour. The mill eventually closed in the 1920s and was eventually transferred to the state for long-term preservation. Today, you can tour the mill and learn more about how it used the creek waters to grind grains.

The historic gristmill is open for tours on select days during the summer season. It’s usually open from 10:30-3:30 Wednesday thru Sunday, starting on Memorial Day. But make sure to call the park office for more details and to confirm opening times.

Geology Trail (Driving & Hiking)

The region that encompasses McConnells Mill State Park has a fascinating geological history. Follow along the Trail of Geology in McConnells Mill and nearby Moraine State Parks for a fascinating explanation of the rock and water features in the area. Stops 1-6 are located in McConnells Mill and can also be accessed by hiking!

White Water Boating

There are no rentals at McConnells Mill, but there are several points to launch personal crafts. Depending on the water level and season, the creek is rated as a Class II to IV river. The rapids can be quite dangerous and should only be attempted by experienced boaters. Also, boats are not allowed over the dam, so all boaters must exit the creek and return no less than 50 feet downstream. For more information about whitewater boating and safety, visit the State Park’s website.

*Stairs from Kildoo Picnic Area to the Mill and trailheads*

Picnicking

There’s no overnight accommodations at McConnells Mill State Park, but there is a large picnic area at the Kildoo parking area with picnic tables, charcoal grills, bathroom facilities, and a field for playing. There’s also an ADA-accessible pavilion that can be reserved. This is a great spot to have lunch after exploring!

Rock Climbing

McConnells Mill is one of only four state parks in PA that allow rock climbing! There are two designated climbing areas: Rim Road and Breakneck Bridge. If going climbing, please exercise extreme caution. The routes should only be tackled by experienced climbers.

Nearby Attractions

Want to know what else to do near McConnells Mills State Park? If you’re craving more outdoor time, check out nearby Moraine State Park for swimming, boating, biking, and more, and Jennings Environmental Center for hiking, birding, and environmental education.

If you’re looking to revive with a brew and bite, head into the nearby towns of Zelienople and Harmony for a plethora of food options. For brewpubs, you can check out Union Brothers Brewing, ShuBrew, or The Harmony Inn (operated by North Country Brewing). If a treat or a coffee is more your speed, stop by Lagerhaus Bakery, Wunderbar Coffee and Crepes, or Neff Haus Ice Cream to satisfy your sweet tooth!

For more hiking adventures in Western PA, check out my guide to Waterfalls within an Hour of Pittsburgh and Best Hikes & Hops in Pittsburgh. For all of my adventures in Pennsylvania, head here!

Looking for more adventures in Pennsylvania and beyond? Check out my new book: Beer Hiking Pennsylvania and New Jersey

PA Craft Beer – Homemade, Homegrown

May 30, 2025May 29, 2025hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

This post was paid for with Pennsylvania Taxpayer Dollars and sponsored by the PA Department of Agriculture. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

After a hard day’s work, what better feeling is there than cracking open a cold one on a warm sunny day? But as you enjoy the crisp carbonation of that bitter liquid, do you really know where your beer comes from? A fresh beer can be even more satisfying when it’s brewed and sourced locally!

Here in Pennsylvania, we have over 500 craft breweries, second only to California. For beer to be considered “craft” it is typically made by an independent company using traditional ingredients on a small scale. When you visit a craft brewery, you’re having the freshest beer, made by hand in an onsite brewing facility. Sometimes you can even see the brewing equipment around the corner while sitting at the bar!

*Fermentors right in the taproom at Stick City Brewing*

But to understand where the beer is coming from, we need to back up and remember the basics. Beer is a combination of basic ingredients: water, barley, yeast, and hops. But what sounds simple can turn into a complex alchemy of sourcing ingredients to get a specific flavor profile. Hops are the ingredient that gives beer its quintessential bitter flavor. They typically need a mild, wet growing environment to thrive, which can be difficult to achieve outside of specific geographic regions; most hops grown in the US come from the Pacific Northwest for this reason. While hops are the flashy component, malt is the backbone of beer. Malt is a grain that has been partially sprouted, then dried. It’s used in a variety of foods and drinks, but it’s integral to beer because it provides the sugars that start the fermentation process, thereby putting the booze in your brews. The type of malt used also contributes to the final beer’s color and flavor. Finally, the fermentation process can’t happen without yeast. This microorganism loves to chomp up the sugars in malt and converts them to carbon dioxide and alcohol. Along with water, these three ingredients make up the beverage we know and love!

