McConnell's Mill Hike - Challenge yourself!

McConnell's Mill 7-10 miles of easy to difficult hiking. Challenge yourself and expand your skills in some beautiful country along Slippery Rock Creek. This trail is also a part of the North Country Scenic Trail.

We will meet at the Pilot Travel Center on Rt. 422 just west of I-79. Ideally there will be at least a couple of vehicles so we can spot one at the Kildoo Picnic area and do a point to point hike starting at the Hell's Hollow Trailhead. We will branch off to the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail for just over 6 miles. From there we will pick the Kildoo trail and head North. We can either stop there or continue to Alpha Pass for an additional 1.5 miles. This can be a group decision depending on comfort levels and ability.

Here are the trail descriptions from McConnell's Mill State Park...

SLIPPERY ROCK GORGE TRAIL: 6.2 miles, blue blazes, most difficult hiking Part of the NCT, Slippery Rock Gorge Trail begins jointly with Hells Hollow Trail at the Hells Hollow parking lot. The gorge trail splits off just before the second footbridge. The first two miles of the trail follows the upper Hell Run Valley. The rest of the trail follows the Slippery Rock Creek Gorge north for just over four miles to Eckert Bridge. At about the 3.5-mile point, the trail descends into the deepest part of the gorge. This broad alluvial flood plain is known as Walnut Flats. The trail then becomes more difficult, traversing very steep terrain. At the 5-mile point, the trail climbs in elevation through a forested area before dropping down to creek level where it follows along the creek bank to Eckert Bridge.

KILDOO TRAIL: 3-mile loop (we will only do half of this loop) , yellow blazes, more difficult hiking Kildoo Trail is south of the historic gristmill and begins at either end of the covered bridge. On the eastern bank, the trail begins with a 400-yard easier section to the Kildoo Falls, which then leads to rocky terrain on the remaining section to Eckert Bridge. Hikers cross Slippery Rock Creek at Eckert Bridge and continue on the west bank upstream to the covered bridge. The western section of the trail has blue blazes and is part of the NCT.

ALPHA PASS TRAIL: 1.5 miles, blue blazes, more difficult hiking This trail is at the northern end of McConnell's Mill State Park and is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT). The trail begins at the Alpha Pass scenic vista and follows the east bank of Slippery Rock Creek. There is an exit to the Point Parking Area or the trail follows the creek to the historic mill.