It's pretty. It's not a super exciting trail but there are nice picnic areas and it's very green.read more

A wonderful treasure of the Pittsburgh region. I have learned untold knowledge of wildflowers…read morenative to Western Pennsylvania by walking these trails each Spring. It's a living museum of wildflowers! With an abundance of Trillium in the 1980's, the park was a stunning sight with blankets of Trillium. But a growing deer population in the 90's decimated the Trillium population. An experimental deer enclosure revitalized the park, and the wildflowers are making an impressive comeback. While there is only a few miles of trail here, the wildflowers are the main attraction, and you should come in successive weeks in April and into May if you want to admire these fleeting beauties. Dedicated volunteers regularly remove invasive species, and each year the trails and bridges are regularly repaired and upgraded. For your first trip, go with a wildflower expert, such as a guided tour provided by Venture Outdoors, which is excellent. See you on the trail!

When I lived in Bloomfield, I'd often walk over to Oakland and the Panther Hollow Trail. The trail…read moreis part of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail system. It's well-maintained and kept clean. The trail is perfect for walking and biking. Whether you're out for a casual & leisurely walk or to get your jog on, it's a perfect trail. Peaceful and serene, surrounded by nature in the heart of a bustling city.

Given that I live in N. Oakland, this trail is my gateway to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail…read moreSystem, a.k.a. the bike trails that run along all of Pittsburgh's rivers. It cuts through Schenley Park in pretty much the straightest and least hilly manner possible, connecting Oakland and Greenfield. The only part of this trail that I don't particularly like is the Greenfield end, where it loops around through part of the neighborhood, under the railroad bridge, and up into the trailhead parking lot for the Eliza Furnace trail. While it may be the safest way to get through this neighborhood at present, I particularly dislike the narrow blind corners, so on my way up to the trail, I often avoid them by climbing the hill and crossing the RR tracks (which you're not supposed to do, but I'm a railfan, so I know about trains and I'm careful). Speaking of which, closer to the Oakland side, this trail connects to the other Schenley Park trails via a connector that crosses the RR tracks. While not nearly as busy as many other RR tracks in PGH, these tracks (the same ones I cross) see a few trains a day, so take appropriate caution when crossing them. I've heard that wild turkeys live along this trail, but I've never actually seen them--at least, not in the park. (I did see them near Central Catholic HS one time). If you do encounter them, be careful, as they are hostile to cyclists and may attack!

The Youghiogheny River Trail consists of 71 miles of crushed limestone rail trail from McKeesport,…read morePA to Confluence, PA. This trail is part of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) which extends from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MA for 150 miles then hooks up with the C & O Towpath for 185 miles to take you to Washington, D.C. (total of 335 miles). Mostly used by cyclists but it is also used by walkers and runners. Per the Regional Trail Council's website, the policy is that no motorized vehicles are allowed except for those who have mobility impairments as listed in this article of 2010 and is current as of 6/23/17 when posting this review: http://www.regionaltrailcorp.com/RTC_Mobility%20Device_Policy.pdf. As a disclaimer, I am only the messenger of the policy, not the author, and have re-posted in good-faith that it is current. It's a beautiful trail and very well maintained. On Sunday, June 4th, they had their annual Yough-n-Roll fundraiser to both promote the trail and drum up support for the many volunteers than maintain the trail. We saw evidence of much branch trimming going on. Boston, PA is one of the access points and one we use quite a bit for our starting point. They have plenty of parking there and it takes about 30 minutes from Monroeville to get there. Then, we like to ride to West Newton for 14 miles making for a 28 mile round trip ride. Once in West Newton, we love to eat at the Trailside (right along the trail). They have a great deck or you can dine inside when it's too hot. They have much to choose from and we usually go for one of their salads or sandwiches. Plus, they offer cold water to fill up your water bottle, a welcomed gesture for cyclists. There's also a bike shop below the restaurant that's quite handy. Can't say enough good things about the trail and all the amenities along the entire Youghiogheny River Trail. Worried there won't be enough restrooms? Well, if you see a ball field, there's probably a porta-potty. See Dravo Cemetery? There's a restroom. See a town with restaurants and civilization? They have restrooms. Want to visit a state park and maybe hike or kayak? Well, there's Ohiopyle right on the trail. Want to get a GAP jersey? West Newton has a store which carries them. Want beautiful photo ops? Say no more. You'll have plenty chances to take pics of flowers, water, birds, deer, turtles, maybe a snake (don't be scared -- they don't want to eat you. Be nice and ride around anything that looks like a stick. Remember your feet are on your pedals above any snakes.). Need a bike store? There's one in West Newton and Confluence. Need lodging? Connelsville has a new hotel right along the trail plus there are B & B's in quite a few of the towns. We've stayed in lodging in Ohiopyle and Confluence and were not disappointed. This Wikipedia site will tell you where access points are and where to park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youghiogheny_River_Trail This website will tell you about the Mon/Yough Trail Council that volunteers to maintain the trail from McKeesport to the Westmoreland County line and how you can join or donate: http://thebostontrail.com/ This website will tell you about the Westmoreland Yough Trail Chapter volunteers to maintain the trail in Westmoreland County and how you can join or donate: https://www.bikewytc.org/ Oh, and here's the website that will tell you about all the chapters supporting this trail: http://www.regionaltrailcorp.com/chapters.html

