Park Alerts ( 8 Alerts )

• Bridge replacement project to begin tentative start date August 1st 2018. Bridge that crosses Traverse Creek near Rt. 30 entrance is scheduled for replacement. Access to Lakeside Lodge & Lakeside Boat Launch can be accessed by Rt. 30 entrance. Access to Roadside Picnic Areas, Modern Campground, Beach Area, Boat & Food Concession use Rt. 18 entrance. Detour signs will be posted to direct park visitors from Rt. 30 to Rt. 18 entrance. Scheduled completion date January 31st 2019.

• The beach area will be closed to the public at 6p.m. on Sept 28th 2018 due to a scheduled training excise. The beach area will reopen at 8a.m. on Sept 29th 2018.

• Last day to swim at Raccoon Creeks beach will be Sept 30th at sunset.

• Reminder: Early Canada Goose Season Hunting Permitted Beginning The Day After Labor Day

• Seasons and Hours: Contrary to the information on Google, Pennsylvania state parks are open every day of the year. Day use areas close at dusk. Park offices are open specific hours. Pools, beaches, and campgrounds are open specific seasons.

• Drone Restrictions: To protect park resources, limit conflict with other park users, and avoid safety and privacy liabilities, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), remotely piloted vehicles (RPV) or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), all commonly referred to as DRONES, are only permitted on designated flying fields in six remote controlled airfield parks (Beltsville, Benjamin Rush, Hillman, Lackawanna, Prompton, and Tuscarora). Drones are only permitted in other PA State Parks in very limited circumstances which require a special use permit.

• General Firewood Quarantine: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has enacted a quarantine order for untreated firewood of any kind coming into the state. Any firewood brought into the state must be kiln dried, heat treated, fumigated, and/or USDA Certified. To protect the high quality and native character of our State Parks from exotic invasive species DCNR highly encourages all visitors to: burn/buy locally cut firewood (within 25 miles) BURN ALL firewood brought from another area. Do not leave it. Do not take it with you. Encourage friends and neighbors not to move firewood Do not remove firewood from a Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Area. Contact the PA Department of Agriculture, www.agriculture.pa.gov and search on the keyword Spotted Lantern Fly for current quarantine information.

• The trail bridge on Forest Trail that crosses Traverse Creek near the trailhead parking area on the main park road by the Route 30 entrance has been washed out. The detour will follow the park roads in the area.

Park Description

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 and most beautiful 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. The 7,572-acre park features the beautiful 101-acre Raccoon Lake.

Things To Do ( 16 Available)

If the activity symbol is blue, this activity can accommodate people with a disability. Please contact the park at 724-899-2200 for more details. Tap Camping for Campground maps.

• Camping

Close

Campgrounds

• Raccoon Creek Campground
  Season :	12 Months
  Restroom :	Modern
  Campsites :	181 Sites
  Electric :	Yes
  Pets Allowed :	Yes
  ADA Accessible :	Yes
  Please be aware that only designated sites have electric, allow pets and are ADA accessible.
  Get Directions	Reserve
  Campground Map

• Cabins

• Education Programs

• Sight Seeing

• Historical Places

• Fishing

• Cross Country Skiing

• Snowmobiles

• Swimming

• Picnicking

• Hunting

• Boating

• Hiking

Close

Trails

• Audubon
  Easiest	0.51 miles
  .44 miles\r\n\r\nA detailed trail map of the Wildflower Reserve is available at the education center or the park office.\r\nTo protect the wildflowers, pets are prohibited. \r\n

• Esther Allen
  Easiest	0.08 miles
  .12 miles\r\n\r\nA detailed trail map of the Wildflower Reserve is available at the education center or the park office.\r\nTo protect the wildflowers, pets are prohibited. \r\n

• Heritage Trail
  Most Difficult	8.95 miles
  9.5 miles, more to most difficult hiking\r\n\r\nThis is the longest trail in the park. It runs along the southern border of the park and passes through land settled by Beaver County’s first settlers. In the western section, the trail follows some of the first wagon roads begun in the early 1800s. In addition to the main trailhead, Heritage Trail can be accessed by connector trails at the boat trailer parking lot (C7), campground (C8), Camp Trail Trailhead Parking (C9), Buckskin Trail via Connector Trail Number 10 (C10) and at two points along the main park road near the roadside picnic areas. A variety of options exist for loop hikes using these access points and connecting trails.\r\n

