Destination Thursday: Mosey along the hiking trails of Moraine

First conceived in the 1950s, Moraine State Park was a dream of the late Dr. Frank Preston of Butler County, Meridian, PA. A noted amateur geologist, Dr. Preston studied and mapped the formerly glacial landscape of Lawrence and Butler counties. Through his research, he recognized that Muddy Creek once supplied a vast lake filled with the melt waters of the last glaciation. His dream was to reconstruct, on a smaller scale, that glacial lake and provide the region with a major new recreational area.

Preston enlisted the support of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, where he served on the Board of Directors, and WPC began to acquire land for the project. Once several thousand acres had been secured, the Conservancy transferred its holdings to the Pa. Bureau of State Parks, and Moraine State Park was created. In 1969, the dam was completed and the lake began to fill. Many facilities have since been added, offering a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Moraine State Park now hosts over one million visitors each year, making it the second most heavily used park in Pennsylvania. The combination of landscapes can allow for a quiet visit to an isolated wildflower-filled ravine, birding along wetland edges, sailing or sailboarding, or a lazy afternoon fishing with the family.

One feature, the Moraine State Park Bike Trail, can help you to enjoy all of these activities more easily. This 7.0-mile-long winding, asphalt ribbon begins on the west side of the park, and follows the north shore of Lake Arthur. Complete with milepost markers, the trail passes through a mosaic of secluded habitats, and offers outstanding views of the lake. It also provides access to swimming beaches, cabins, picnic areas, and marinas. The 14-mile out-and-back ride can be easily done in a few hours, or can be extended to include other activities which will fill a full day. The trail is open for biking, rollerblading, running, and hiking. Dogs are permitted on leashes. Bikes to rent are available at the bike concession.

The park has six hiking trails: Hilltop Trail: 1.1 mile short loop, or 3 mile loop, moderate hiking, green blazes; Sunken Garden Trail: 1.9 short loop, or 3 mile loop, moderate hiking, pink blazes; Pleasant Valley Trail: 2.6 miles, easy hiking, yellow blazes; Wyggeston Trail: 1.5 to 4.5 miles, moderate to difficult hiking, orange blazes; Glacier Ridge Trail: 14 miles, difficult hiking, blue blazes; and Five Points Trail: 1.5 mile, easy hiking, light green blazes.

For more information, call 724-368-8811, or go to http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/moraine.aspx.

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