Raccoon Creek State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Raccoon Creek State Park, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | Beaver County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | Aliquippa, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 7,572 acres (30.64 km²) |
| Established: | 1945 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Raccoon Creek State Park is a 7,572 acre (30.64 km²) Pennsylvania State Park near Raccoon Creek in Beaver County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is about 30 miles from the city of Pittsburgh, near Hookstown. Raccoon Lake State Park is easily accessed from Pennsylvania Route 18 and U.S Routes 30 and 22. The park offers numerous activities such as hiking, biking, cross country skiing, camping, swimming, fishing, and boating, the last three at the 101 acre "Raccoon Lake."
Raccoon Creek State Park has continued to develop from the park’s beginning as a Recreational Demonstration Area operated by the National Park Service in the 1930s, to one of the largest state parks in Pennsylvania. Facilities at the park are a mix from the early Civilian Conservation Corps camp to modern facilities. In addition to recreational areas, there are large tracts of undeveloped land.
[edit] Recreation
There are about 500 picnic tables spread among 5 picnic areas at Raccoon Creek State Park. Five pavilions are available to rent or if unrented are available on a first come, first served basis.
Raccoon Lake is open for year round fishing. The common game fish are bullhead catfish, bluegill, yellow perch, crappie, walleye, muskellunge, and both large and smallmouth bass. Raccoon Lake's feeder streams are stocked with brook and rainbow trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. These fish can also be found in the lake.
Hunting is permitted on over 5,000 acres of Raccoon Creek State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species are ruffed grouse, squirrels, turkey, pheasants, white-tailed deer, and rabbits. The hunting of groundhogs is verboten.
[edit] Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Raccoon Creek State Park:
- Beaver Creek State Park (Ohio)
- Guilford Lake State Park (Ohio)
- Hillman State Park (Washington County)
- Point State Park (Allegheny County)
- Tomlinson Run State Park (West Virginia)
[edit] References
- Pennsylvania State Parks: The CCC Years. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
- Raccoon Creek State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
- United States Geological Survey. Raccoon Creek State Park, USGS Hookstown (PA) Topo Map. TopoZone. Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
