Easy hikes and walks in Butler County

Rapp's Seat, located on a steep hillside in Harmony, is a stone-carved chair created by George Rapp, founder of the Harmony Society. Rapp would climb the hill to meditate and look over the town. The site is accessible via wooden steps constructed in 1999 as an Eagle Scout project. The trail leads to a rock outcrop where the seat provides a view of the town and surrounding landscape. Although trees now obstruct some of the view, visitors can still climb to the top often.

The Mennonite Meeting House and Cemetery, preserved by the Harmony Museum, is a beautiful 1825 building that was used as a church, school, and social center for the Mennonite community led by Abraham Ziegler. The building's acoustics make it ideal for small concerts and weddings. Visitors can view it from the street or visit its historic charm during museum hours, from Tuesday to Friday, 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, call (724) 452-7341.

From here get a great view of Lake Arthur, spanning 3,225 acres with 42 miles of shoreline, attracting over one million visitors every year. The lake is a warm-water fishery, home to fish species like northern pike, largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, and bluegill. Visitors can swim at two beaches: Lakeview Beach on the North Shore, a 656-foot sand beach, and Pleasant Valley Beach on the South Shore, a 400-foot turf and sand beach with amenities like sand volleyball, playgrounds, showers, changing facilities, and snack bars. The beaches are open daily from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day, 8:00 a.m. to sunset, with swimming at your own risk as there is no lifeguard.

Here, the North County Trail passes under the US 422 highway, making for a little extra noise and a satisfying view of the concrete underbelly of the highway.

The Jennings Environmental Education Center features Big Run, a stream that winds through the southern area of the reserve. Hikers can cross food bridges to keep their feet dry while exploring. The valley along Big Run was once home to majestic American elms, but most were lost to Dutch elm disease in the 1930s. Today, other bottomland trees, such as yellow birch and basswood, thrive in the rich and wet soils of Big Run Valley.

Blazing Star Trail is a 0.22-mile out-and-back trail perfect for summertime hiking, wintertime snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. It was named after the wildflower that blooms in late July and early August and turns the prairie purple. There are numerous signs along the trail that offer insights into the prairie’s formation and its unique ecosystem. Trailhead amenities include non-flush restrooms, picnic tables, and benches.

Jennings Environmental Education Center is dedicated to providing environmental education, combining protected prairie and forest. It is crucial to stay on the trail and exercise caution to help preserve the area.

Glacier Ridge Trail is a 14.8-mile hiking path in western Pennsylvania, stretching from Moraine State Park to Jennings Environmental Education Center. The trail follows a ridgeline shaped by glaciers during the Last Glacial Period. Hikers can enjoy this scenic area that passes through woods and besides Lake Arthur.