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

10 Waterfalls Within an Hour of Pittsburgh

February 10, 2025March 9, 2025hikesandhopsblog 2 Comments

While the western side of the state isn’t exactly known for its waterfalls, there are actually a few you can visit within an hour of Pittsburgh! Ranging from a few feet to almost 50 feet high, these waterfalls are definitely worth a visit. Some can even be seen from the roadside without a long hike! Remember to always stay on trails and don’t venture beyond safety barriers. If visiting in the winter, spikes and trekking poles are a good idea. Now get out there and chase some waterfalls!

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

Fall Run Park (Glenshaw)

Did you know there’s a waterfall only 15 minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh? Check out Fall Run Park, a community park in Shaler Township. The 25-ft waterfall is only 0.5 miles from the parking lot along a wide path dotted with bridges over a creek. The narrow falls are best seen after rain and are particularly impressive during the winter when the water completely freezes. This is a popular spot, so you’re likely to meet other spectators along the way.

Settlers Cabin Waterfall (Robinson Township)

Settlers Cabin Park is one of the 9 county parks managed by Allegheny County. At only 17 minutes away from Downtown Pittsburgh, it’s perfect for an afternoon or even afterword visit. Among the miles of color-coded trails is this quaint waterfall. The quickest way to see it is to park at the dog park and get on the Green/Waterfall trail. Follow for only 0.5 miles to reach these 4-ft falls. While not the most impressive cascade, this is a charming trail and the falls are lovely after some rain. There are plenty of other trails to add if you want a longer route!

Montour Woods Falls (Moon Township)

Montour Woods is one of my favorite local hiking spots! There are miles of trails and opportunities to connect to Moon Park and the Montour Trail for even longer loops. But thankfully you don’t have to hike miles to see this cascade on Meeks Run. From the parking lot on Hassam Road, follow Meeks Run Trail for only 0.3 miles and you’ll encounter this delightful trickle. Unlike other local falls, this one flows strongly throughout the year.

Buttermilk Falls (Beaver Falls)

There are multiple Buttermilk Falls in Pennsylvania (and beyond) but here I’m talking about Buttermilk Falls Natural Area in Beaver Falls. Also called Homewood Falls, this roadside feature is only 35 minutes away from Pittsburgh (with tolls). There’s a small parking lot for about 5 cars at the trailhead, then its only a 0.2 mile walk to the falls. The impressive 30 foot drop spills out strongly over a rock edge, making for a waterfall that you can actually walk behind. In the winter, the falls can even freeze, for a truly incredible experience. The falls can also be viewed from a small parking lot on 1st Avenue, across the street from the Homewood Methodist Church. The view area is right beside the church, but for your safety, please don’t venture beyond the fence.

Frankfort Mineral Springs Waterfall (Burgettstown)

A trip to Raccoon Creek State Park is wonderful any time of year. There are many trails to explore and the wildflower preserve is beautiful in the spring and fall. And it can reached within 40 minutes from Downtown! But one of the most popular spots in the park is Frankfurt Mineral Springs. Right beside the mineral springs is a beautiful 10-foot waterfall. My absolute favorite time to visit is in late April when a field of white trilliums line the top of the waterfall. To get to the falls, park at the main park office and follow the Mineral Springs Trail. The round trip is only 1.2 miles and is an easy walk, although some of the rocks near the falls can get slippery when wet.

Hells Hollow (Portersville)

Take a trip north of the city to McConnells Mill State Park for another impressive falls. At about 50 minutes, this is a big further from town. But the beauty of McConnells Mill is well worth the drive! Hells Hollow is located on the west side of the park. Although its a popular spot, there is plenty of parking in the Schaffer Road lot. From the lot, its an easy 0.5 mile walk to the falls. The most difficult part is descending the stairs to visit the falls. They end in the waters of Hell Run and you have to step across some rocks to get the full effect of the falls. Beware that this can be dangerous when the water is high or icy.

Want more information about hiking at McConnells Mill? Check out my guide to Hells Hollow & Shubrew

Alpha Falls (Portersville)

You don’t even have to change parks to see this waterfall! Located on the other end of McConnells Mill, near the historic gristmill and covered bridge is the stunning Alpha Falls. To access the trailhead, park at the main park lot for the Kildoo picnic area on Kildoo Road. From there, follow the trail behind the bathrooms down along the hillside for 0.2 miles to reach the Mill. From the Mill, head to the right on Alpha Pass Trail. This rocky trail follows along Slippery Rock Creek through towering hemlock trees and little trickles of water runoff. After 0.5 miles, you’ll reach a 30-foot stream of water that cascades over a sheer rock face. The water flow is modest but makes for a peaceful sight and beautiful ice features in the fall.

