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California
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California State Parks

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USA Parks
California
Central Coast & Central Valley Region
McConnell State Park
Valley Quail © stateparks.com
Valley Quail
Picnic Table © stateparks.com
It is always a great day for a picnic in the park.
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MCCONNELL STATE PARK
MCCONNELL STATE PARK
Ballico, California   95303

Phone: 209-394-7755
Reservations: 209-394-7755
McConnells Mill State Park, in Lawrence County, encompasses 2,546 acres of the spectacular Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. Created by the draining of glacial lakes thousands of years ago, the gorge has steeps sides and the valley floor is littered with huge boulders. A gristmill was built in the 1800s to harness the power of the water. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round.
History of the Area
Located in Merced County, California, the park was established in 1948. It spans over 90 acres along the Merced River. The land originally belonged to Robert O. McConnell and his wife Catherine.

In 1864 they purchased it for farming purposes but later donated a portion of their property to create a public recreation area which became known as "McConnell's Grove".

The state acquired this site from them through purchase and donation between 1934-1953 with additional parcels added until its current size was reached by late twentieth century.

It offers recreational activities like fishing, swimming & picnicking while also being home to various wildlife species including squirrels, raccoons and several bird types.

FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Day-UseFishingyes
BoatingLaunch Rampsyes
CampingPrimitiveyes
Camping
- Tent Camping: McConnell State Park offers numerous tent camping sites with picnic tables and fire rings.
- RV Camping: The park has several spots for recreational vehicles, but no hookups are available.
- Group Campsites: Large group campsites can be accommodated in designated areas within the park.
- Day Use Picnic Areas: These non-camping options allow visitors to enjoy a day at the park without overnight stay.



Trails
- Merced River Trail: A 3-mile round trip trail that follows the river, offering views of wildlife and wildflowers.

- Riverside Nature Walk: An easy half mile walk along the banks of the Merced River with interpretive signs about local flora and fauna.

- McConnell Loop Trail: This is a moderate difficulty loop trail spanning approximately 2 miles through oak woodlands providing scenic vistas over surrounding landscapes.

- Blue Oak Hiking Pathway: Approximately one mile long, this path winds its way among blue oaks showcasing their unique characteristics in different seasons.

- Riparian Habitat Exploration Route : About two miles long; it takes hikers across various riparian habitats home to diverse bird species including herons and egrets.

- Wildlife Viewing Track : Not specifically marked but visitors can explore numerous unmarked trails for viewing deer, raccoons or even bobcats at dusk or dawn.

- Fishing Access Trails : Short paths leading from main hiking routes down to fishing spots on bankside areas along Merced River - length varies depending upon location within park grounds.



Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
June 24 save the park
park review stars; one to five i am the seccond generation in my family to go to mcconnel we actually just got back from camping 2 hours ago we stayed fro 4 days at site 13 this park is awesome from hanging out by the bon fire to floating down stream to the over flow road to the other people camping every ones friendly the park has a small crew and people arnt paying their fees witch makes it seem like the park isnt getting any revenue please pay your fees . . . the park is schedueld to be closed soon please help save the tradition
March 31 Family Traditions by Tammy Anderson
park review stars; one to five We have been coming to this park for 4 generations...so many family memories and hope for so many more as our family continues to grow...
May 4 A sweet retreat close to home.
park review stars; one to five We have visited the park several times over the last two years, and return each time because of the cleanliness and friendliness of the Park Rangers. Plenty of room to play, swim, karoke for crying out loud! Keep up the great work.
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Area Campgrounds
Merced River Resort
7765 Campground Road
Delhi, CA
209-643-6056
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
The recreation area is five miles southeast of Delhi on Highway 99, south of Turlock.

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California
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California State Parks

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