Jennings Environmental Education Center manager Wil Taylor stands by the Old Elm Trail sign at the center in Slippery Rock. The five miles of trails at Jennings are for foot traffic only, but leashed pets are also welcome.

With the arrival of spring and summer on the way, Butler County’s trail-crossed landscape is once again ripe for exploration.

The trails here snake alongside streams and creeks, carve through rocky terrain and climb through hills and valleys.

Here are the trails outdoor enthusiasts can look forward to conquering this year:

Moraine/McConnells Mill state parksMoraine State Park is the county’s top hiking attraction, with more than 28 miles of hiking trails, seven miles of paved bicycle trails, six miles of mountain biking trails and 20 miles of equestrian trails.Three hiking trails each on Lake Arthur’s north and south shores wander through forests, grassy areas and wetlands. Visitors are encouraged to stay on trails at all times to protect themselves and the environment, and leashed pets are welcome.Both the paved and mountain biking trails have trail heads on Lake Arthur’s north shore, while horseback riders are welcome along designated trails in the southwest and eastern parts of the park, as well as designated roadsides.McConnells Mill State Park offers guests nine miles of hiking trails, much of them crossing and following the Slippery Rock Creek and Slippery Rock Gorge.Many of McConnells Mill State Park’s trails are part of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

North Country National Scenic TrailThe North Country trail, one of eight National Scenic Trails, stretches from New York state to North Dakota. In Butler County, the trail passes through Moraine State Park, with about 15 miles along Lake Arthur, past the Davis Hollow Cabin, Jennings Environmental Education Center and the Old Stone House.Also in Butler County, the trail passes through State Game lands 95, Parker and runs along the Allegheny River and the North Fork of Bear Creek. Trail users also pass through Hemlock forest and cross two arched bridges.For information, visit http://northcountrytrail.org.

Jennings Environmental Education CenterIn addition to its educational programs, Jennings offers guests more than five miles of trails of varying difficulty, traversing its 300 acres.Jennings appeases hikers with a unique combination of forest and a 20-acre prairie ecosystem, the only public and protected prairie in the state. It also is home to distinctive prairie plants and the endangered Massasauga rattlesnake.The trails, marked by signs at regular intervals, are for foot traffic only and leashed pets are welcome.For information, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/jennings/index.htm.

Butler-Freeport Community TrailThe 21-mile Butler-Freeport Community Trail primarily follows the Buffalo Creek Watershed in southeast Butler County. Starting in Laneville, the trail cuts through three miles along the Buffalo Creek Gorge, then follows the Little Buffalo Creek for about eight miles. The trail crisscrosses the gorge and creek several times as it snakes its way toward Butler, offering views of whispering creeks, rocky cliffs and dense forest along the way.The trail, built on the former Western Pennsylvania Railroad connecting Butler to Freeport, is a mostly level, crushed limestone surface with a gradual uphill grade traveling north and a downhill grade for southbound joggers, bicyclists and hikers.Users may access the trail through at least 15 different trail heads.Information and maps can be found at http://butlerfreeporttrail.org.

Alameda ParkThe Butler County park in Butler Township is better known for its playgrounds, pavilions and swimming pool, but several miles of trails exist there, too.Butler County still is expanding the trails, so some are better marked than others. Some trails are incomplete and the park still is working on a trail map.The trail system includes a paved section of Alameda Park Road, which connects to West Penn Street. The county closed the road to vehicles in 2008, leaving it safer for walkers, bikers and runners.

Todd Nature PreserveOperated by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, Todd Nature Reserve covers 176 acres near Sarver, with five miles of hiking trails of varying difficulty. The reserve is part of Pennsylvania Audubon’s Buffalo Valley Important Bird Area program, as well as the Buffalo Creek Watershed Conservation Plan.The trails offer views of forest, streams and ponds for hikers, but pets are not permitted.For information, visit www.aswp.org.

Allegheny River TrailStarting in Emlenton, just north of the Butler County border in Venango County, and stretching 32 miles to Oil City, the Allegheny River Trial offers a smooth ride over asphalt. It passes through two long, dark railroad tunnels, but outdoor enthusiasts may most enjoy the river and surrounding woodlands, which earned of the trail between Franklin and Emlenton a spot in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system.For information, visit www.avta-trails.org.

Preston ParkThe 88-acre park, donated to Butler Township by Jane Preston, has several walking trails marked by unique plant life, ponds and wildlife. Bridges on the trail, an arboretum and buildings from the Preston’s estate, which dot the property, all add to hikers’ experience. Leashed pets are welcome.For information, visit www.butlertwp.org.

Shaffer Walking TrailThe one-mile-long walking trail at Butler County Community College’s main campus in Butler Township was dedicated last month.The blacktop-covered trail is open to the public from dawn to dusk, and trail users may buy a campus parking pass, valid for one year, for $10 at the campus police office in the Student Success Center. After-hours parking is available in the south parking lot off Old Plank Road.The trail is for pedestrians only. Bicycles and skateboards, as well as tobacco use on campus, are prohibited. Pet owners are expected to pick up after their animals.