There are several other seasonal waterfalls in the park, most of which can be seen along the Kildoo Trail Loop, a 2 mile loop around Slippery Rock Creek starting at the gristmill and heading to Eckert Road bridge and back.

Springfield Falls (Mercer)

Springfield Falls is the only waterfall I know of that you can enjoy a craft beer beside! That’s right, Cobblehaus at the Falls offers a truly stunning spot to view these falls in Mercer. At 55 minutes from town, it might seem like a long drive to visit a brewery, but the views here are definitely worth it. If you’re just looking to see the falls, you can access them from a small parking lot on Falls Road. The waterfall is technically located in State Game Lands 284, so be aware if visiting during hunting season. Its an easy 0.3 miles from the road to the falls, although the way down to the bottom can be a bit tricky.

Big Run Falls (New Castle)

Staying north of the city, we’re heading to New Castle for this next waterfall. Big Run Falls is tucked into the ruins of Cascade Park, a former amusement park, now turned local park. There’s a large parking lot on Highway 65. From there, follow along the park road, past the abandoned amusement park pavilions. On the left, there is a municipal garage. To the right is a gorge with a stream. The waterfall will be directly underneath you. Continue along the road to a picnic area with a better vantage point of the falls. Please enjoy the falls from here. Do not venture beyond the fence as the hillside is very steep and the landscape is delicate. You’ll also see the remaining track of a rollercoaster that once zoomed along the stream.

There are also several short trails in the park if you’d like to stay and explore!

Quaker Falls (Lawrence Co.)

The very last waterfall on my list and arguably one of the most impressive! Quaker Falls is tucked into the newly created Quaker Falls Recreation Area, located in Lawrence County just a few miles away from the Ohio border. There is a large parking lot and a newly built stairway down to a viewing platform for the falls. The impressive 50-foot cascade really took me by surprise when I visited! I didn’t even know that we had a fifty-foot waterfall on this side of the state. Back at the parking lot, there’s also a short walking trail along the top of the falls with interpretive signs about the history of the area that leads to a few other viewing platforms. Please be aware that any foraged trail down to the bottom of the falls is not recommended and hasn’t been cared for by the park organizers.

Settler’s Cabin & Altered Genius Trailside

March 24, 2024hikesandhopsblog 4 Comments

Imperial, PA

Head out to Settler’s Cabin park, one of the nine Allegheny County Parks, for a Springtime hike! See the modest waterfall, hike through freshly emerging wildflowers, and enjoy meandering through hemlock and pine groves. This park is beautiful all year round but is particularly lovely in the early spring. Afterward, check out Altered Genius’ new Trailside taproom right along the Montour Trail in Imperial!

THE HIKE: Settler’s Cabin South Loop

Length: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 400 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5 hours
Trail use: Biking, hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Park at Tomahawk Shelter

Settler’s Cabin Park is one of the many parks managed and maintained by Allegheny County. The large park boasts not only miles of wooded trail, but also large pavilions, a wave pool, playgrounds, tennis courts, and a hockey rink. There really is something for everyone! I grew up going to this park for birthday and graduation parties, but never knew that there were so many trails here too!

The park gets its name from a historic log cabin located onsite which archaeologists helped to date to 1780. The various pavilions are also named for the Native peoples that once lived in this area including the Algonquian, Seneca, Cayuga, and Chippewa. Prior to the land being purchased by the County in 1971, this area was an active coal mine. Thankfully, efforts are continually being made to reclaim and reforest the area, as well as to mitigate some of the residual mine drainage in some of the creeks. Because of its history, the land can support a unique variety of native flora in its more acidic soil. Settler’s Cabin is particularly known for its beautiful displays of wildflowers in the Spring and Fall.

There’s over 10 miles of trails at this park but we chose to stick with a smaller loop that included the waterfall (my favorite spot) and a new section of the red trail that we hadn’t tackled before. This time of year, there were tiny flowers poking through the ground on a sunny March afternoon.

