As the leaves turn orange, the weather gets brisk, and new sports seasons begin, fall is upon us. And what better way to spend the beginning of this wonderful season than going on a hike? Luckily, there are a couple great spots nearby (and by nearby I mean within an hour’s drive) that are really beautiful in autumn.

McConnell’s Mill State Park

In Lawrence County, about 45 minutes out from Beaver, is McConnell’s Mill State Park, a beautiful park with hikes ranging from beginner to very challenging, so there’s something for everyone, as there are a couple of trails that are in between the two levels for the average hiker as well. There is also an old gristmill located just below the Kildoo picnic area accessible by stairs. It’s open to the public Wednesday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Types of trails included at the park include out-and-back trails where the trail leads to a point of interest, and then hikers turn around and walk the trail back, loop trails, and point-to-point trails, where the trail leads to another exit/entrance. McConnell’s Mill State Park boasts 11.2 miles of hiking over five blazed trails.

Raccoon Creek State Park

Just on the southern side of Beaver County, near Hookstown, lies Raccoon Creek State Park, popular for its beaches, camping, and boating. It’s about 30 minutes away and also contains a variety of trail difficulties, and even connector trails alongside the other three types. Raccoon Creek has many activities besides hiking as well including hunting and swimming, so there are alternatives here. However, the hiking is abundant and diverse, so it’s not overshadowed in the slightest. Raccoon Creek State Park has a whopping 28-plus trails all adding up to 44 hikable.

Brady’s Run Park

Our backyard 2000-acre park is also a great place to hike, especially when the leaves turn color. It’s nice and close, and it has some beautiful hiking trails that look even more beautiful in the fall. In addition to a beach, tennis and basketball courts among others, and an ice skating rink, Brady’s Run contains over 12 miles of hiking over nine trails, easily accessible, and none too challenging.

Moraine State Park

In Portersville, about 45 minutes away, lies Moraine State Park containing a multitude of available activities. Moraine has disc golf, swimming, hunting, boating, and hiking, among others. Moraine has a variety of difficulties, but most notably has some much tougher hikes, including Glacier Ridge Trail, a point-to-point trail that is a whopping 14.8 miles long. It contains other tougher hikes like some mountain biking trails as well as Wyggeston Trail, a 4.6 mile hike along some rocky, rough terrain. Moraine has some great hikes with 10-plus trails and over 29 miles of hiking trails.

So next time you’re bored sitting inside wondering what to do on some uneventful Sunday afternoon or even any day off school, think about getting out to appreciate nature at one of these beautiful nearby parks that Pennsylvania boasts.