This one is going to be a partial review. Why partial? Well, we barely scratched the surface of…read morewhat's at this beautiful state park and I want to come back to see more. On our way from Ohio to the other side of PA, we took a detour to get a look at where the modern petroleum industry got its start in this country. One big downside is that because this was ad-libbed, we entered the per se, "wrong side" of the park which doesn't have a much to see as the other side. Let me explain: As the below map shows, the park is laid out in a thin vertical line. Instead of arriving at the northern end where the Drake Well Musuem is, we showed up at the southern tip by the Egbert Farm Day Use Area. The big problem with that goes back to the adlibbing and not knowing that the bridge that leads over Oil Creek is long term closed to vehicles. It's possible to go around but it's a PIA and we didn't have enough time. www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/OilCreekStatePark/pages/maps.aspx We saw Coal Oil Johnny's House, some of the Blood Farm Area and walked a bit of the snowy/muddy Gerard Trail before we ran out of daylight. uncoveringpa.com/things-to-do-oil-creek-state-park Jim at unoveringpa.com has a great list of stuff to do in the park and later this year I'm hoping to do a longer tour of the area and hit this place up for a few days along with Cherry Springs and Hyner Run. We didn't spend a long time here, but the appetite has been whet for more.

This park is an intriguing blend of history and nature. This is the site of an oil boom town, and…read morethere are a number of historical indicators left memorializing it. An interpretive trail is located near the visitor's center that lets you stroll what used to be an old street in the town. None of the actual buildings remain, but the signage is great. There is a train visitor center where a train still runs through at times. There is also a nice playground and picnic tables available. The Blood Farm area is also beautiful - there's a nice large green space near the Oil Creek, with picnic tables, a playground, and shelterhouses. The Blood Farm Interpretive Trail provides an enjoyable short hike with some information about how the Blood Farm became a site where oil was discovered, and you can still find stopped off oil wells, old equipment and old farm buildings to view. Several waterfalls can be found here during certain times of year; unfortunately, the friendly staff told us that they weren't really running at the time of our visit. Very interesting park!

If you live in Pittsburgh or are just visiting the area, McConnells Mill is one of the best day…read moretrips around. It's only about 40 miles north up I-79, so it's an easy drive from the city, but it feels like a completely different world once you get down into the gorge. I've been going there for years with friends and family, and it became my go-to spot to take people when they would visit from out of town. Everyone always loves checking out the historic old gristmill and the red covered bridge right next to it. It's a great, classic view, and if you go during the summer, they usually open up the mill for tours so you can see how it all used to work. The hiking there is fantastic, too, with a good mix of trails depending on what you're up for. You can take a pretty easy walk back to Hell's Hollow Falls, or you can tackle the rougher, rockier trails that run right along Slippery Rock Creek. You definitely want to wear sturdy shoes because the terrain gets steep and the rocks get slick, but the scenery with the rushing whitewater and massive boulders is totally worth it. It's just a beautiful, simple place to get outdoors for a few hours. Whether you want a challenging hike or just want to sit by the water and look at the old bridge, it never disappoints.

Visited this state park for the first time earlier this month and had a blast!…read more I parked at what I think is the main lot, up above the mill itself. I didn't take a tour of the mill (which the park volunteers and staff do offer throughout the day) but I did walk through it and read the information in it about the history of the mill. Definitely enjoyed exploring and learning. That said, I was really there for the trails, so I spent most of my day hiking. I took a loop trail down from the mill and back (with a detour up a short trail to some falls) and it was great! I love being outside and I love a good challenge; these trails were not paved or even at all and I had a great workout navigating them. During hydration breaks I'd find a nice rock to sit on by the water, which was wonderful. It was noisy as heck by the mill because of the families, but the further out I got the more peaceful it got. Definitely met my goal of unplugging for a day during my trek on the trails. I want to come back in the future and begin to try to walk the Slippery Gorge Trail, as it sounds like the gorge is another beautiful part of the park. But that is definitely a long term goal, because that trail is not a short one! I loved visiting this park and I'd be back for sure. To everyone else, PLEASE remember water and wear the proper footwear - while I enjoyed my walk in the park, these trails are definitely not a walk in the park!

The beach is extremely tiny, lots of vegetation growing in the water, water slide was fun but…read morerather expensive..

This area is undergoing revitalization including the Frog Pond mentioned in Tonya's opinion. New…read moreowners have taken over in 2024 - too many upgrades to note- Great food, drink & entertainment. Also beach area & water slide. 2 other great restaurants& bar. The Anchor & Bear Inn also very good & entertainment. Something for everyone at the lake. Boat rentals, ice cream, 2 mini golf course & roller skating rink. This is well worth a visit!! Cottage rentals available too 814-392-2614 for those out of towners!