Settler’s Cabin is a fairly large park, so I’d recommend having a route picked out from AllTrails or use the County Park’s app to follow the trails as you can easily end up making it further away than expected. On this trek, I wanted to see where the planned connector to the Panhandle rail trail will be at the southwestern corner of the park. Eventually this connector trail will allow access from the park to South Park and all the way to the Great Allegheny Passage!

Where to park: This hike starts at the Tomahawk shelter where there is a large parking lot and portapotty. If there’s an event here, you can also park at the nearby playground or the dog park.

The Route: From the Tomahawk shelter, the trail starts at the tree line where there is a kiosk with a map and trail alerts. Head into the woods on the blue trail. The trail goes downhill through hemlock trees, then turn left where the blue trail splits from the red. Stay on the blue trail for about a half mile. Then follow the trail signs for the Green/Waterfall Trail. This trail is a wide, well maintained path that switchbacks down the hillside. The trail lets out at a small creek and there is a spur trail to the right to see the waterfall. This waterfall is only 4-ft and is by no means the most impressive falls in western PA but it’s still worth a visit and is a great place to sit and enjoy nature. From here, follow along the Green trail as it meanders along the creek bed. This is a prime section for spotting wildflowers! Just over a mile, the Green Trail turns right and heads up a steep section of hillside. This is the steepest hill that you’ll climb on the Trek. At the top of the hill, turn left onto the Red trail to continue along the quieter southern portion of the park. At about 2.3 miles, there is a trail intersection where heading to the left continues along the Red Trail and crosses over the paved Panhandle connector. Instead, turn right and get on the Yellow Trail. Follow the yellow trail for about a half mile, then turn right on the wide gravel path. Alltrails labels this as the purple trail but we didn’t see any blazes. Continue slightly uphill on this path until it intersections with another portion of the red trail. Turn left and continue along the Red Trail until it meets back up with the Blue Trail and the Tomahawk Shelter parking lot.

THE BEER: Altered Genius Trailside

Address: 258 Main St, Imperial, PA 15126
Distance from Trail Head: 14 mins, 6.3 miles
Website: www.alteredgeniusbrewing.com
Food?: BYOF, Food Trucks
Details: Outdoor seating, Potentially dog friendly outside

Altered Genius has been crafting unique beers and delicious foods in Ambridge since 2020. The owners may have opened their business during a difficult time but managed to quickly find a loyal following in the Ambridge community. Owners and brewers Donnie and Mike began homebrewing roughly 10 years while they were both working in alternative education. When they shifted to opening a brewery full time, it was a no-brainer that the brewery’s name had to give a nod to their past careers: hence Altered Genius.

The Ambridge brewery has been so successful that the owners knew it was time to bring their beer across the river. Their second location, called Altered Genius Trailside, opened in March 2024 along Main Street in Imperial. The best part? It’s right on the Montour Trail! This spacious taproom offers all the usual AG favorites, as well as cider from A Few Bad Apples. There’s no kitchen here, but expect a regular round of food trucks. I can’t wait to come back sit on the back patio, it looked like the perfect Sunday afternoon spot.

Our Beer:

Prim – German Pilsner – 5.1%
Umbrella in a Brainstorm – Saison – 4.7%
Lady Red Hair – Red IPA – 6.8%
Stephens Island – Irish Stout – 5%

Looking for more Hikes & Hops west of the city? Check out: Raccoon Creek State Park & Fermata Brewing, Robin Hill & Cobblehaus, and Montour Woods & Abjuration

Linn Run State Park & Unity Brewing

December 17, 2023hikesandhopsblog 1 Comment

Westmoreland County, PA

Looking for a shorter hike that offers a taste of the incredible Laurel Highlands? Look no further than Linn Run State Park! This family friendly park has a 2.2 mile trail loop with views of a waterfall, natural water slides and more! Afterward, grab dinner at Unity Brewing in Latrobe which has a full kitchen menu in a laid-back taproom.

THE HIKE: Flat Rock & Adam Falls

Length: 2.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 289 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 hour
Trail use: Foot traffic only, Leashed pets welcome
Parking: Two large lots at trailhead with overflow parking across street. Vault toilet at upper lot.

