Mother Nature Never Ceases to Amaze

McConnells Mill State Park

McConnells Mill State Park is a 2,546 acres Pennsylvania state park in the United States. The park features a deep scenic gorge accessible by a roadway that winds between large, room-sized boulders on the hillside. McConnells Mill State Park is along the Slippery Rock Creek.

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".

Flowing north or south?

Depends on whether you were here in the Ice Age or Today.

Hemlock Trees (the PA state tree) abound in this area.

Geology

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.

 

The bedrock 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 plates 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

 Environment

McConnells Mill State Park lies within the Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests ecoregion.

Joining

Trees and Bushes

and

Outdoor Wednesday