The best walks and hikes around Shanor-Northvue

The Laneville Trailhead is the southernmost point of the Butler-Freeport Community Trail. This location offers a parking lot and convenient access to the Buffalo River to cool down after a hike.

Buffalo Creek begins in Hartley Township, flowing eastward between Buffalo Mountain and Branch Mountain. It depends, though, on Gooseneck and Buffalo Gap. Its name origin is unclear, as buffalo were almost nonexistent in the state at the time it was named.

Derailleur Bike Shop Café is just off the Butler-Freeport Community Trail; both bikers and hikers can enjoy a coffee or snack there. The menu ranges from ice cream sandwiches to tamales, so there is a treat for anyone. There is also a bike repair shop here. It's a great mom-and-pop shop to stop by and support in the community.

Moraine State Park East Loop offers a network of hiking trails with multiple trailheads. The trails feature a mix of loops and out-and-back spurs, providing various routes for horseback riding. The east side of the park permits snowmobiles in winter and is popular among equestrians, although with equestrian use, the trails can become muddy after it has been raining. Horseback riding is restricted to designated trails and roadsides.

Lake Arthur, the central feature of the park, spans 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.

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.

Here, hikers can explore a section of the North Country National Scenic Trail, which in Pennsylvania features nearly 250 miles of this long trail. It is a part of a 3,200-mile National Scenic Trail extending from Crown Point, NY, to Lake Sakakawea, ND, and will become the longest continuous footpath in the U.S. once finished. Here there are opportunities to spot deer and black bears. The trail crosses notable areas like McConnells Mill, Moraine, and Cook Forest State Parks, maintained by volunteers from local chapters.

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.