Loved this park! I found parking in the lot by the garden area. It was great to see so many people…read moreout working in the garden. I took the perimeter trail down the hill and stumbled upon the hidden pond and little falls trail. It was super peaceful and beautiful there! I also saw tons of beautiful flowers and even spotted a butterfly. The sound of birds singing was lovely to hear during my walk. If you need a rest there are a few benches along the trail. I really enjoyed exploring this place and will be back to explore further.

The parks in Pennsylvania, I've found to be well maintained, clean and plenty of open green spaces,…read morefor adults and children alike. Thig his location was the perfect blend with baseball diamonds, football, pee wee little league, paved walking trails, and top notch recreation center , that was clean, welcoming, better then the YMCA in my local area. Perfect way to enjoy the outdoors, on a 60 degree in December, this past Saturday.

This is such a great city park with a mix of paved and natural trails. The paved loop around the…read morepark offers nice views and some hills/grades to get your heart rate up. You can bike or walk, with or without your doggo.

Riverview Park has one of the largest and most extensive trail systems in the Pittsburgh area. With…read moreso many interconnected trails winding through different neighborhoods, it's easy to have a different experience every time you visit. I also like that you can step into a nearby neighborhood and grab something to eat before continuing your hike. Compared to Schenley or Frick Park, it also tends to be less crowded, making it a great option if you're looking for a quieter, more peaceful walk. That said, the trails are not as well maintained as many of Pittsburgh's other parks. Some sections are in great condition, while others have overgrown vegetation, uneven rocky terrain, steep drop-offs, and occasional hazards like broken glass. I noticed small pieces of glass along the Archery Trail, so I would recommend wearing hiking boots or sturdy athletic shoes rather than thin-soled sneakers. Because of the terrain, I think this park is much better suited for walking and hiking than for running. Most of the trails are not wheelchair accessible and may be difficult for young children, older adults, or anyone with mobility challenges. Even with the overgrowth, the scenery is beautiful, and many areas were filled with fragrant plants and wildflowers. I didn't personally see any poison ivy during my visit, but it's always a good idea to stay aware of your surroundings. One area that could definitely be improved is restroom access. There are very few restrooms throughout the park, and one restroom that had been open during a previous visit was locked in the middle of the day on a Sunday. Adding a few portable restrooms near the busiest trailheads would make a big difference for visitors. Parking is easier than I expected. While there aren't many dedicated parking lots, there is plenty of street parking throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. Depending on which trails you choose, you may also come across areas where unhoused individuals have set up encampments. During my visits, everyone kept to themselves and I didn't have any negative interactions, but it's something visitors should be aware of and another reason to stay aware of your surroundings in such a large urban park. The observatory has unfortunately been closed each time I've visited, but the park frequently hosts community events that are worth checking out. It's encouraging to see ongoing improvements, and I hope the city continues investing in this park because it has so much potential. Overall, Riverview Park is a beautiful place to explore and one of Pittsburgh's most expansive trail systems. While there are areas that could benefit from better maintenance, additional restrooms, and continued safety improvements, it's still well worth visiting. With a little more attention, I truly think it has the potential to become one of the best parks in Pittsburgh.

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.

We held my daughter's wedding reception here in 2018. We had use of the house and all the grounds…read more It was beautiful! Rental is ridiculously inexpensive and the staff was so helpful. I'd recommend this place for ANY event.

While staying in the are for work, I came here for a morning walk, as I saw there were trails to…read morewalk on and help me get my steps in. I used the Red Blazed trail and it was fairly decent, nicely cleaned (except spider webs, which I find very annoying) and it was just barely over a mile. The end of it was a very steeeeeep uphill that'll get the heart racing and the sweat running! This park features full restrooms, parking and is pretty well blazed and easy to navigate. Definitely worth a visit!

Wonderful bird walk and talk at lovely facility. Beautiful grounds and fun gift shop.read more

Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve is the headquarters of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania…read more(ASWP). The ASWP's website says that this reserve contains 134 acres of sanctuary, several trails that total five miles, and facilities such as a nature store, native-plant nursery, play area, educational classrooms, teachers' resource center, and a library. Rental spaces include a barn, auditorium, and classroom. My husband and I visited the nature store and the native-plant nursery. At the nature store, we saw products such as bird feeders, bird seed, binoculars, gardening gloves, nature books, t-shirts, honey, stuffed animals, puzzles, greeting cards, etcetera. At the native-plant nursery outside, we thought that the plants were somewhat small in size but had a varied selection and were priced reasonably. The ASWP's website has a list of available plants, which includes over 150 species of trees, shrubs, and perennials that attract birds, butterflies, and bees. In the future, I plan to return to Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve to hike their trails. I think that I would enjoy seeing their woodlands, fields, streams, pond, and wildlife.

This is the oldest park in the City of Pittsburgh dating back to the late 1860s…read more Happens to be one of my favorite parks and I've spent a lot of time here throughout my life. The park is almost 84 acres with lovely green spaces, trees, benches, picnic areas and playgrounds. The park is between Allegheny Center and Allegheny West and is sectioned off. For example, east park is at Mexican War Streets with walking trails. West has Lake Elizabeth and the Aviary. North has walking trails and a decorative fountain. The park is lovely for relaxation no matter which section you're in. Loads of events take place here from Pride events to races, political events, concerts, food drives and more. Absolutely beautiful park. It's become a little more famous in the last year or so as it can be seen in some scenes of the show The Pitt. It's where they've had after shift beers, and a couple of other scenes. To me, it's a park I grew up hanging out at.

Beautiful park! Paved walking paths, a lake, and many gorgeous trees. It is very close to the…read moreMexican War Streets, so if you are interested in more walking it is easy to add that onto the park paths. Some paths are paved, some are not. On a Saturday you are likely to see lots of dogs. There is also a playground for kids.

Well maintained park with walking paths And mature trees. Also playground equipment for the kiddos…read moreseems very popular! Very nice on a hot summer day!

This place is so great! I love the hiking trail! They have ropes there to assist you and a sign…read morethat says to hike at your own risk. It's beautiful. I like the two playgrounds right next to each other and the little sandpit. I could sit in the shade by the creek while I watched my kids play.

One of our local favorites! From the gardens to the cafe and the special events throughout the…read moreyear. Staff is always friendly at the door when you walk in and at the cafe. I sometimes go to the cafe to work - although not really set up for this (make sure your computer is charged). I love browsing the gift shop. There is always something there to gift or that I want (but don't need) for myself. I usually end up leaving with a new book for my daughter. Great spot for some holiday shopping for your nature loving friends and family or a gift exchange. Good in the cafe is usually fresh and tastes great. I've enjoyed their salads, kids menu options and baked goods. The gardens are a wonderful place to plan a picnic or just walk around and take in all the hard work that goes into maintaining the grounds. They have a few areas geared towards kids and a lovely pond to sit and relax by. We especially love to admire the local art exhibits that routinely change.

How have I never reviewed this fine establishment located just outside of Pittsburgh? It's actually…read morein Oakdale, PA about 15 miles from downtown Pittsburgh and worth the drive. I have attended a couple of events here (wedding, birthday) as well as regular visits. With over 65 acres, it was first established in 1988 and has certainly grown in leaps and bounds. It's a wonderfully peaceful and lovely garden that boasts walking paths, light shows (spectacular winter holiday displays), various exhibits, and more. So many plants and flowers to look at and smell. Everything you would expect a botanic garden to be. The last time I went home to Pittsburgh for a visit we took our dog with us and that was amazing. He loved it and I love that he was permitted to visit without issue at all. Everyone who works there is there for a reason, the love of nature and ensuring longevity.