McCroskey State Park—officially Mary Minerva McCroskey State Park—is a public recreation area in the
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Though ...
of the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, located in the
Palouse
The Palouse ( ) is a distinct geographic region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of north central Idaho, southeastern Washington, and, by some definitions, parts of northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primaril ...
region of
northern Idaho
Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyom ...
. The park's stretch along a
ridge
A ridge or a mountain ridge is a geographical feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for an extended distance. The sides of the ridge slope away from the narrow top on either side. The line ...
in
Latah
Latah is a condition in which abnormal behaviors result from a person experiencing a sudden shock or other external stressor almost exclusively having been observed in persons from Southeast Asia. When induced, the affected person typically engag ...
and
Benewah Counties, along the border with
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
.
History
McCroskey State Park was given to the state of Idaho in 1955 by a local conservationist, Virgil T. McCroskey
Virgil Talmadge McCroskey (October 5, 1876 – September 14, 1970) was an American conservationist who spent most of his life in Eastern Washington, eastern Washington (state), Washington. He created two state parks on the Palouse: Steptoe B ...
(1876–1970), who gradually bought up land endangered by logging and cobbled his purchases into a parcel.[ To make the land more attractive to tourists, he cut viewpoints into some of the slopes, built picnic areas, planted flowers, and established a road.
The state legislature, however, had serious doubts about the new park – thinking it would not generate enough revenue to justify the loss in taxes – and agreed to accept the gift only if McCroskey, then in his late seventies, maintained the park at his own expense for the next fifteen years. McCroskey accepted the terms, and lived exactly fifteen more years, fulfilling his obligation to the state of Idaho just weeks before his death in 1970 at age 93.]
McCroskey named the park in honor of his mother Mary,[ a pioneer woman who left ]Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
with her husband and children and came to eastern
Eastern may refer to:
Transportation
*China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai
*Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways
*Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991
*Eastern Air Li ...
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
to establish a homestead near Steptoe Butte
Steptoe Butte is a quartzite island jutting out of the silty loess of the Palouse hills in Whitman County, Washington, in the northwest United States. The butte is preserved as Steptoe Butte State Park, a publicly owned recreation area located ...
; she died when Virgil was 14, and he dedicated it to all pioneer women.[
After his death, the park received less than adequate attention from the state for nearly two decades, until the late 1980s.]
Description
McCroskey State Park occupies the rocky slopes of Skyline Ridge on Mineral Mountain, in a transitional zone between the Palouse
The Palouse ( ) is a distinct geographic region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of north central Idaho, southeastern Washington, and, by some definitions, parts of northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primaril ...
prairie to the west (and south) and the Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico in ...
to the east.[ The park's chief attraction is a narrow unimproved road called Skyline Drive, which winds for along a steep ridge, climbing through dense cedar forest that gives way to stands of ]ponderosa pine
''Pinus ponderosa'', commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow-pine, or filipinus pine is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western North America. It is the ...
and, eventually, to prairie
Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the ...
. The road also links a scattering of interpretive signs and vista points.
In addition, there are of trails open to hiking, mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and pe ...
, horses, and all-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a light utility vehicle (LUV), a quad bike, or simply a quad, as defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI); is a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, with a seat that is stra ...
s. Picnic areas, pit toilets and primitive campsites are available, along with a single source of drinking water near the midpoint of Skyline Drive. Since the park is large, remote, and underutilized, it provides excellent habitat for an assortment of wildlife, including deer, moose, and black bears. Despite McCroskey's "park" status, however, significant logging
Logging is the process of cutting, processing, and moving trees to a location for transport. It may include skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks or skeleton cars.
Logging is the beginning of a supply chain ...
still takes place within park boundaries.
The park lies about north of Potlatch
A potlatch is a gift-giving feast practiced by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and the United States,Harkin, Michael E., 2001, Potlatch in Anthropology, International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Science ...
. The best access point is from Highway 95
Route 95, or Highway 95, may refer to routes in the following countries:
__TOC__
International
* European route E95
Australia
* Great Northern Highway (Western Australia)
* Fossickers Way (New South Wales)
Canada
* British Columbia Highway 95
...
, but visitors can also enter the park from Farmington road on the west side, a few miles north of Farmington, Washington
Farmington is a town in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 146 at the 2010 census.
History
Farmington was laid out in 1878. Farmington was officially incorporated in 1888. At Farmington's peak (1900–1930) the town ...
. On the Farmington side, the only indication of the park's presence is the Skyline Drive sign, and the roads are much rougher.
Gallery
Image:McCroskeysouth.jpg, Looking south from Skyline Drive
Image:McCroskey map.jpg, Map of McCroskey State Park
Image:Mccroskey skyline drive.jpg, Skyline Drive with Steptoe Butte
Steptoe Butte is a quartzite island jutting out of the silty loess of the Palouse hills in Whitman County, Washington, in the northwest United States. The butte is preserved as Steptoe Butte State Park, a publicly owned recreation area located ...
in background
Image:Mccroskey park.jpg, view of Farmington, WA and Steptoe Butte
Steptoe Butte is a quartzite island jutting out of the silty loess of the Palouse hills in Whitman County, Washington, in the northwest United States. The butte is preserved as Steptoe Butte State Park, a publicly owned recreation area located ...
Image:FireplaceDayUseAreaCoveredShelter.jpg, Covered Shelter at the Fireplace Day Use Area
Image:FireplaceScenicView.jpg, Scenic view from Fireplace Day Use Area
See also
* List of Idaho state parks
This is a list of Idaho's 27 state parks managed by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. IIdaho state code there are 30 state parks listed, including Mowry State Park, Veteran's State Park, and Glade Creek. While these three remai ...
* National Parks in Idaho
The six national parks, reserves, historic sites, and monuments in Idaho contain a wide variety of interesting places and experiences. These include recreational areas, archeological sites, nature preserves and volcanic parks.
The parks City of ...
References
External links
McCroskey State Park
Idaho Parks and Recreation
McCroskey State Park Map
Idaho Parks and Recreation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mccroskey State Park
Protected areas of Benewah County, Idaho
State parks of Idaho
Protected areas of Latah County, Idaho
Protected areas established in 1955
1955 establishments in Idaho