2008 Woodie Awards
National natural landmark provides scenic getaway
By Jessica Rupell
Rocket Focus Editor
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Focus
Today, the area is about as well-preserved as one could hope, and Patterson said that the park was actually deemed a national natural landmark by the National Audubon Society for its scenic beauty and ecosystem.
But besides just enjoying the scenery, Patterson said there are also many other activities to do during various times of the year at the park, which is open from dawn until dusk.
"You can hike, fish, rock climb and rappel off of Rim Road, picnic and there's even a ball field there," Patterson said.
Other recreational activities allowed at the Mill include boating, kayaking and hunting in specific areas. Though the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Web site states that neither camping nor swimming is allowed at the Mills, nearby Cooper's Lake and Moraine State Park allow camping and swimming, respectively.
"Personally, I enjoy going to the mill for the rock climbing aspect," said Josh Wilson, a sophomore park and resource management major and a member of the Outdoor Adventures and climbing wall staff. "The climbing areas are an excellent place to learn and practice rock climbing techniques. I know many other Slippery Rock University students and now alums that started rock climbing at the Mill and have since started pursuing a career in rock climbing or are already doing so."
The geology of the area today is a varied landscape of rock formations that were created by bedrock formed over 300 million years ago. Much of the topography surrounding the Mill, neighboring Moraine State Park and the Slippery Rock Gorge that exist today are also due to the glaciers that covered the area over the past two million years.
Although many who visit the area say the entire park is beautiful, the park's location is mainly the Slippery Rock Creek and Gorge, which, other than a few miles of it, is completely contained within both the Mill and Moraine State Park.
Patterson said the gorge has actually created a landscape that makes the Mill unique.
But besides just enjoying the scenery, Patterson said there are also many other activities to do during various times of the year at the park, which is open from dawn until dusk.
"You can hike, fish, rock climb and rappel off of Rim Road, picnic and there's even a ball field there," Patterson said.
Other recreational activities allowed at the Mill include boating, kayaking and hunting in specific areas. Though the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Web site states that neither camping nor swimming is allowed at the Mills, nearby Cooper's Lake and Moraine State Park allow camping and swimming, respectively.
"Personally, I enjoy going to the mill for the rock climbing aspect," said Josh Wilson, a sophomore park and resource management major and a member of the Outdoor Adventures and climbing wall staff. "The climbing areas are an excellent place to learn and practice rock climbing techniques. I know many other Slippery Rock University students and now alums that started rock climbing at the Mill and have since started pursuing a career in rock climbing or are already doing so."
The geology of the area today is a varied landscape of rock formations that were created by bedrock formed over 300 million years ago. Much of the topography surrounding the Mill, neighboring Moraine State Park and the Slippery Rock Gorge that exist today are also due to the glaciers that covered the area over the past two million years.
Although many who visit the area say the entire park is beautiful, the park's location is mainly the Slippery Rock Creek and Gorge, which, other than a few miles of it, is completely contained within both the Mill and Moraine State Park.
Patterson said the gorge has actually created a landscape that makes the Mill unique.
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