Beautiful bike/walk path. We started in Pittsburgh biked through the Three Rivers Heritage Trail…read moreand finished in West Mifflin through The Waterfront and stopped for lunch. Many choices of restaurants to choose from. Well kept grounds and clear paths. Met friendly people along the way. Benches along the path to take a breather. Looking forward to hitting the trails again soon, weather pending of course. Beautiful scenery. Very impressed, highly recommended! Get out and enjoy nature while getting enjoyment and exercise.

Been walking & running this trail for years. Scenery is nice and pretty level from the Rankin…read moreBridge all the way to South Side. There are some narrow sections along Costco and Sandcastle. Watch for bike riders. Most do not yield to pedestrians or cars regardless if they are on the trail, sidewalk, or going through the parking lot. Just be on guard especially if you run/walk with earphones.

I can't believe I haven't reviewed the Great Allegheny Passage Rail Trail until now. It is such a…read morejewel and where I spend a lot of my free time riding my bicycle, especially during this crazy time we're in at the moment with COVID-19. (Note that it is not just for bicycles; walkers and runners also utilize the trail, just not motorized vehicles, so you don't have to compete with cars.) I won't go into all the details of the trail; that is interesting in itself regarding its history, how long it's taken to get the land for the different sections, its steepness grade or lack thereof, all the different towns it goes through, etc. For all of that, I'll give you the very useful link:https://gaptrail.org/ What I will do is give you some highlights and what makes it a jewel to me. It is 150 miles of mostly packed crushed limestone (with a bit of it paved between Pittsburgh and McKeesport) from the Pittsburgh Point Fountain (there's a marker on the ground near it) to Cumberland, MD. Most of it is on what used to be railroad beds and a bit of it is on streets (near downtown Pittsburgh and some in McKeesport). Because of the railroad bed usage, the path follows that grade (meaning gradual steepness with the sharpest elevation gain/loss being between the Eastern Continental Divide and Cumberland). What all the preceding paragraph means is that it is a quite doable trail and comfortable to ride. The packed gravel means it is pretty close to riding on a road surface because it is so packed. The only time that is not true is usually after a downpour when there might be parts of it that retain water. The grade following the grade of the railroads means the gradual incline (if you're going from Pittsburgh to Cumberland) is pretty gradual and a steady 10mph is doable. From the Continental Divide to Cumberland is downhill and is quite easy; coming back is a bit more strenuous -- see the afore-mentioned link to see mileage and grade of that section. I remember when I first heard about the trail; I had no concept of a rail trail to begin with so did not know what to expect in the least. If you're in the same boat, I will say that the trail is open from sun-up to sun-down, there are no street lights lighting the path on purpose though where it travels in spots may have lights for other purposes. It is mostly wide enough for say three bikes across, but don't do that! There is trail etiquette; learn it for everyone's safety and enjoyment -- stay to the right, single file and if you are riding 2 across for any reason, then pay close attention to passers; you'll need to be sure to listen to "on your left' or a bell or some audible signal that someone needs to pass you. On the converse side, if you're passing, pass on the left and issue an audible signal, etc. Just share the trail! Also, some parts of the trail are shaded by trees lining the trail; other parts are in the sun for extended periods so wear sunscreen. There are amenities all along the trail. That was important for me as a first-timer to know because I couldn't grasp at first if it was secluded, wilderness, or what. The GAP trail has so many towns, ballfields, restaurants, ice cream stands, portable restrooms every so many miles and parking trailheads plus a number of other cyclists on the trail that you won't feel that isolated and except for a couple spots (downtown Pittsburgh or Ohiopyle for example) you won't feel the trail is too crowded, either. Take water, snacks, an extra tube and you'll find you'll have what you need. Do you need certain size tires (mountain bike/hybrid/road bike)? Some people debate that. I have a hybrid bike and am happy enough. Favorite parts of the trail for me? I love the section between Myersdale, PA and Frostburg, MD. In that section is the Mason-Dixon line and the Eastern Continental Divide. I also love riding between Homestead and downtown Pittsburgh. Along that route is the Hays Eagle nest. And being downtown Pittsburgh on my bike is so much easier than navigating and parking a car. And when you want to go further on your adventure than Cumberland, MD? It hooks up directly with the C & O Tow Path for another 184.5 miles to get you all the way to Washington, D.C. for a total of 334.5 miles. Many of us have taken several days in one stretch to ride the entire length between Pittsburgh and D.C. and it is quite the trip, and well worthwhile, as are many of the many sections of the GAP trail. It has such unique personalities with wildlife (there are deer, owls, groundhogs, rabbits just to name a few) and so many wildflowers along the way. You're following rivers along the route, as well, plus get to take advantage of PA's lovely state park, Ohiopyle. There are several campsites, hotels, and bed and breakfasts along the way, too. I could go on and on but I recommend talking to others who have ridden the trail, look up Facebook webpages related to the GAP, get a trail book and google for more info.

