On Saturday I joined twenty others from the Pittsburgh area and beyond for a brisk hike through Moraine State Park. This event was organized by Venture Outdoors, a nonprofit whose mission is to get people of every age involved in outdoor activities in the Pittsburgh area and beyond.

We carpooled with some other hikers and met at the trailhead where our a VO guide led us in introducing ourselves. Then we got underway. Venture outdoors has events for every skill level and they are clearly delineated on the website. This hike was listed as moderate and took us up and down hills and over some mildly rocky terrain. Mike, our very knowledgeable guide kept us on track and even pointed out interesting facts about the area along the way.

Moraine State Park is a 16,725 acre state park about 45 miles north of Pittsburgh. The park surrounds Lake Arthur, a man made body of water that’s popular for sailing, swimming, fishing and a variety of other activities. The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources describes this reserve as ‘an outstanding example of environmental engineering and achievement.” It’s true. As Mike, our guide explained, this area was once laid waste by oil drilling and strip mining. A moraine is an accumulation of soil and debris left by a receding glacier. Seeing the potential of this area’s natural features, the state reclaimed the land and opened it as a state park in 1970.

The hike took us 8 miles through the back woods trails around Lake Arthur along what is known as the North Country Trail. As it winds and wends its way around the lake, this trail intersects with some other trails, some for hiking, some meant specifically for mountain biking. The route took us far from the sound of highway traffic and into pure green serenity. We followed the white trail blazes and stopped halfway to break for lunch at the beautiful marina. We rested our legs and refilled our water bottles as the soft breeze cooled our bodies.
The hike was a great way to spend a Saturday escaping the sounds of the city. It was only $5 for Venture Outdoors members and $8 for nonmembers. More information about all kinds of outdoor activities is available on the VO website.