• X-C Ski
  Easiest	1.28 miles
  2.1 miles\r\n\r\nTrailhead: In the Old Main Picnic Area behind Picnic Shelter No. 6.\r\n\r\nThe trail has two legs and utilizes Heritage Trail to form a complete loop. It begins in an open area, passes through a pine plantation and in a short distance joins an old road. The trail travels on the old road, leaves the road, in a short distance crosses the park road, turns left, ascends and ends at the junction with Heritage Trail. Follow the Heritage Trail straight ahead until you reach the next junction with the X-C Ski Trail on the left. Leaving Heritage Trail to the left, the trail loops to the right around the hilltop, crosses the Heritage Trail and enters a pine plantation. The trail turns right, parallels the park road for a distance, crosses the park road, descends for a distance, bears right onto an old road, bears left and ends behind Picnic Shelter No. 5.\r\n\r\n

• Palomino
  Easiest	1.09 miles
  1.1 miles, easiest hiking with a few moderate hills\r\n\r\nTrailhead: On the park road between Sioux Camp Road and Nichol Road - East Gate on the right (east) side of the road.\r\n\r\nDescription: The trail begins at the gate on an old service road, ascends slightly, curves left, reaches the hilltop, descends and crosses Forest Trail (- Hiking Only). From the Forest Trail crossing, the trail ascends slightly, descends slightly, passes an old trail on the right and travels mostly on the level. The trail curves right, begins a steeper ascent, turns left at a tee, reaches the hilltop and descends, again. After passing through the remnants of an old gate, the trail turns left, off of the old service road and into the woods, just before the park boundary. The trail ascends steeply for a short distance before leveling off, on the right is a large field on private property. The trail turns left, meanders through the forest and ends at the junction with Nichol Road. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

• Appaloosa Spur Trail
  Easiest	0.70 miles
  0.7 mile, easiest hiking\r\n\r\nTrailhead: On Route 168 on the right (east) side, 1/4 mile north of Hanover Kendall Road in a parking lot.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAppaloosa Spur Trail connects the Equestrian Trailhead parking lot on PA 168 to the Appaloosa Trail. The trail leaves the right (south) side of the parking lot and meanders to the south east, crosses Hanover Kendall Road, turns left, curves right and climbs a small hill. From the top of the hill, the trail drops, follows an old road and ends at the junction with Appaloosa Trail. \r\n

• Connector Trail No. 1
  Easiest	0.21 miles
  0.25 miles\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nConnects Group Camp No. 1, and the modern cabins (west end) to the Camp Trail.\r\n\r\n

• Connector Trail No. 9
  Easiest	0.06 miles
  Connects the Heritage Trail to the Camp Trail.\r\n\r\n

• Lake
  Easiest	1.88 miles
  1.9 miles, easiest hiking with one moderate hill\r\n\r\nTrailhead: On the park road (on the east side of State Route 18 near the park office) at the gated bridge. Trailhead parking lot (5-6 cars) is between the trailhead and State Route 18 on the south side of the road.\r\n\r\nThis trail is for hiking and biking only and there are some biking restrictions. Lake Trail follows an old road along Traverse Creek, which leads to the northwest shore of Raccoon Lake. During the 1800s, Traverse Valley was the location of several pioneer homesteads and gristmills. An elaborate two-story stone springhouse dated 1846 still exists near the western end of the trail.\r\n\r\nThis trail is great for cross-country skiing from the trailhead east to the wooden bridge with 5 or 6 inches of snow.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

• Heron Trail
  More Difficult	0.65 miles
  0.5 mile, moderate to difficult hiking\r\n\r\nThis short trail connects Wetland Trail to Nichol Road and Palomino Trail.\r\n