We are so fortunate to have this trail run right into downtown Pittsburgh. Today I rode from…read moredowntown to Homestead and back. 13 miles and, boy is my butt sore! Someday I hope to ride all the way to DC. They'll probably have to bring me home in a giant butt sling, but I don't care! Riding along the river is so beautiful on a warm fall day. Whether you go five miles or five hundred, don't miss an opportunity to bike, walk, or skate along this treasured trail.

This is what we call the "Jail Trail". My boyfriend and I just discovered it last year when we…read morewanted to try riding bikes on the other side of the city. We typically park in the garage connected to the T station down by the jail. There is a Healthy Ride bike station right up the street and it is so convenient to rent the bikes! Once we get the bikes, we turn right in between the T station and the parking garage (there are signs that say Bikes with an arrow) to enter the trail. If you go left (away from the city) the trail will lead you down to the bridge that leads to the Southside Works. It is probably only a 2-3 mile stretch and is relatively flat. Once you get to the bridge to Southside you can go straight or right. If you keep going straight it leads you to a parking lot, so we always turn right across the bridge to Southside. This is a great view of the city and it's a really nice bridge. The pedestrian path is big enough for plenty of bike riders. At the end of the bridge we turn right past Hofbrauhaus. I'm not sure if this is still considered the Eliza Furnace Trail. You can ride all the way down the Southside trail until you reach Station Square. At that point we go back across the Smithfield Street bridge and it brings you back to where you started. It's a fun and easy way to get some exercise and see our beautiful city. It only takes about 45 min-1 hour to do this route. The jail trail path is clean and there are always people on it. It feels very safe even though you are just a fence between the parkway. It can be very loud too from all the traffic, so now we bring a bluetooth speaker to put in the basket and listen to music while we ride. I recommend this trail especially if you are from out of town and want to see some of the Pittsburgh neighborhoods!

I love this trail, it's one of my favorites actually…read more I often spend my lunch hour walking along it to take in all of the scenery this part of the city has to offer. It's nice to have a little bit of nature in the city. The trail has a nice walking path that makes for comfortable excursions even on days when the weather is less than stellar.

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.

Part of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail that runs along the Allegheny & Ohio Rivers …read more Beautiful views of the city during a bike ride as well as Memorial Parks along the North Shore including The Fred Roger's, Vietnam, Korean, WWII & The Law Enforcement. Along the Ohio River is The USS Requin, (French for Shark) as submarine museum associated with the Carnegie Science Center. The Rivers Casino is also nearby if you're feeling lucky! Also along the North Shore there's a variety of restaurants for a bite along the ride. Well kept trails with friendly people along the way to chat with if you're so inclined. Always a nice and relaxing ride along the rivers. It's a refreshing ride in the heart of town that's close to the city yet surrounded by nature. A perfect mix of nature surrounded by downtown amenities. Love spending the day along the trails, highly recommended!!

Walking the North Shore recently I came across the new chalk drawings near the Shore Thing…read moreplatform. Very nice to see. Some are 3D if you stand in the right area.

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.

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!

This was such a fun hike! Its very steep but worth it because it feels like a little secret trail…read morein Millvale. There was a little bit of litter but not too bad. Oh and the yellow trail is a loop.

Recently acquired by the Allegheny Land Trust, Girty's Woods is a 155 acre land tract which…read morefeatures trails for hiking and birding. With over 90 species of birds, Girty's Woods is an enjoyable way to experience Nature. There's a small parking lot at the trailhead. Some of the trails can be quite challenging, but if you enter from Irwin Lane, the trails are more manageable. One particular species of bird, the Kestrel, is thrilling and beautiful. Other birds to see include woodpeckers, hawks, thrushes, and songbirds.