{{Short description|State park in Pennsylvania, United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = McConnells Mill State Park | image = McConnells_Mill.JPG | image_caption = | image_alt = Mill | image_size = 280 | location = [[Lawrence County, Pennsylvania]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|40.951710|-80.168474|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref name="mmsp"/> | area = {{convert|2546|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="mmsp"/> | elevation = {{convert|1145|ft}} | established = 1957 | administrator = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] | free_label = | free_data = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | website = {{Official website}} | module = {{Infobox protected area | map = USA Pennsylvania#USA | label = McConnells Mill State Park | label_position = | map_caption = Location in Pennsylvania | relief = 1 | module = [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania State Parks]] }} }} '''McConnells Mill State Park''' is a {{convert|2546|acre}} [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania state park]] in [[Perry Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania|Perry]] and [[Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania|Slippery Rock Township]]s, [[Lawrence County, PA|Lawrence County]], [[Pennsylvania]] in the United States. The park features a deep scenic [[gorge]] with the restored [[watermill]] and a [[covered bridge]] at the bottom, accessible by a roadway that winds between large, room-sized [[boulder]]s on the hillside. McConnells Mill State Park is along the [[Slippery Rock Creek]]. just southwest of the intersection of [[US 422]] and [[US 19]].
McConnells Mill State Park was chosen by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] (DCNR) and its Bureau of Parks as one of "25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks".<ref name=mustsee>{{cite web |url=https://maps.dcnr.pa.gov/storymaps/mustseeparks/# |title=25 Must-see Parks |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=2026-01-09}}</ref>
==History==
===McConnell's Mill=== Daniel Kennedy opened a [[gristmill]] on Slippery Rock Creek in 1852. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1868 and was quickly rebuilt. Ownership of the mill was transferred to the park's namesake, Thomas McConnell in 1875. He replaced the [[waterwheel]] with [[water turbines]] and the [[millstone|grindstone]]s with [[Roller mill|rolling mills]]. This made McConnell's Mill one of the first rolling mills in the country. The mill processed [[oats]], [[maize|corn]], [[buckwheat]] and [[wheat]] until it was closed in 1928. Ownership of the land transferred from Thomas H. Hartman to the [[Western Pennsylvania Conservancy]] in 1942. The conservancy then transferred the land to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1957 when McConnells Mill State Park was formally dedicated.
===Covered bridge=== [[File:McConnell's Mills State Park.jpg|thumb|McConnells Mill with the gristmill and Slippery Rock Creek in the background.]] [[File:Hell's Hollow Bridge.jpg|thumb|McConnells Mills Covered Bridge during the summer.]] {{main|McConnell's Mill Covered Bridge}} The [[McConnell's Mill Covered Bridge|McConnells Mill Covered Bridge]] was built in 1874. It is a [[Howe truss]] bridge. One of two covered bridges in Lawrence County, it is owned by the county, but is located on state land at McConnells Mill State Park. The bridge is listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]].
==Recreation==
===Hiking and rock climbing=== There are several [[trail]]s in the park, including a pair that lead to a [[waterfall]] (with an old [[limestone]] [[kiln]] next to it). The trail system is part of the [[North Country Trail]], the nation' longest National Scenic Trail which runs from North Dakota to New England. There are two [[climbing]]/[[rappelling]] areas. Both are only recommended for "equipped and experienced climbers". The more difficult of the two is at Breakneck Bridge.<ref name="mmsp">{{cite web |url=https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/mcconnells-mill-state-park |title=McConnells Mill State Park |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=2026-01-09}}</ref>
*'''Alpha Pass Trail''' is a "moderate" {{convert|1.5|mi}} hiking trail that is marked with blue blazes. The trail is part of the [[North Country Trail]]. The section in the park begins at the Alpha Pass scenic view. It then runs along the east bank of Slippery Rock Creek to the Old Mill.<ref name="mmsp"/> [[Image:Hells Hollow Falls at McConnells Mill State Park - Multiple Exposures.jpg|thumb|right|Hells Hollow Falls]]
