Social Distance Exploring

There’s So Much to Do... Explore When you want to

Butler County offers many ways to explore the great outdoors and an abundance of recreational opportunities to enjoy by yourself or with others. Whether you’re hiking or biking in the parks or adding a dose of nostalgia at the Drive-in movie theatre, you’ll certainly find variety here and plenty of options to have fun while social distancing. If you enjoy exploring the great outdoors Butler County has numerous trails to discover. You’ll not only find hiking, walking, and bike trails, but exciting places to go see all kinds of wildflowers and birds. Lace up a good pair of shoes and get moving!

Fishing

Whether you’re looking for the chance to get your kids reconnected with nature and family, or maybe you’re a die-hard angler seeking a trophy, Butler County offers the perfect fishing destination. Favorite fishing spots include Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park, Glade Run Lake, and the Slippery Rock Creek.

Hiking

There are numerous trails for hiking throughout the area at nearly 15 parks! Moraine State Park features a variety of hiking options with 28 miles of trails and Jennings Environmental Education Center has a 5-mile trail system for visitors to enjoy year round. From scenic paved bike paths and challenging mountain biking trails at Moraine State Park to a 21-mile rail-trail on the Butler-Freeport Community Trail, you’ll certainly find a wide variety of biking options to pedal your way through Butler County.

Kayaking

Another favorite outdoor activity is kayaking, especially during the summer months. Enjoy paddling through the calm waters of Connoquenessing Creek, Glade Run Lake, and Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park.

Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Explore the waters in a unique way through stand-up paddleboarding. SurfSUP Adventures offers guided eco-tours at Moraine State Park with equipment included.

Whether it’s disc golf, traditional golf, or miniature golf, you’ll certainly have plenty of locations to enjoy spending the day outside. So grab the clubs or the discs and find the perfect course in Butler County!

Disc Golf

Butler County offers a variety of championship disc golf courses located at Moraine State Park, Slippery Rock University, and a new course in Cranberry Township. The new course is the largest disc golf course in Pennsylvania and one of the longest disc golf courses in the world. Located in North Boundary Park, this course includes two miles of nature trails, an 18-hole Championship Disc Golf Course, and a 6-hole ADA accessible learn-to-play course.

Golf

The golf courses in Butler County are scenic and one-of-a-kind. Surrounded by wooded hills and panoramic views, you’ll find generous fairways, distinctive greens, and a variety of strategically placed features that create a fun and challenging game for scratch golfers and raw beginners alike. In Butler County you can experience eight courses all within thirty minutes of each other. Refer to page 21 for a list of courses.

Miniature Golf

Both miniature golf courses at Fun Fore All and Mars-Bethel Golf are a must-visit, especially for the kids! Fun Fore All is one of the largest year-round family entertainment centers in the area and features two beautifully landscaped miniature golf courses that have a number of scenic waterfalls. Mars-Bethel Golf has a vintage miniature golf course plus a 9-hole Par 3 course, SoccerGolf, and Chuckin’ Golf.

Drive-In Movie Theatre

Add a dose of nostalgia to your routine with a visit to the Starlight Drive-In. Since 1958, the Starlight Drive-In has been providing affordable family fun and entertainment. From April through October, make a visit for a relaxing night of double-feature movies under the stars. They also feature a 18-hole miniature golf course along with a covered pavilion and picnic tables.

The history and art scene in Butler County has something for everyone to enjoy. Hop in the car and take a selfguided driving tour on Washington’s Trail or discover unique aspects of Chinese and Japanese art and culture at the Maridon Museum.

Maridon Museum

Butler’s Maridon Museum is the only museum in the Western Pennsylvania region to focus specifically on Chinese and Japanese art and culture. Containing over 800 objects, the museum holds jade and ivory sculptures, tapestries, landscape paintings, and artifacts from the Neolithic to the 20th century. The porcelain collection features Meissen (German pottery) pieces from the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum — both the objects and the buildings that house them — was the gift of Mary Hulton Phillips.

Washington’s Trail 1753

Take a self-guided driving tour on young George Washington’s Trail as it winds throughout Butler County and western PA. Washington’s Trail is a signed and self-guided driving route through ten counties in western Pennsylvania, extending from the MD / PA border in the south to Fort LeBoeuf in Waterford, PA, in the north. Commemorating young George Washington’s first military diplomatic mission in the fall and winter from 1753-1754, Washington’s Trail is currently under review by the National Park Service for potential National Historic Trail status.