• Mineral Springs Loop
  Easiest	0.99 miles
  1.2 miles, easiest hiking\r\n\r\nTrailhead: At the rear of the parking lot opposite the park office on the west side of Route 18.\r\n\r\n\r\nThis loop trail begins and ends across from the park office. Mineral Springs Loop passes through one of the park’s historic areas, once known for the “healing qualities of the mineral water.” Above the springs are the remains of the 1800s Frankfort Mineral Springs Resort. A detailed brochure on the history of this area is available at the park office.\r\n\r\n\r\n

• Connector Trail No. 7
  Easiest	0.09 miles
  Connects the Heritage Trail to the boat trailer parking lot on the southern finger of Raccoon Lake. Water and restrooms are available nearby in the boat launch area.\r\n\r\n

• Beaver
  Easiest	0.20 miles
  .20 miles\r\n\r\nA detailed trail map of the Wildflower Reserve is available at the education center or the park office.\r\nTo protect the wildflowers, pets are prohibited. \r\n

• Pinto Loop
  Easiest	1.89 miles
  1.7 miles, easiest hiking\r\n\r\nTrailhead: On Nichol Road, 0.9 miles from the West Gate -Route 168, 0.1 miles past the northern corner of the field, on the right side of the road in a small clearing. \r\n\r\nPinto Loop Trail has very little elevation change. The wide path passes through a mix of forest meadows. These features make it an excellent cross-country skiing trail.\r\n

• Connector Trail No. 6
  Easiest	0.27 miles
  Connects the Forest Trail to the Sioux Shelter Area.\r\n\r\n

• Connector Trail No. 2
  Easiest	0.22 miles
  0.1 miles\r\n\r\nConnects Group Camp No. 3 (southeast end) to the Camp Trail.\r\n\r\n

• Appaloosa Trail
  Easiest	2.88 miles
  3 miles, easiest hiking with a few moderate hills.\r\n \r\nTrailhead: On Nichol Road, 0.1 miles from the West Gate - Route 168, on the left side of the road. \r\n\r\nThe main equestrian trail, Appaloosa, can be accessed via the equestrian parking lot off PA 168 and the connecting Appaloosa Spur Trail. The trail winds along rolling forested hills of maples, oaks, hickory and cherry. Near its western end, the trail passes an old homestead and spring house. Connector Trail Number 4 (hiking only) off of Appaloosa Trail leads to one of the overnight backpacking campsites.\r\n

• Camp
  More Difficult	1.33 miles
  1.4 miles, more difficult hiking\r\n\r\n\r\nTrailhead: On the park road (on the west side of Route 18 past the park office) on the left fork to Group Camp Nos. 1 and 3 just after crossing Traverse Creek on the left side of the road across from a parking lot.\r\n\r\nCamp Trail provides access to the south shore of the Upper Lake, a favorite area for wildlife and waterfowl viewing. Modern cabin users can access Camp Trail via Connector Trail Number 1, located behind Cabins 5 and 6.\r\n\r\n\r\n

• Connector Trail No. 8
  Easiest	0.20 miles
  Connects the Heritage Trail to the Family Camping Area

• Wetlands
  Easiest	0.96 miles
  1.2 miles, easiest hiking\r\n\r\nTrailhead: On the park road (on the west side of Route 18 past the park office) on the left fork to Group Camp Nos. 1 and 3 just before crossing Traverse Creek on the right side of the road. Parking is just across Traverse Creek on the right side of the road.\r\n\r\n\r\nWetlands Trail follows the North Shore of the Upper Lake and continues up Traverse Valley to Nichol Road. This wetland habitat is one of the best areas in the park to observe wildlife like beaver, muskrat, turtle, wood duck, goose and deer.\r\n

• Valley Trail
  More Difficult	1.21 miles
  1.1 miles, more difficult hiking\r\n\r\nTrailhead: On the park road (on the east side of State Route 18 near the park office) just past the gated bridge on the horseshoe curve. Trailhead parking lot is between the trailhead and State Route 18 on the south side of the road.\r\n\r\nCut in along a steep section of Traverse Valley, the trail passes through an open hardwood forest joining with Beach Trail above the swimming area. Beach Trail connects the “D” loop of the campground to the swimming area. \r\n\r\n\r\n

