Raccoon Creek State Park

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Raccoon Creek State Park
Pennsylvania State Park
Natural Monument (IUCN III)
none A waterfall at Raccoon Creek State Park
A waterfall at Raccoon Creek State Park
Named for: Raccoon Creek
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Beaver
Townships Hanover, Independence
Location [1]
 - coordinates 40°30′28″N 80°26′11″W / 40.50778, -80.43639Coordinates: 40°30′28″N 80°26′11″W / 40.50778, -80.43639
 - elevation 932 ft (284.1 m) [1]
Area 7,572 acres (3,064.3 ha) [2]
Founded 1945 [2]
Managed by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Nearest city Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Location of Raccoon Creek State Park in Pennsylvania
Location of Raccoon Creek State Park in Pennsylvania
Website : Raccoon Creek State Park

Raccoon Creek State Park is a 7,572 acre (30.64 km²) Pennsylvania State Park on Raccoon Creek in Hanover and Independence townships in Beaver County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is about 30 miles (50 km) 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 (0.4 km²) "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.[3]

Raccoon Creek State Park is one of twenty-one chosen by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Parks for its "Twenty Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks" list.[4]

Contents

[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.[2]

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.[2]

Hunting is permitted on over 5,000 acres (20 km²) 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 forbidden.[2]

[edit] Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Raccoon Creek State Park:[5][6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Raccoon Creek State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (August 2, 1979). Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
  2. ^ a b c d e Raccoon Creek State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  3. ^ Pennsylvania State Parks: The CCC Years. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  4. ^ Twenty Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. Note: Despite the title, there are twenty-one parks in the list, with Colton Point and Leonard Harrison State Parks treated as one.
  5. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. 2007 General Highway Map Beaver County Pennsylvania [map], 1:65,000. Retrieved on 2007-07-27. Note: shows Raccoon Creek State Park
  6. ^ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved on 2008-04-23.

[edit] External links

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