My favorite thing about Pittsburgh in summer…read more The rivers keep this trail cool and breezy. It's long - you can go all the way to Ohiopyle (the trail is quite pretty out that way), or even, with some interruptions, Washington DC! It's all very green. The crushed limestone surface is very well-kept and good for mountain bikes and road bikes alike. There are stops for water, bathrooms, benches, a picturesque old cemetery. In case of rain, there are a number of covered picnic tables and baseball dugouts along the way that you can duck into. There are wildflowers and groundhogs and bunnies and little waterfalls. And snakes. And an ex-Tastee Freeze that now goes by the name Yough Twister. Hm. The only real drawback is that you have to drive to the trail with your bike from Pittsburgh. You can't even take a bus; the buses that run to McKeesport, where the trail officially begins (as of now) don't carry bikes. There are lots of entrances to the path, most marked with little signs. In the town of Boston, PA there is a big parking lot and some playing fields and rest rooms that make a good place to start. Remember speedy Pittsburghers, pass on the left and hail when passing! Oh, and like all the great bike paths I love, this one has been the site of some highway robbery . . . Because this is a rails-to-trails, there is almost no elevation change. If I had kids, I'd take them here. But I would encourage them NOT to stop in the middle of the path if they needed to adjust something on their bicycles. Much better any day than a trip to Lake Erie. It's also nice in the fall.

It has kind of an odd name for a park, but I got the feeling that there is much to offer here. For…read moremy first visit I took the easier trail that goes along the railroad and veers up a bit. It is very damp and almost swampy as far as I can tell. I am not sure how true that is, maybe it was just because it was after a big rain. The trail is a decent hike that ends at the train tracks. There was a ton of mushrooms and other types of fungi, which was pretty cool to see. I also saw some deer and old ruins while I was on this trail. I have heard that the other trail has some pretty nice views of local towns. I am going to have to come back again and check out the rest of it. I guess we can add this place to the ever growing list of natural areas to visit near Pittsburgh.

A wonderful place to see wildflowers and birds. There are some species of birds that you won't find…read moreanywhere else. The conservation area is managed by the Allegheny Land Trust. The one side of the park is a difficult climb, the trail goes up a very steep hill, but the views are nice.

Relatively unknown, Powdermill Nature Reserve is a beautiful place to take a day trip from…read morePittsburgh to enjoy a fun-filled day outdoors. The small well-designed Nature Center with ecology exhibits is surrounded by public trails to explore its beautiful woodlands. Admission is free. Autumn is the best time to visit in my opinion. Check out their special programs calendar for more activity opportunities.

Powdermill Nature Reserve is a slice of PA natural wonder in the laurel highlands. The museum and…read morehiking trails are complimentary and filled with several interactive exhibits all dedicated to the Western Pennsylvania environment. This was a really fun day trip!

an excellent hidden gem, allowing exploration of nature & art…read more old tunnels & forgotten track tracks covered in graffiti paired with natural rock formations & a short creek nature trail walk covered in moss & various fauna, all blending together for quite a scenic experience it was a delightful off-the-beaten-path visit, not sure I'd go routinely if I lived in the area, but would definitely recommend as a one time must-check out experience

I have always loved this hidden South Hills gem. Art and exploration nestled in an urban setting…read more Wooded green space with a creek and little paths for walking, lunching, and more. Natural stone and man-made features for climbing. Abandoned railroad tracks, graffiti and more.

This is a lovely area. We had a nice little drive around, and then stopped to do the hike out to…read moreAdam Falls. The small parking area by the trailhead also features an adjacent playground space, plus a nice picnic area. A stream ambles along, and signage indicates that it is stocked with fish. The hike takes you through the woods around to a nice little waterfall, very picturesque in the wood setting. They offer cabins too for those who want to stay onsite and extend their stay.

My favorite park next to Acadia. I have so many childhood memories here. The exploration is endless…read moreand good for almost any level of hiking. I walk, I do not hike. Many hikers enjoy hiking here. Flat Rock is the best for some free water sliding on rocks fun. The area has numerous amazing parts and you need to go back time and time again. Enjoy picnicking and having fun making memories. Keep it nice and clean up after yourself!

Folks, I've had so many incredible photos I've shot from here over the years and need to really…read morepull them up and get posted. Perhaps it's just an excuse to visit on my next trip home. The park is on the Mount (Mt. Washington) with over 250 acres and crazy-good views of the city. It has gardens and walking trails (10+ miles). The most interesting and best part of this park is that it was a dump site (illegal) restored into a beautiful area for everyone to enjoy.

Emerald View is a Pittsburgh treasure! The concept is stunning, a series of trails that encircle…read morethe neighborhoods of Mt Washington and Duquesne Heights. The reward is a natural paradise in the midst of an urban center and stunning views of the Downtown skyline. You can hike within the dense canopy of leaves, and then arrive at beautiful views of the West End, the West End Bridge, and of Downtown. The park showcases the city in such a unique way, and it is only minutes away from our downtown hotels. What a remarkable treat for Pittsburgh visitors, but also city residents. Created in 2005, it's the newest and smallest of our network of 5 main city parks, that include Frick, Schenley, Highland, and Riverview. The trails were professionally designed, then developed by community volunteers plus a workforce training program. It's 257 acres, and filled with opportunities for birding, nature hikes, and urban exercise.