• Forest Trail
  More Difficult	4.29 miles
  6.2 miles, more difficult hiking with a few difficult hills\r\n\r\nRunning through the northern part of the park, Forest Trail transects several stream valleys that feed into the 101-acre Raccoon Lake. After leaves drop off, the high ridges offer scenic views of the lake. Spring wildflowers are spectacular along many sections of the trail. The trail passes through an old stone quarry site. The quarried stone is still visible today in park culverts, retaining walls and old cabin foundations. The trail crosses PA 18 near the park office and continues on through forested stream valleys to the western trailhead along Nichol Road. Connector Trail Number 6 leads to the overnight backpacking campsites.\r\n

• Hickory
  Easiest	0.22 miles
  .16 miles\r\n\r\nA detailed trail map of the Wildflower Reserve is available at the education center or the park office.\r\nTo protect the wildflowers, pets are prohibited. \r\n

• Meadow
  Easiest	0.35 miles
  .36 miles\r\n\r\nA detailed trail map of the Wildflower Reserve is available at the education center or the park office.\r\nTo protect the wildflowers, pets are prohibited. \r\n

• Old Field Trail
  Easiest	0.63 miles
  0.69 miles\r\n\r\nA detailed trail map of the Wildflower Reserve is available at the education center or the park office.\r\nTo protect the wildflowers, pets are prohibited. \r\n\r\n

• Art Witt
  Easiest	0.25 miles
  0.26 miles\r\n\r\n\r\nA detailed trail map of the Wildflower Reserve is available at the education center or the park office.\r\nTo protect the wildflowers, pets are prohibited. \r\n\r\n\r\n

• Buckskin
  More Difficult	0.74 miles
  1 mile, more difficult hiking\r\n\r\nTrailhead: On Nichol Road, 1.6 miles from the West Gate -Route 168, on the right side of the road, almost opposite the road to the Pioneer camping area. \r\n\r\nThe Buckskin Trailhead on Nichol Road provides access to Camp Trail, Pinto Loop Trail and Heritage Trail. The trail passes through a steep, densely forested stream valley.\r\n

• Beach
  Most Difficult	0.30 miles
  .3 miles\r\n\r\nTrailhead: On Loop D in the family campground.\r\n\r\nConnects the “D” loop in the campground with the swimming area on Raccoon Lake.\r\n\r\n\r\n

• Upland
  More Difficult	0.52 miles
  0.6 mile, more difficult hiking\r\n\r\nTrailhead: At the rear of the parking lot opposite the park office on the west side of Route 18.\r\n\r\nShortly after leaving the parking lot, the trail turns right, behind the old park office buildings, climbs the hillside, turns left, crosses under a power line and climbs to the top of the ridge. Here, the trail crosses a service road, curves to the left and ends at the junction with Mineral Springs Loop Trail. Continuing straight ahead on Mineral Springs Loop Trail is the most direct route back to the trailhead parking lot. Turning right onto Mineral Springs Loop Trail leads to a waterfall and Frankfort Mineral Springs. From there, continuing on Mineral Springs Loop Trail leads back to the trailhead parking lot, also.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

• Old Wagon Road
  More Difficult	0.19 miles
  0.22 miles\r\n\r\nA detailed trail map of the Wildflower Reserve is available at the education center or the park office.\r\nTo protect the wildflowers, pets are prohibited. \r\n\r\n

• Max Henrici
  Easiest	0.65 miles
  .66 miles\r\n\r\nA detailed trail map of the Wildflower Reserve is available at the education center or the park office.\r\nTo protect the wildflowers, pets are prohibited. \r\n

• Jennings
  Easiest	1.76 miles
  1.46 miles\r\n\r\nA detailed trail map of the Wildflower Reserve is available at the education center or the park office.\r\nTo protect the wildflowers, pets are prohibited. \r\n

• Horse Trail

• Biking

• Mountain Biking

Park Events

No events at this time.

Parks Nearby

If the activity symbol is blue, this activity can accommodate people with a disability. Please contact the park for more details.

• Hillman

• Point

• McConnells Mill

• Allegheny Islands

• Moraine