Raccoon Creek State Park is located in southern Beaver County, 25 miles west of Pittsburgh, via U.S. Routes 22 or 30. Access to the park from the north and south can be gained via PA Route 18 which passes directly through the park.
After 45 years of development, Raccoon Creek State Park is one of the largest and most beautiful state parks in Pennsylvania. The park contains 7,323 acres and features the beautiful 101-acre Raccoon Creek Lake.
Opportunities
Boating: Non-powered and electric powered boats are permitted. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: 1)l State Park launch permit, 2) State Park mooring permit or 3) a current Pennsylvania boat registration. Motorized boats must display a current registration. Boats registered in other states must display a Pennsylvania State Park launch permit in addition to their current registration.
A boat launch area and 42 mooring spaces are available. A boat rental concession rents canoes and rowboats and a food and refreshment concession serves visitors.
Environmental Education and Interpretation: Interpretive activities available to families and individuals include public guided walks from April through October at natural and historic areas of the park, evening campfire programs in the family camping area each weekend during the summer, as well as numerous other year-round special interpretive activities such as bird walks, night hikes and snowshoe hikes.
Organized groups are offered similar programs by prior reservations with the park office.
Other activities of the program include four self-guiding trails, interpretive displays and exhibits at the Wildflower Reserve Visitor Center, publication of informational booklets on historical park areas and natural history, plus numerous other activities to present the environment to the park visitor.
Hiking: The Wildflower Reserve and Visitor Center, on the park's eastern boundary with its 5 miles of trails, contains one of the most unique stands of native wildflowers in western Pennsylvania. Many other trails are also available in the park.
Bridle Trails: Three miles of trails have been designated for equestrian use.
Picnicking: Approximately 600 picnic tables are located in the park's five picnic areas. Two large and four small shelters are provided in the main picnic area on a first-come, first-served basis. All picnic areas have grills, water and sanitary facilities. Reservations for picnic shelters can be made, for a fee, at the park office.
Hunting: Over 4,000 acres are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs from the fall archery deer season through March 31, of the following year. Common game species are deer, wild turkey, grouse, squirrel and rabbit.
Winter Activities: Ice fishing and ice skating are permitted on the lake. Sledding is also permitted in the park. Various special events are scheduled in the winter-time by the Environmental Education and Interpretive section of the park such as a maple syrup demonstration, the annual Christmas bird count and other activities. The park is open year-round to the public. Spectacular ice formations may be seen at the Frankfort Mineral Springs in the winter.
History
The historic Frankfort Mineral Springs, site of the nationally known health spa during the 1800's, are located in the park.The springs can be currently viewed from a scenic self-guiding trail that passes through the area. Guided walks and a historic museum are also available during the summer season.
King's Creek Cemetery, on the park's western boundary, is the final resting place of many of the first settlers of the region.
In an effort to add recreation lands to metropolitan regions, the National Park Service (NPS) bought some of the sub-marginal farm land in the 1930s. Under NPS direction, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a Recreation Demonstration Area.Major recreational improvements as a State Park included construction of the large lake in 1948, swimming area, picnic area in 1950 and the tent and trailer campground in 1956.
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