With the scale of craft beer production in Pennsylvania, brewers need a lot of grain and hops. So, where do they get these products? Many source hops and malt from major distributors in the Pacific Northwest or internationally. However, a growing number are turning to our own booming agriculture industry here in the Keystone State.

Pennsylvania has over 7.7 million acres of farmland, most of which are family-owned farms. These nearly 49,000 farms support a multi-billion-dollar industry that supplies jobs and food right here in our state. So it seems like a natural leap for small businesses to source supplies and ingredients from farms right in their backyard, right? PA-Preferred, a program of the PA Department of Agriculture, is a resource for finding locally made food and farm products in Pennsylvania! With this resource, both consumers and producers can easily find businesses to source ingredients from, whether it’s for hobbyist homebrewers or full-time production brewers.

For Nick Salkeld, brewer and owner of Stick City Brewing in Mars, PA, using local products is a no-brainer. “You can physically go out and see the product. You can immediately see and meet the person who grew it,” he said. “You can even see the dirt where it came from.”

Sustainability is a huge part of Salkeld’s mission, and buying local is a key part of that. He often works with a malt supplier in Butler County, CNC Malts, for custom malt blends to get the exact flavor profile and coloring he’s aiming to achieve for his beer. All of the grains at CNC Malts are sourced locally and floor-malted right in Butler County. More than that, Salkeld has a personal connection to the company. The maltsters’ (which is what you call a person who makes malt) processing facility is the old Clearfield Schoolhouse where Salkeld’s dad went to school. It can’t get more local than that!

*A flight of house-made brews at Lincoln Avenue Brewery*

Lincoln Avenue Brewery in Bellevue, PA (affectionately called LAB) also sources much of its malt from CNC Malts. The brewery also boasts a full kitchen, so it’s not just about sourcing local beer ingredients but the whole range of foods to stock their kitchen. A rotating menu based on seasonal fruits and veggies means that they can buy the bulk of their produce from Haffey Farms, a Bellevue Farmers Market staple. For Lisa Saylor, brewery co-owner, buying local just makes sense because it supports a regional sustainability circle. The spent grains from their house-made beer are given back to local farmers to feed their livestock. In turn, that livestock might eventually make its way to Tom Friday’s Market, a butcher shop where Lincoln Avenue sources the bulk of its meat. Talk about farm to plate!

Working with local products and producers is a “more iterative process, rather than top down,” says Salkeld of Stick City. He can work directly with the folks at CNC Malts to create custom grain blends that give Stick City’s beer a unique flavor. But what about those pesky hops that prefer the Pacific Northwest?

It’s notoriously difficult to grow hops in the Pennsylvania climate; as the saying goes, “it’s a wet heat”!. But that’s not stopping some plucky PA farmers from giving it a shot! Especially when a survey from Penn State Extension school found that a majority of craft brewers in the state are inspired by sourcing locally. Stick City, for one, adds fresh hops grown in Western PA by Hazy Daze Farms to their late August beers (when hops are harvested) and also sources dried and pelletized PA-grown hops from CNC Malts. Through the PA Preferred online database, any brewers interested in local hops and grains can find PA farmers growing them.

PA’s brewery culture is booming, and it can only get stronger with more emphasis on sourcing local ingredients. Through the PA Preferred Program, brewers can easily find local farmers to partner with and strive toward beers that are homemade and homegrown, with a taste of Pennsylvania in every sip!

Want to learn more about the PA Preferred Program and how you can support local farmers? Check out www.papreferred.com or follow them on Instagram for announcements of new members to the program.

Hiking While Pregnant: A Guide for Moms-to-Be

May 25, 2025May 25, 2025hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

*Beach hike in Puerto Rico at 25 weeks pregnant*

Finding out that you’re expecting can usher in a whole range of emotions. Excitement, anxiety, fear, elation. But one thing you might worry about is if you’ll still be able to do your favorite activities. Well, expecting a new family member doesn’t mean your hiking days are done! Your body goes through some major changes throughout pregnancy, but there are plenty of ways to modify your activity so you can still safely hit the trails. In fact, exercising through pregnancy is usually recommended!

Disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional, so always check with your doctor first to make sure that hiking is still considered safe, especially if you have any complications.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase something. I have only shared links for items I have personally tested and would recommend. All income I may receive goes back into hosting and running this site!