If you're looking for a classy, peaceful nature outing turn back now. But if you want to witness an…read moreabsolutely chaotic aquatic circus fueled by stale carbs and bad decisions, welcome to the Pymatuning Spillway. First of all, BYOB here doesn't mean Bring Your Own Booze. Bring Your Own Bread. White bread. Wheat bread. That one bun that's been in your freezer since 2019. Heck, I saw a guy chucking chunks of fruitcake like he was loading a t-shirt cannon. The fish don't care. The ducks don't care. You might care... until the feeding frenzy begins. The moment the bread hits the water, it's like Shark Week met a Black Friday sale at Walmart. Giant carp--literal underwater linebackers--erupt from the depths like they haven't seen a carb since the Reagan administration. And on top of that? Ducks just walking on them. Not swimming. Not paddling. Walking. On. The. Fish. Like Jesus on water if He were a mallard with zero manners. Kids scream. Parents laugh. One guy had a bag of Wonder Bread in a baby carrier like it was an heirloom. I'm pretty sure a seagull mugged someone for a slice of rye. There's no such thing as dignity here--just breadcrumbs and mayhem. Pro Tips: * Don't wear nice shoes. The bread goo gets everywhere. * Hold your bread tight unless you want to be mugged by a gang of pigeons with nothing to lose. * Bring extra, because once you start--you won't want to stop. It's that addictive. The Pymatuning Spillway is a beautiful mess. A masterpiece of Midwest chaos. A place where nature, gluttony, and old bakery products collide. 10/10, will return with Costco-sized loaves.

Great place to take the kiddos to see all the carp. Can purchase loaves of day old bread to feed…read moreall the carp. Concession stand is reasonably priced and the food was good.

My Blue Canoe. You…read morecan have a blast! What a great adventure! Our group has rented from Eagle Rock every year and then we go on either the 15 or 30 mile Allegheny River trip. May do a second trip this year. Find a good island to camp on for the night and finish the next day. Canoeing, fishing, campfire, cooking on the campfire, rocks to jump off into the water, just plain old fun! You can't have anymore fun! Great canoeing, great friends, great fun!

I have been kayaking for four years in tionesta we have used a different company in the past. NEVER…read moreAGAIN! I will use eagle rock every time we go!! Wonderful staff! Wonderful sights along the river. My blue canoe has my business from now on! We went on the 10 mile trip this year. The person who dropped us off was very friendly explained the different parts of the river.

The Boathouse is a great place to enjoy some nature. We have been here a few times to kayak and…read morepedal boat and it has been enjoyable each time. The staff is friendly and patient with kiddos. They have single kayaks, two seated kayaks, pedal boats that seat approx. five people, and bicycle boats, etc. It's a relaxing area to be around whether you're on the water or on the shore fishing, etc. The prices are very reasonable and there is a discount for Mahoning County residents.

Deer Creek Reservoir is a great lake located just West of Berlin Lake, in fact they are just…read moreseparated by a dam, with the water draining from Deer Creek into Berlin Lake. Although Deer Creek is the smaller of the two, it is well worth a visit since it is a great place to paddle or go fishing. The launch is well set up with a cement ramp and a small dock. The lake is limited to electric motors or paddle only. There are several port a potties, a fishing dock, parking lot, and plenty of shoreline benches and tables. I did notice there was a nice hiking trail that led over the bridge by the dam. Did see quite a few people fishing both from the shore and boats. My paddle was excellent, I headed along the dam and then followed the Southern shore which has a nice variety of bays and inlets to explore. The kind of interesting paddling that makes the day really enjoyable. At the North East end you can find the inlet for Deer Creek which will take you through two tunnels under the railroad and the road, which is a cool paddle. I was able to get about 1/2 mile further up the creek before it became too shallow with small rapid, but a great way to cap the paddle. Overall one of the best lake paddles I have experienced in the North East Ohio are, if you are looking for a place to kayak or fish, put Deer Creek Reservoir on your look.

I hit the Lakeside Beach on the North Shore today & enjoyed my visit. There is a large gravel…read moreparking lot, a concession stand & restrooms. There is a paved slope path down to the water so could push a stroller or wheelchair to the sand area. The beach is unguarded. You are supposed to swim in the roped area, but people swam outside of it due to being a busy 95 degree Saturday. It was only about 4 feet deep even out past rope that says 5 feet. There are shaded tree areas on hillside. The sandy area I preferred to South shore's Pleasantville beach. Definitely recommend for a swim or for sitting in the sun or the shade near the lake with a beautiful view.

This park is beautiful and has many types of trains as well as a lake for swimming and boating…read more Check the web site for their special events.

The area is so beautiful in the fall time. My favorite trail is the vondergreen trail. They host a…read morelot of events such as a regular breakfast in the summer, including a breakfast with Bigfoot in May, a kayak crawl with Birdfish brew, and a pioneer village.

I love being outdoors!! This park is beautiful!! Lots to explore. The creek is peaceful and…read morerefreshing. We had a great day with the family.