*[[File:Woodlands around McConnell's Mill State Park.jpg|thumb|A mixed forest around the park.]]'''Hell's Hollow Trail''' is an "easy" {{convert|0.5|mi}} hiking trail that begins at the Hell's Hollow parking area and follows [[Hell Run (Slippery Rock Creek tributary)|Hell Run]] to the restored lime kiln and on to [[Hells Hollow Falls]].<ref name="mmsp"/> *'''Kildoo Trail''' is a "moderate" {{convert|2|mi}} hiking trail loop. It begins and ends at the [[McConnells Mill Covered Bridge]] and follows the banks of Slippery Rock Creek. The western portion of the trail is marked with blue blazes and is also part of the North Country Trail.<ref name="mmsp"/> *'''[[Slippery Rock Gorge Trail]]''' is a difficult trail that is part of the [[North Country Trail]] and is marked with blue blazes. The trail passes through several different geological areas. The first portion of the trail is in the upper end of Hell Run gorge. The trail then descends into Slippery Rock Gorge and onto an [[alluvial]] [[flood plain]] at the bottom of the gorge. From the flood plain, the trail ascends the gorge and descends once again before following the main creek bank to its terminus at Eckert Bridge.<ref name="mmsp"/>
===Whitewater boating=== [[Whitewater]] boating is very popular on this part of [[Slippery Rock Creek]] and it is rated a Class II-III, on the [[International Scale of River Difficulty]], depending on water conditions. Boating usually begins at the U.S. Route 422 bridge at Rose Point, outside the park boundary and passes under Eckert Bridge within the park before ending at Harris Bridge. There is a portage at the dam at the Old Mill. It is illegal to "run" the dam. All boaters are required to wear [[life jacket]]s that are approved by the [[United States Coast Guard]].<ref name="mmsp"/>
===Hunting and fishing=== [[File:McConnells Mill State Park Fishing.jpg|thumb|Fishing at the park]] Hunting is permitted in much of McConnells Mill State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the [[Pennsylvania Game Commission]]. The common game species are [[ruffed grouse]], [[eastern gray squirrel|squirrels]], [[wild turkey|turkey]], [[white-tailed deer]], and [[eastern cottontail|rabbits]]. The hunting of [[groundhog]]s is not permitted at the park. The [[Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission]] assures that anglers will have plenty of chances to catch fish by [[fish stocking|stocking]] [[trout]] and [[bass (fish)|bass]] in the waters of Slippery Rock Creek.<ref name="mmsp"/>
==Geology== The bedrock at McConnells Mill State Park was formed over 300,000,000 years ago as layers of [[peat]], mud and sand were compressed. This part of Pennsylvania was a coastal area at the time. The layers of bedrock were built into mountains as the [[continental plate]]s shifted. The layers of bedrock had different strengths. Some of the layers eroded quickly and others eroded at a much slower pace. The various erosion rates account for the variety of geologic features at McConnells Mill State Park. The geology of the park was also heavily influenced by the glacial effects of the [[ice age]]: a large [[glacial lake]] (water that was held in place by a glacier), broke about 140,000 years ago. This break in the glacial dam caused a dramatic change in the flow of the water. The lake that had previously drained in a northward direction was now draining to the south. The drastic change in direction and very high volume of water flow created Slippery Rock Creek Gorge.<ref name="mmsp"/>
==Environment== McConnells Mill State Park lies within the [[Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests]] [[ecoregion]].<ref name="Ecoregions">{{cite journal|author=Olson, D. M, E. Dinerstein |title=Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth |journal=[[BioScience]] |year=2001 |volume=51 |issue=11 |pages=933–938 |doi=10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:TEOTWA]2.0.CO;2 |display-authors=etal |doi-access=free }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|McConnells Mill State Park}} {{portal|Pennsylvania}} *[https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/mcconnells-mill-state-park McConnells Mill State Park] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources * {{cite web|url= http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd1/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003641.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120417034448/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd1/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003641.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= April 17, 2012 |title=McConnells Mill State Park official map }} {{small|(570.9 KB)}} * {{cite web|url= http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/parkguides/pg4.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060219073016/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/ParkGuides/pg4.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= February 19, 2006 |title=Pennsylvania Trail of Geology - Moraine and McConnells Mill State Parks }} {{small|(626 KB)}}
{{Protected areas of Pennsylvania}} {{National Natural Landmarks in Pennsylvania}} {{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcconnells Mill State Park}} [[Category:State parks of Pennsylvania]] [[Category:National Natural Landmarks in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Grinding mills on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Lime kilns in the United States]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1957]] [[Category:1957 establishments in Pennsylvania]]