by
Mark H. Christy
Available at the Main Park Office, the Wildflower Reserve Interpretive Center and in season at the Family Camping Area contact station. Or order by mail by clicking HERE for a printable Order Form.
Click HERE for an excerpt from the book.
This guidebook was written to introduce walkers and hikers to one of southwestern Pennsylvania's best-kept secrets - Raccoon Creek State Park. The park began as a Recreational Demonstration Area in the 1930s under the direction of the National Park Service. Today, it's the eighth largest state park in Pennsylvania at over 7500 acres.
The guidebook is divided into three major sections: walks (less than three miles in length), hikes (over three miles in length) and overnights (hikes including an overnight stay). Length, estimated time of travel, highlights, maps, elevation change charts and detailed instructions are included for each of the eight walks, twelve hikes and six overnights. The maps were taken from USGS maps and the topographical lines removed for ease of reading. The elevation change charts give a general indication of ups and downs encountered along the way.
Walks, Hikes and Overnights in Raccoon Creek State Park is the summation of many years work improving and creating a truly spectacular trail system within Raccoon Creek State Park.
Since 1991, when I began working at Raccoon Creek, I had a goal of expanding the current trail system and creating an extensive loop trail for overnight backpacking. I never could find the time or resources to complete the project. Then along came Mark Christy. A hiking and outdoor enthusiast, Mark also shared my dream of an expanded trail system and was willing to volunteer his time working on the project. I was unprepared for his dedication and amount of time devoted. Mark has been involved with all phases of the project. He surveyed, mapped and flagged the proposed new trails. Once approval was given he promptly began clearing the new trails. Mark helped organize volunteer trail workdays and led work parties. He also has placed most of the trail signage and blazes. In 2002 Mark devoted almost one thousand volunteer hours to the project. Needless to say, he was the park's volunteer of the year for 2002.
His book is the icing on the cake. Divided into short walks, day hikes and overnight hikes, the book has something for all levels of hikers. All the information needed for a safe, enjoyable hike such as mileage, estimated time of travel, highlights, elevation changes and a detailed map can be found for the trails featured. This book will be a great asset to hikers at the park.
On behalf of Raccoon Creek State Park we are grateful to Mark for his dedication, book and continued support and promotion of the park's trails.
An avid outdoorsman his entire life, he enjoys capturing nature and wildlife images- wild ponies in Virginia earned him the back cover on the Audubon Wild Animal calendar. His "Common Milkweed" from Lawrence County was selected for a juried show of the Natural World Photographic Competition at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. His photographs have also appeared in the Outdoor Traveler (Mid-Atlantic) magazine, the Western Pa. Balloon Quest, Inc. promotional brochure and the Sierra Club engagement calendar.
Available at the Main Park Office, the Wildflower Reserve Interpretive Center and in season at the Family Camping Area contact station. Or order by mail by clicking HERE for a printable Order Form.
Click HERE for an excerpt from the book.