Find the Parking lot: You can use 770 Linn Run Rd, Rector, PA 15677 or coordinates 40.16944, -79.23383

Linn Run is one of the several PA state parks tucked into the Laurel Highlands region of Western PA. This mountainous region lies about an hour to the west of Pittsburgh and is a beautiful area for hiking, skiing, fishing, and so much more! Linn Run is a small park but can be enjoyed as a day trip from Pittsburgh or as part of a larger Laurel Highlands itinerary.

The area that is now Linn Run was purchased by the PA Commonwealth from a logging company in 1909. Formerly an old growth forest, at the time of purchase it was completely deforested! The dried out husks of trees frequently caught fire from the steam engines that roared through the area during the height of the lumber industry. The damage was so devastating that the government had to import deer back into the area during revitalization efforts. Thankfully, Linn Run has undergone a complete transformation since those dark days and is now a flourishing second-growth forest. Linn Run also borders the 50,000 acre Forbes State Forest and is close to Laurel Ridge and Laurel Mountain State Parks.

Linn Run is a popular park for camping and picnicking, being tucked away along the Linn Run stream. While you may see many children playing in the stream and on the natural water slides by flat rock, it is technically not allowed by the park. There are just over 6 miles of trails, although some connect up to longer trails in Forbes State Forest. Note that the trails in Linn Run are hiking only, so save the mountain bikes for another park!

This hike offers a family friendly loop to see the Flat Rocks and Adam Falls. It’s a good idea to download the hiking route and driving directions before heading out because there is no cell service in the park! The hike starts from the Adam Fall parking lot off Linn Run Road. There is an upper and lower lot and overflow parking across the street. Be aware that it can get very busy here in the summer!

From the parking lot, follow signs for Flat Rocks Trail, a nice wide path that follows along the creek. ABout 0.3 miles in, you’ll come across some impressive stone ruins. According to the wonderful folks at PA Bucket List, these are the remains of an old hunting lodge that was destroyed by a fire in the 1940s. These ruins are pretty interesting to explore, especially how intact the enormous chimney still is! From here, it’s just a brief 0.2 more miles until you reach Flat Rocks. True to its name, this is a very shallow section of Linn Run where a large flat rock creates an interesting feature in the water. Although many use this as a natural water slide, please remember that swimming is prohibited in Linn Run State Park.

From Flat Rock, retrace your steps to just past the hunting lodge ruins and turn left to follow the signs for Adam Falls. Briefly walk through the upper park lot then turn slightly left up the gravel lot. You will see signs for Adam Falls Loop. Bear to the right and the trail places you directly on top of the falls. Please be aware that there are signs warning to stay on trail and the park would prefer hikers not venture to the bottom of the falls.

From the falls, continue straight on the trail for a pleasant loop through the park that encounters a few minor rocky spots. As of 2023, there are some large trees down in the park from some extreme storms that hit in July. Be aware that some sections have been rerouted because of this! After a pleasant mile in the woods, the loop finishes at the waterfall again and you can follow the gravel road back to the parking lot.

THE BEER: Unity Brewing

Address: 3862 US-30, Latrobe, PA 15650
Distance from Trail Head: 16 miles, 21 mins
Website: http://unitybrewingpa.com/
Food?: Full kitchen
Details: Outdoor seating, no pets, live music

Unity Brewing is a colorful taproom located right on the main road through downtown Latrobe. With indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a full menu of sandwiches and pub snacks, this is a great spot to stay a while. The taproom is bright and features the Pittsburgh-themed art of local artist Cody Sabol. Take a seat at the bar and watch as the line cooks whip up a tasty meal right in front of your eyes! Unity also offers cider, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. They have a solid selection of traditional brews that make up of their year-round staples and switch up seasonally with more unique and experimental brews. My most recent visit was during a chilly November weekend so I was all about those dark brews. Thankfully, Unity was serving up a delightful roasty Oatmeal Stout. This is one of my favorite styles and this was a solid example. It was quite bitter, just how I like my coffee! There was also a vanilla porter on the list that I’ll definitely have to sample next time around!

Loving the Laurel Highlands craft beverages? Be sure to get a Pour Tour Passport from the GO Laurel Highlands!

