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.

City parks in general, but Frick, Schenley, and Riverview in particular are amazing recreational…read moreassets that are unequalled in other metro areas. I was fortunate and privileged to grow up with Frick as my backyard and walked all over the place before graduating to riding mountain bikes on the trails when the sport was in its infancy. Later, I ran high school cross-country races in Schenley and trained in Frick Park. Nowadays, we enjoy the flowers, wildlife, and groomed and maintained trails. I never appreciated how unique, rare, and amazing the parks are until I moved away and it's so great to see them treated as the unique assets they truly are.

Frick Park is a dense network of interconnected trails that helps define Pittsburgh as a city of…read moreparks. I keep coming back and exploring different paths, only to realize there's always more to discover. It's one of those places where you can return again and again and still find something new, which makes it feel really special to me. The way the trails connect is one of my favorite things. Nine Mile Run flows into Deer Creek, which then connects into Tranquil Trail, creating an easy, continuous experience through the park. And thats just one corner of the park. While bathrooms are not abundant, you will occasionally find a porta potty, and there is often trash cans and benches toward the entrances and parking lots of the trail as well. Overall it's just a wonderful place to spend a sunny afternoon, and I really hope spaces like this continue to be preserved as an important part of Pittsburgh's identity and history.

I love hiking in autumn. The crisp air, the crackle of leaves under my boots and the quiet moments…read morein nature. Kane Woods Nature Area in Scott Township is a great place for a hike. Several trail heads with parking. Well maintained easy trails. And super cool that dogs are allowed off leash in this wooded wonderland.

This is going to be my go to walking area if I want a quick car ride, clean trails and moderately…read morechallenging hiking. It takes me about 15 minutes by car to get here and it is a synch to find. Parking is super ample. In fact there are three different parking lots. The trails are so well marked and plotted that there is almost no way to get lost. I admit at first try I got a bit side tracked, but then found my way in a few minutes. Be ready for friendly four legged furries coming over to say hello to you. I was actually pretty stoked about this, but some people are not so big on dogs. They do have signs posted about leashing your dog, which most people adhere to, so no problems there. Will post pics soon, with possible videos as well.

I discovered Thornburg Conservation Park earlier this year, when I was searching for a new place to…read morego for regular walks. I now really love coming here for a quick dose of nature during my week! Finding the parking lot ended up being my first adventure here, because Google maps kept taking me to a residential street on the other side of the railroad tracks that sit above the park. The actual entrance is behind the Thornburg Public Works Building; easy to get to once you know where you're going, but boy did the GPS make it hard initially. The park itself is apparently thirty-eight acres (so says the borough website), and it has interconnecting trails that are very easy to navigate. The terrain is fairly flat overall, although if you walk further up the creek it can get bumpy in spots. It's definitely worth stopping by throughout the year to see the changing colors and the seasonal blooms come and go. I even saw a hummingbird during one visit this summer - not sure anything will top that! Note that dogs are allowed in the park by permit only, although I tend to see a lot of folks walking with their four legged friends so I don't think it's hard to get a permit. All in all, this is a peaceful and beautiful place to visit, and is especially nice on days where a shorter and easy-paced nature walk is needed. Here's to my next stroll at Thornburg!

I just took a venture over this way for some very light hiking. I usually bring my hiking boots,…read morebut this time I just wore regular shoes and that was a bad choice. There is grass covering the main trails that is very wet and kind of like a bog. My shoes and socks got very wet romping through here. There was multiple species of butterfly including cabbage white, silvery checkerspot, pearl crescent, hackberry emperor and a hawk moth. I also saw some white tailed deer and squirrels. There were two sets of wooden steps that looked very dilapidated. The wood is rotten and uneven. If I was not more agile I would have fallen trying to walk on them. This didn't make me want to walk on the rest of this trail. Besides the fact that some of the park is in a sad state of disrepair and there is very thick grass covering a good portion of the trails, it is a nice place to explore and very picturesque scenery. The Chartiers Creek is a nice big body of water that is relaxing to enjoy. There is beautiful wildlife to experience and it is quiet and peaceful. The trails are of a very mild difficulty for hiking as it is mostly pretty flat. Not too bad.

Here's a bonanza for birders, fishermen, hikers and dog walkers alike. I personally have seen many…read morespecies of rare birds at this location. To the right is a nicely paved trail, and to the left is a more rustic path that occasionally opens up to stunning views of the Monongahela River. I often see people park in the ample lot to eat their lunch and gaze at the view. Nearby is a charming neighborhood of homes, tucked away from the hustle of city life. Ebird reports 197 species of birds making this the number one hotspot in Pittsburgh and the sixth in Allegheny County. There's a wonderful walking trail that leads from Frick Park to Duck Hollow and it is a pure delight. It features forest, creek and finally river, and I call that unique and worthy of 5 stars.

There was a little bit of litter other than that it was a perfect park. And there were even ducks…read more It would be a great place to bike ride, but we just went for a little walk and it was in between the railroad and the river, so it felt like a perfect Pittsburgh Hideaway.

Grandview Park is a very cool place to hike - not only does it have some awesome Pittsburgh views…read morewith a beautiful, open, flat area featuring benches, picnic tables, porta-potties, trash cans, and even a working three-tier fountain for dogs and people alike, but it has a trail so forest-y that you will not believe how close it is to downtown. Grandview not only has the unique combination of city convenience and natural beauty, but the park hours are 6 AM to 11 PM which makes it a great spot for a first date. One thing to know is that while the main areas are accessible and enjoyable, the trail itself has certain parts where the branches, leaves, and vegetation grow very close to the path, so you may find yourself brushing through plants as you walk. One of the things on the path you may want to be careful about brushing up against are the several branches of what are called wineberry plants along the trail. They are beautiful and fun to spot, but be careful because the stems have thorns and they grow very close to the edges of the trail in some areas. Because the trail can get narrow in places, and it helps to be small and nimble because otherwise you will probably find yourself rubbing against these plants. There is also a hidden gem near the Grandview Park access road between Grandview Elementary and Emerald View Park where you can find two beautiful cypress trees. I have honestly never seen trees quite like these before. They look like what would happen if a regular tree had a soft and sweet little baby with a pine tree. They are unique, whimsical, and somehow both elegant and adorable at the same time. They are definitely worth taking a moment to appreciate when you are on this part of the trail. Another important thing to know is that there are some steep ledges on this trail which are no joke. You actually could get seriously hurt if you fell, so be mindful of where you are walking. Also, make sure you take this trail with someone you trust because, honestly, if someone wanted you to die, there are definitely places where they could make that happen on this trail.

Great view of downtown which makes it a prime spot for the Fourth of July fireworks. This is where…read morewe watched our very first Pittsburgh fireworks. There's some overgrown weeds and trees blocking some of the view behind the bandstand. Otherwise, it's a great spot for live music, food trucks, and views of the sunset and the city.

Right across from the NoBe gym near were Two Guys and a Truck is located. Not hard to find at all…read more Barely a quarter mile up from Route 88 on Valley Drive. Great place to walk a dog. Just clean up after.

Hop on the T, get off at Washington Junction, walk across the street and up Valley Rd. Enjoy this…read moresweet little hiking 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!