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20210827 – Raccoon Creek State Park, PA – Wildflower Reserve

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Date: 08/27/2021 – Distance: 4.3 mi – Elapsed Time: 2.5 hr – Ascent: 200 ft – Descent: 256 ft – Difficulty: Medium

The Raccoon Creek State Park Wildflower Reserve is a 314 acre preserve on the east end of the park, which boasts one of the most biodiverse stands of wildflowers in Pennsylvania. In fact, over 700 different species have been documented here and the area has been the subject of study by several noted botanists. There is about 4.5 miles of trails through a diverse landscape and many of them are named after the botanists. There is also a great nature center with lots of information about the animals found in the area.

Parking lot is just south of the main park entrance on the east side of US 30.
Some of the flower species you might see.
Trail map.
I zoomed in and took a picture of the printed map I had.
About the reserve.
The nature center has tons of info about animals found in the area.
This raccoon won’t bite, he’s stuffed.
Some snakes of the area.
More snakes.
And more… the only venomous ones are on the far right.
They have great stuffed animals here.
The Civilian Conservation Corps, a 1930’s Era New Deal program, has a history here and built many parks and facilities across the nation.
Some of the owls found here.
More owls.
We hiked to this mineral spring the day before.
The bats of the area.
Some turtles.
White Tailed Deer.
The fish.
Red Fox, Mink, Mallard Duck, and Screech Owl.
Beaver.
Fox Squirrels.
Great Horned Owl.
Some skins.
Learn to identify Poison Ivy.
Monarch butterflies are amazing.
Monarchs hatching. These are real.
Some pollinators.
Bumblebee on Thisle.
Esther Allen was a prominent botanist.
Vernal pool.
Cool bracket fungus.
The underside of the fungus.
White Snakeroot.
Raccoon Creek.
Phlox.
Zigzag Goldenrod.
Wild Bergamot.
Cool cliff.
It could develop into an arch.
A few of these plant labels were found identifying some of the spring ephemeral wildflowers.
Way overgrown section of one of the trails.
Another cool cliff.
It’s like a pillar from below. It’s called Shafer Rock.
This side trail leads up to Shafer Rock.
It’s not a pillar.
Looking over the edge was scary.
Another famous botanist.
Standing on Shafer Rock.
Interesting burl growth.
This fenced in area is a study to see the impact of deer on the forest plants.
About the deer enclosure.
Wow.
Another spring ephemeral label.
I thought this is a living ash, due to the borer damage.
I believe these leaves are Boxelder. Many people confuse this with Poison Ivy.
You can see the borer damage here.
We picked up some trash while we were hiking.
Another botanist.
Cool pines.
They are very tall.

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