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.

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.

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.

If you grew up anywhere near Robinson, Settlers Cabin is basically the summer spot to be…read more I've been hitting up that wave pool since I was a teenager. And honestly, you can't talk about Settlers Cabin without mentioning the picnic groves. I swear, half of my summer weekends over the decades have been spent at a cookout, grad party, or other gatherings with friends at one of those pavilions, eating hot dogs and hamburgers. When my daughter was little I brought her there through her teenage years with her friends. Always a good spot to spend a hot summer day in Pittsburgh.

Wave popl The life guards don't do anything there was a kid…read morethat wouldn't pull up his pants his parents did nothing the life guards talk and nothing else they don't save people

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.

It's a wonderful park on the Allegheny River with nice pavilions. It has a spectacular bike trail…read morethat follows the river all the way to Downtown. I go here every year to see birds, especially the Yellow Throated Warblers that sing from the Sycamore trees. The hit series, the Mayor of Kingstown, was once filled in the park.

This is a nice trail. My kids got distracted immediately by the natural playground which was small…read morebut fun and then we walked and rode our bikes. Great views. Mostly flat trail. Well kept.

The waterfall is small but it's pretty and a nice hike to get to it. Our dog loved playing in the…read morewater

I have been coming to Carnegie Park for about 35yrs. This park is a staple in the community. We…read morehave reservations pavilions and just come to enjoy the park. It's had renovations to the pavilions bathrooms and ball fields with an added basketball court. Not to mention the skateboard park. Goo this park is very beautiful. It's a great safe place for family fun.

It's no Schenley or Frick Park, but this little patch of green is a lovely addition to Carnegie…read morenonetheless. Situated across from a popular miniature golf location, the park features basketball and tennis courts, a soccer field, a skatepark, a dog park (sectioned by dog size), and other family friendly features. You admittedly won't find any major trails to explore here, as the park isn't big enough for that. It's also heavily geared towards family friendly outings and local youth sports games. But those features are exactly what make this place such a nice addition to Carnegie. And no matter what, you'll still have plenty of greenery to take in and enjoy! If I had to name a downside about this place, getting to the park by anything other than car can be less than ideal. Sidewalks cease to exist in certain areas surrounding the park, so if you don't want to drive in, you'll need to stroll in with caution. Other than that, though, I have no complaints - and I'll still walk here on a semi-regular basis to get some exercise, clear my head, and see what my fellow community members are up to with their families and dogs.