McDanels Boat Launch at Moraine State Park
An Accessible Birding Location in Butler County
Location: McDanels Boat Launch is located on the North Shore of Moraine State Park at McDanels Road, Portersville, PA 16051. Take the North Shore exit from Route 422 and McDanels Boat Launch is within 0.5 miles of the entrance to Moraine State Park. There are ample parking spaces.
Facilities: McDanels Boat Launch has a paved roadway that leads to the docks. From there, you can access a brick path which leads you to both restrooms and an observation deck. Birding from these areas is great for waterfowl, especially in winter. There are also grass covered trails accessible from the parking lot. The North Country Trail/Butterfly Trail is also accessible from the McDanels roadway and that trail is covered with soft gravel.
The restrooms are closed during wintertime. The observation deck has seats. There is a pavilion with picnic tables near the observation deck.
Likely Birds: This is a great spot for waterfowl during the winter season. At that time, you can expect to see Bufflehead, Ring Neck Duck, and Hooded Merganser. The Butterfly Trail is great during spring and fall migration for warblers and you can expect to see Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, and Black-and-white Warbler. Brown Creeper and Hermit Thrush have also been spotted here.
Images of the McDanels Boat Launch