I highly suggest visiting Linn Run State Park as part of a larger day or weekend trip to the Laurel Highlands! Also check out: Wolf Rocks & Helltown, Ohiopyle & Yough River , Duff Park & Devout, Powdermill Nature Reserve & Four Seasons

RCT Training Hike #3 – Raccoon Creek State Park

May 10, 2023hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

Hookstown, PA

The training continues! This time, we ventured west of Pittsburgh to do a big loop in Raccoon Creek State Park. This is not only one of my favorite parks near home but honestly one of my favorites ever! It really has everything: waterfalls, a lake, wildflower preserve, backpacking shelters, campsite and more. If you haven’t been to Raccoon, you need to go ASAP. Especially since this is prime time for wildflowers!

THE HIKE: Raccoon Creek Loop – Heritage, Appaloosa, and Forest trails

Length: 12 miles
Elevation Gain: 1500 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets,
Parking: Lot at Park Office
H&H: 5/5

For this hike, we did a 12 mile loop starting at the Park Office and traveling along the Heritage, Appaloosa, and Forest trails. Almost immediately, we were able to stop and see Frankfort Mineral Springs Falls, one of the highlights of the park. From the park office, head along the Mineral Springs trail and in just 0.5 miles, you’ll be able to take the mossy steps down to the waterfall. It was so beautiful at this time of year, flowing strongly with the recent rain and spring trilliums along the overlook. With such a view, you might be tempted to think that these are the mineral springs. But actually, the springs can be found on the rock wall, where just a small stream of water shoots out of the rock face, splashing onto a stone. The high iron content of the water stains the rock red and the continual dripping has carved out a natural basin in the stone. What an incredible way to start out the hike!

From there, we traveled along the Heritage Trail, enjoying the emerging spring greenery. There’s just something so thrilling about seeing new growth after the long months of muted winter browns and grays. Well, it’s thrilling until my allergies kick in! Despite how popular this park is, we encountered very few people on the trail which made it feel like we had the woods to ourselves. Since the area around Raccoon is so rural, you really feel far out in nature on this one!

At this point, our hike was going fairly normal with some muddy spots, lots of chit chatting and some snackage by mile 5. But then the craziest thing happened to us: we heard meowing! Confused, we started looking around only to find a tiny cat about ten feet up on a tree branch! Almost immediately, he made his way down and started meowing at us. He bounded right over to us and was so friendly but didn’t have a collar. Having never encountered this before, we weren’t quite sure what to do! Being 5 miles into a long hike, we didn’t have cell service and weren’t sure we could carry him back to the office. Funny enough though, he seemed pretty content to hike with us for a while. At times I scooped him up when he started weaving dangerously through my legs. At that point, we knew he had to be a lost cat because he was so friendly and was happy to ride in my arms for a while. Finally we were able to get cell service and call the main office. Yes, someone had been calling about a lost cat! We met the ranger at the nearest access road and he was able to take the cat (now known as Major) back to his mom. Betcha didn’t expect a heartwarming reunion story on this hike!

Hearts full, but also missing Major, we got back to our hike. The rest of the trek was far less eventful although we definitely sludged through a fair amount of mud and the rain had swollen some of the creek which made for damper crossings than we expected. I was very glad to have my trusty raincoat for this outing. When you’re hiking at Raccoon, also keep in mind that the trails have different uses, with some being hiking only while others allow mountain biking and horses. Forest and Heritage trails (the majority of this loop) are hiking only but Appaloosa is an equestrian multi-use trail!

After we finished our main hike, despite being tired and fairly damp from a persistent drizzle, we couldn’t leave without visiting the wildflower preserve. This is one of my favorite spring hikes and I try to visit every year! My suggested route is about 3 miles and starts out on the Jennings trail, passing the log cabin, stays on the Jennings trail until it hits Meadow Trail. From there follow Meadow trail to see the giant sycamores and the bluebells along the creek. Then, you’ll meet back up with the Jennings Trail and this is where you’ll start to see LOTS of wildflowers. There are also some flags and signs letting you know the names of specific varieties. On this trip we saw Virginia bluebells, white and red trilliums, swamp lilies, jack-in-the-pulpit, spring beauties, and so many more. I highly suggest using iNaturalist to track your finds and to learn more about the types of plants you’re seeing!

We didn’t end up doing any “hops” this time around, but if you’d like to make this a true Hike & Hop, head over to Coal Tipple Brewery in Burgettstown. I also wrote a post about it here. They often have food trucks or you can BYOF. If a restaurant is more your speed, I’ve heard good things about the Bavington Roadhouse.

Only a few more training hikes until the big day!

Hikes and Hops

Hiking my way through the world, one brew at a time

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