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EVENT #8: June 27-30, 2024
OIL CREEK STATE PARK TRAILS |
 Image from backpackohio.com
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What we have planned
From the Oil Creek SP website: Wildcat Hollow Trails are "a network of short hiking trails named after “wildcat” wells, oil wells drilled in areas not known to contain oil. These exploratory wells had about a 10 percent chance of being successful."
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--LOGISTICS--
IF YOU'RE COMING JUST FOR THE DAY / ARRIVING IN THE MORNING:
>Meet us at: Parking area for Wildcat Hollow Organized Group Tenting Area (OGTA), 7:30 AM.
>Follow KTA signs through park
>Map/directions to Wildcat OGTA, off Number 5 Power Road in the southern portion of the park (coordinates 41.516927, -79.686057): goo.gl/maps/eoAvztfZFe2PRYWm8
***PLEASE NOTE: THE PETROLEUM CENTER BRIDGE OVER OIL CREEK, MARKED WITH THE RED "X" ON THE MAP ABOVE, IS CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. DIRECTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF OIL CREEK SP:
>Oil Creek State Park is located in Venango County, just south of Titusville, just off PA-8.
>Meet us at: Parking area for Wildcat Hollow Organized Group Tenting Area (OGTA), 7:30 AM.
>Follow KTA signs through park
>Map/directions to Wildcat OGTA, off Number 5 Power Road in the southern portion of the park (coordinates 41.516927, -79.686057): goo.gl/maps/eoAvztfZFe2PRYWm8
***PLEASE NOTE: THE PETROLEUM CENTER BRIDGE OVER OIL CREEK, MARKED WITH THE RED "X" ON THE MAP ABOVE, IS CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. DIRECTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF OIL CREEK SP:
>Oil Creek State Park is located in Venango County, just south of Titusville, just off PA-8.
IF YOU'RE STAYING OVERNIGHT:
Tent/ Hammock/ Car Camp at Wildcat Hollow Organized Group Tenting Area
(more photos below)
Amenities:
You bring:
OR:
Make your own arrangements
Tent/ Hammock/ Car Camp at Wildcat Hollow Organized Group Tenting Area
(more photos below)
Amenities:
- Vault toilets
- There are 3 Adirondack-style shelters that volunteers may use. They fit 4-5 people each.
- Also lots of tent space and trees for hammocks
- ***Electricity is not available at the campsites. Plan to charge any devices with your vehicle or portable charger
- Potable water and firewood will be made available by park staff
- There is a pavilion with tables we can use
You bring:
- all usual camping equipment
- RVs may be permitted. Please contact Jenn for specifics.
OR:
Make your own arrangements
- You're welcome to procure your own lodging nearby. There is no campground at OCSP.
Important notes:
Cell phone coverage: AT&T reported as good, Verizon not so much
Food/Drink: Generally, bring your own food, drink, and cooking supplies. See FAQ (link) for recommendations. Please list any allergies or dietary restrictions on sign-up. Tony typically cooks a Friday night meal for us. If you’d like, you can join us for dinner out, Dutch treat, on Saturday evening.
What else to bring: For more general information about the Trail Care Program and suggested packing lists, see KTA Trail Care FAQ page here.
EV charging: A 2-plug, electric-vehicle charging station is available for public use in the Egbert Farm Day Use Area. Please move to another parking space once your vehicle has been charged.
Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Please contact Jenn Ulmer, KTA Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, at [email protected] or 570-854-8316 with any questions.
Cell phone coverage: AT&T reported as good, Verizon not so much
Food/Drink: Generally, bring your own food, drink, and cooking supplies. See FAQ (link) for recommendations. Please list any allergies or dietary restrictions on sign-up. Tony typically cooks a Friday night meal for us. If you’d like, you can join us for dinner out, Dutch treat, on Saturday evening.
What else to bring: For more general information about the Trail Care Program and suggested packing lists, see KTA Trail Care FAQ page here.
EV charging: A 2-plug, electric-vehicle charging station is available for public use in the Egbert Farm Day Use Area. Please move to another parking space once your vehicle has been charged.
Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Please contact Jenn Ulmer, KTA Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, at [email protected] or 570-854-8316 with any questions.
--Trail Work Details--
Work days:
Friday and Saturday approximately 8-4, Sunday 8-noon. Camping available starting Thursday >3pm.