These are some tips for getting out there while pregnant! Please remember that everyone’s experience is different, and you should only keep hiking if you feel comfortable and your doctor gives the thumbs up.

10 Tips for Safe Hiking While Pregnant (All Trimesters)

Stretch out first!

I used to roll out of my car and hit the trails. But it’s a good idea to take some time to stretch and loosen up your muscles and joints, especially while pregnant. It helps to avoid injury and reduces soreness. Plus, your back and joints will thank you! Remember, if anything starts to hurt or doesn’t feel right, call it quits or try an easier hike.

Embrace a slower pace on easier trails

It’s not a race! With all that extra blood in your system and a little one pressing on your lungs, it’s a good idea to stick to trails with less elevation. Especially later in pregnancy when mobility is more difficult, stick with trails that you already know and feel comfortable with.

Pack Plenty of Water

Okay, I always suggest bringing water on a hike, but when you’re pregnant, bring even more! I also like to keep an extra bottle in the car for my drive home. I’ve been packing about twice as much water as I would on a normal hike. Better to have too much than to run out! Take sips throughout your hike and don’t wait until you feel thirsty to drink. I always pack my hydration pack for hikes these days.

Have a Pee Plan

So with all that water, you’re definitely going to have to pee on the hike. Even if you’re someone who doesn’t usually feel the urge, make sure to have a game plan in case the water hits when you least expect. I highly recommend investing in a pee funnel. This is a cheap tube that allows you to pee while standing up and doesn’t require you to fully pull your pants down. It’s been a lifesaver on my pregnancy hikes! A pee cloth also helps clean up and doesn’t stay wet or smell.

Hike with Trekking Poles

I’ve never been one to hike with trekking poles, but I’ve been converted. It’s incredible how much your balance changes while pregnant, even before you have a big belly. Between carrying more weight, relaxin loosening your joints, and early pregnancy dizziness, you’re bound to feel a little off balance. I found that hiking with poles helped steady me and made going uphill so much easier. Also, definitely opt for sturdy shoes with plenty of traction.

*Winter hike at 18 weeks. Poles were life-changing!*

Snack often

Make sure to bring plenty of snacks! We all know snacking is one of the best parts of hiking, but remember that your body is burning a lot more calories and you’ll need to replace them faster. Plus you don’t want your blood sugar to dip and cause any additional dizziness

Rest Often

You will probably find yourself getting tired more easily. It can be frustrating to feel like you can’t do as much, but remember your body is working really hard to make that baby! Be kind to yourself and take frequent breaks. You’ll notice that your heart rate will increase faster than usual, and you may get overheated more easily (thanks blood). Just take it easy and remember you can always cut a hike short if needed. Never push yourself, especially if it’s sunny or the temperatures are high.

Remember sunscreen and bug spray

Being pregnant is already uncomfortable enough; don’t add bug bites and sunburn to the mix! Bring your sunscreen and bug spray and apply often! If you live in a hot, sunny climate, try to hike early in the day to avoid being out in the most intense sun.

9. Lighten the load

It’s important to have everything you need for a hike, but make sure not to overpack or try to carry too heavy a pack. If you’re hiking with a partner or a group, see if others can take on some of the heavier items. You’re already carrying an extra load; you don’t need to add an extra heavy pack on top of that!

Have a change of shoes in the car

You’ll thank me for this one. Have a pair of sandals or slides in the car to change into after your hike. The foot swell is real and nothing feels better than changing out of your boots and letting those toes breathe!

A final note: There’s a lot of pressure out there to be a #fitmom. Do your best to ignore these pressures (here’s looking at you social media) and only do what feels comfortable to you. While exercising is important, for me what made hiking throughout my pregnancy enjoyable was being able to recharge in nature, rather than getting in the miles. You never know how your body is going to react while growing a human. Real talk: Prior to my pregnancy, I had just finished a season of running more than I ever had in my life, even completing my very first ultramarathon. But by week 13, I was no longer able to run even a mile due to extreme pelvic girdle pain. Hiking became one of the only ways I could still comfortably enjoy nature. And even by the last few months of pregnancy, I couldn’t hike more than 2 miles. So, if you can, prioritize hiking for your mental health, rather than your physical one. And please remember to be kind to your body; it’s going through some stuff right now!

Looking for more hiking and gear tips? Check out my ultimate hiking gear guide to find all the things I personally recommend for a day on the trails