Wild beauty thrives at park

HOOKSTOWN, Pa. -- A good antidote for a long, gray winter is a walk in the springtime woods, filling your senses with the sights, smells and sounds of the new season. A good place to do that is at Raccoon Creek State Park, a sprawling wilderness known for its spectacular natural floral displays.
The 7,000-acre park, one of the largest in Pennsylvania, includes a 101-acre lake, 16 miles of bridle trails and 13 miles of hiking trails.
Many of the hiking trails are in the Wildflower Reserve on the east side of the park, and that's the place to head for on the next sunny Sunday afternoon. The last two weeks of April are peak season for wildflowers, according to the park's environmental educator, Pat Adams. Coltsfoot, spring beauty, trillium, wild ginger and Dutchman's breeches are just a few of the wildflowers visitors can expect to find on the winding trails. Pets are not permitted on reserve trails.
After your hike, stop in at the Wildflower Reserve Interpretive Center, where there are exhibits and brochures on natural history. The park offers a wide variety of free educational programs through the summer.
Lake: Another busy area of the park is Raccoon Creek Lake, which is actually formed by a dam on Traverse Creek. Boats with electric motors are welcome with a launch permit, and there are 42 mooring spaces available. The lake is stocked with brook trout and rainbow trout, and is popular with fishermen in all four seasons. Also found in the lake are bluegill, sunfish, bullhead catfish, yellow perch, walleye, muskellunge and bass.
Swimmers use the lake's 800-foot beach from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. A bathhouse and refreshment stand are nearby.
The park has five picnic areas that include 600 tables. There are grills, drinking water and primitive toilets available. Park Director Dave Barrett has announced plans to upgrade the picnic restrooms this summer.
Five pavilions in the main picnic area may be reserved for a fee on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, the park has a recreation hall available for rent for group meetings or family reunions. Located in the cabin area, the hall has modern bathrooms, a kitchen and fireplace.
Cabins: Also available for rent are 10 year-round cabins built in the 1980s by the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps. Each cabin contains a furnished living area, kitchen-dining area, modern bathroom and two or three bedrooms. One cabin is handicapped-accessible. The Lakeside Lodge is a three-bedroom cottage that sleeps nine and has central heating.
Campers are welcome at Raccoon Creek, at 172 sites. About half the sites have electric, and there are five modern shower houses, a playground and a dump station. Pets are not permitted. Six organized group tenting sites are available. The park has two group camping areas equipped with rustic lodges, dining halls, cabins and utility buildings.