Description of work:
Oil Creek State Park:
From the Friends of Oil Creek State Park website:
"The primary purpose of Oil Creek State Park is to tell the story of the changing landscape. Just south of Titusville, along Oil Creek, Colonel Edwin Drake struck oil at a depth of 69.5 feet in August 1859. Drake's Well marks the birth of the world's commercial oil industry. The early petroleum industry's oil boom towns and important oil well sites are long gone. They have been replaced by clean trout streams and forested hillsides seen today throughout the park. Few oil wells are still active in the park, but newer gas wells are common.The early history of the oil region is presented well by Drake Well Museum just north of the park.
The events of the exciting 1860's, the time of the original oil boom, receive special emphasis in park's trails and by park personnel.
Take an interactive Slide Show Tour of the park. Thanks to Keith Cubbon.
View the interactive Google map of the park and views of Oil Creek on YouTube."
From PA DCNR's Good Natured blog dated 2020-09-02: "Visitors to Oil Creek State Park in Venango County can learn about the world’s first commercial oil well. The Trail of Geology Guide (PDF) for the park sheds light on the forces at work under the ground. Oil Creek State Park has an abundance of natural geologic features, such as waterfalls, boulder fields, and glacial deposits. During the Ice Age, when continental ice sheets covered parts of North America, the glaciers moved southward across northwestern Pennsylvania, including Oil Creek State Park. These incredible mountains of ice left visible impacts on the land, even today. The guide includes a map to show the locations of many sites of geologic interest. You will learn to identify the bedrock and surficial deposits of the area, along with the story of how Oil Creek gorge formed."
Friday and Saturday approximately 8-4, Sunday 8-noon. Camping available starting Thursday >3pm.
Description of work:
- This section will be updated as soon as possible, after park staff scouts the trails.
Oil Creek State Park:
From the Friends of Oil Creek State Park website:
"The primary purpose of Oil Creek State Park is to tell the story of the changing landscape. Just south of Titusville, along Oil Creek, Colonel Edwin Drake struck oil at a depth of 69.5 feet in August 1859. Drake's Well marks the birth of the world's commercial oil industry. The early petroleum industry's oil boom towns and important oil well sites are long gone. They have been replaced by clean trout streams and forested hillsides seen today throughout the park. Few oil wells are still active in the park, but newer gas wells are common.The early history of the oil region is presented well by Drake Well Museum just north of the park.
The events of the exciting 1860's, the time of the original oil boom, receive special emphasis in park's trails and by park personnel.
- Gerard Hiking Trail: Oil Creek State Park features the 36 mile volunteer maintained trail along with 4 other interpretive hiking trails.
Two Adirondack shelter areas are available for overnight stays. - Biking Trails: A 9.7-mile paved trail that wends along Oil Creek.
- Day Use Areas:. Both areas have parking, rest rooms, playgrounds and access to Oil Creek.
- Blood Farm has drinking water, picnic shelters, tables, and a large play field.
- Egbert Farm (Petroleum Centre) has drinking water, restrooms, picnic shelters, additional tables and access to the park office and bike trail.
- Fishing is enjoyed in Oil Creek, Boughton Run, Toy Run and Jones Run.
- Hunting is permitted on approximately 6,250 acres of land.
- Canoeing and kayaking along Oil Creek, which is classed as beginner's waters, is best from March to June.
- Waterfalls photos and directions.
Take an interactive Slide Show Tour of the park. Thanks to Keith Cubbon.
View the interactive Google map of the park and views of Oil Creek on YouTube."
From PA DCNR's Good Natured blog dated 2020-09-02: "Visitors to Oil Creek State Park in Venango County can learn about the world’s first commercial oil well. The Trail of Geology Guide (PDF) for the park sheds light on the forces at work under the ground. Oil Creek State Park has an abundance of natural geologic features, such as waterfalls, boulder fields, and glacial deposits. During the Ice Age, when continental ice sheets covered parts of North America, the glaciers moved southward across northwestern Pennsylvania, including Oil Creek State Park. These incredible mountains of ice left visible impacts on the land, even today. The guide includes a map to show the locations of many sites of geologic interest. You will learn to identify the bedrock and surficial deposits of the area, along with the story of how Oil Creek gorge formed."
SIGN UP FOR 2024 TRAIL CARE #8 - Oil Creek State Park, June 27-30, HERE:
(If you do not receive an email confirmation, your sign-up did not go through -- please go directly to the form through this link.)
(If you do not receive an email confirmation, your sign-up did not go through -- please go directly to the form through this link.)
--PHOTO GALLERY--
