The Awesome Moraine State Park
Moraine State Park is 16,725 acres, with 1,750 square feet of beach, 71 miles of trails and 42 miles of shoreline. What can you do with all of that space?
Hike 38 miles. Ride your horse for 20 miles. Bike seven miles. Mountain bike for six miles. Snowmobile for 26 miles. Have a picnic at one of the park’s 705 picnic tables. Keep your boat on the lake with 542 marina slips and 395 mooring spaces.
Each year, over two-million people visit Moraine State Park, making it Butler County’s top attraction. The newest addition to the Park is Preston’s Pearl, a tour boat that offers a variety of cruises on Lake Arthur. Cruises are offered from Memorial Day Weekend through October, and more information can be found at Moraine Preservation Fund. Another unique way to enjoy the lake is through stand up paddleboarding lessons and guided eco tours with SurfSUP Adventures.
The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise posted. Park information, launch permits, cabin information and assistance can be obtained at the park office near the entrance to the South Shore. The office is open year-round, Monday through Friday, 8 AM-4 PM, and weekends during the summer.
Before visiting, check out the DCNR’s Rules and Regulations, calendar and download the park map.
MORAINE - LAND ACTIVITIES
BIKING
Pedal along the paved bicycle path at Moraine State Park that runs along the shoreline of Lake Arthur. This scenic trail is 7-miles (each way) and located on the north. It is not a loop. The trail winds throughout the park’s various terrains and has several grades and curves. The trail can be accessed at Spoke House Bike Rental and many other places in the Lakeview Beach and Watts Bay Marina areas. Please exercise caution and be considerate of other riders and walkers when using this trail.
Bike Rental - Don’t want to bring your own bike? No problem! Just rent one from Spoke House Bike Rentals. They offer rentals for a variety of bikes like single, multi-gear, tag-a-longs, childrens and tandem bikes, gear and child pull behinds. They are open Friday - Sunday in April and May from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and everyday in June, July and August from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; weather permitting.
BIRDING
Moraine State Park is a great place to spot our feathered friends. Bald Eagles, herons, warblers, ducks and Osprey are among the many species that can be found throughout the park’s nearly 17,000 acres. The waterfowl observation deck is a nice sheltered area to watch bird life. The observation deck is accessible from Rt 528 near Prospect. Learn about Osprey reintroduction while appreciating the gorgeous scenery and wildlife on Preston's Pearl, an enclosed pontoon boat operated by Moraine Preservation Fund.
CAMPING
The Link Road Overnight Shelter on the North Country National Scenic Trail is available to backpackers by reservation only. Eleven modern cabins are available for rent year-round. These electrically heated cabins sleep six people and have two bedrooms, bathroom with shower, kitchen, dining/living area and a dock on Lake Arthur during the summer season. Renters must provide their own linens, towels, cookware and tableware. Play equipment for children is in a central area. Cabin 11 is ADA accessible. Dogs are permitted in cabins 7 and 11 for a fee.
There are two tent camping areas available for organized groups: Muskrat Cove and Five Points. These rustic camps have picnic tables, cooking grills and water, but no showers. Advance reservations are required.
DISC GOLFING
An 18-hole disc golf course is in the Lakeview Day Use Area. This par 66 championship level course has spectacular views and scenery while challenging disc golfers with a strenuous but rewarding workout. The course was used as part of the 2015 and 2021 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships! Visit Lake Disc Golf Course.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Moraine State Park offers a wide variety of environmental education, interpretive and recreational programs. Through hands-on educational activities, guided walks and evening programs, participants gain appreciation, understanding and a sense of stewardship toward natural and cultural resources.
Programs are offered year-round. Teacher workshops and educational programs for students are available.
Please contact the park office or go to www.visitPAparks.com for more information.
GEOCACHING
The park is open for geocaching 8 a.m. to sunset. Search 16051 on www.geocaching.com for locations. To place a cache, approval and a maintenance agreement is needed from the park office. GPS units can be checked out with valid ID if not in use for educational programming.
HIKING
There are 28 miles of trails. The hiking trails of Moraine State Park wander through forests and grassy areas, along lake edges and past wetlands. For your safety and to protect the resource, please stay on the trails. For the safety of all park visitors, please keep dogs leashed and under physical control at all times. A great overview of the park's trails is available here through Moraine State Park.
North Country National Scenic Trail - Venture out on Glacier Ridge Trail, a 15-mile trail that’s part of The North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT). The NCT spans 4,800 miles over eight states from North Dakota to Vermont, and can be accessed in multiple areas of Butler County. The NCT is the only national trail to stretch west to east and winds through Moraine State Park and Jennings Environmental Education Center. With several entry points for hikers, the trail offers diverse landscapes, beautiful views of Lake Arthur, protected prairies and the forest.
HORSEBACK RIDING
20 miles of equestrian trails are in the southwest and east sides of the park. Riding is limited to designated trails and roadsides throughout the park.
HUNTING
About 13,600 acres of Moraine State Park are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are waterfowl, deer, turkey, grouse, bear, rabbit, pheasant and squirrel. No hunting areas are posted. A map is available at the park office showing portions of the park open to hunting. No hunting areas are posted. Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for ADA accessible hunting information.
Mountain Biking
A 6-mile loop trail for mountain bikes is on the North Shore. Trailheads are located off of Mt. Union Road and Alexander Ridge Road. This technical trail is for experienced off-road riders in good physical condition who have equipment for off-road riding. It was named one of the most technical mountain bike trails in the world!
PICKNICKING
Take in the spectacular scenery while having a picnic at one of the many designated picnic areas within the park. Find your favorite spot and utilize the picnic tables, charcoal grills and public restrooms. Some facilities are ADA accessible. Seven picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. All picnic areas are open from sunrise to sunset.
Winter Activities
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
Pleasant Valley and Sunken Garden trails are groomed when snow conditions permit. The trails are blazed with yellow and pink and are suitable for all skill levels.
SLEDDING
A very popular sledding area is near the Pleasant View Picnic Area on the South Shore.
SNOWMOBILING
Conditions permitting, 26 miles of trails in the north and west portions of the park can be snowmobiled. There must be at least six inches of snow on the paved bike trail. Studded track snowmobiles are prohibited on the paved bike trail. Please refer to bulletin boards for additional rules and regulations for snowmobiling.
SNOWSHOEING
Snowshoeing is recommended at Jennings Environmental Education Center since cross-country ski trails are not groomed. However, snowshoeing is permitted at Moraine on designated hiking trails. Hikers must stay off to the side of groomed trails so as to not break up the set track.