National and State Parks - Recreational Areas
Home Page
Parks Starting With:
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
Y |
Z
McCarthy Beach State Park
Nearby Parks
State Park Information
State Park Overview
Nature of the Area
For the folks who can tear themselves away from the beauty and comfort of the parks sandy beach, the rolling hills and valleys of McCarthy Beach State Park offer visitors a variety of terrain to hike and explore. The park protects a northern boreal forest with stands of red and white pine and leatherleaf-black spruce lowlands.
The glaciers that moved through the area gouged and tore at the bedrock, the cooled lava of ancient volcanoes. During that period, glaciers flowed south, retreated north and
flowed south again. The first glacier stopped where McCarthy Beach is now located. It left low rolling hills with steep sides called moraines. Between the hills, the glaciers gouged valleys and in the larger valleys, lakes were formed. Trails from the beach lead visitors along the ridge tops of the parks morraines. From these vistas, visitors can imagine the titanic forces that moved and shaped the region.
The parks hills and trails allow for excellent opportunities to watch the birds and animals at McCarthy Beach State Park. More than 175 species of birds visit the area and visitors are treated to sights of loons gliding on the lakes and great blue herons stalking small fish in the shallows. Thirty-three species of wildlife inhabit the park including white-tailed deer, black bear, timber wolves, chipmunks, red squirrels, raccoons and
several species of reptiles and amphibians.
History of the Area
More Info
McCarthy Beach State Park