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 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.

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.

Kane Woods Nature Area is a delightful hidden gem in Scott Township. It's owned by the Scott…read moreConservancy and is made up of at least 5 trails as of today. To be clear, these are not particularly difficult or long trails. If you only visited for an hour, you could probably explore most of if not all of the trails. But hey: sometimes a relaxing stroll is even more rewarding than a difficult trek! Especially in a wooded area like this one. In addition to offering a laid back hiking experience, this little area is absolutely gorgeous. I especially love visiting in the fall, when vibrant colors overtake the treetops and you can enjoy the sound of walking on fallen leaves. Plus, Kane Woods Nature Area is very easy to get to for those of us in the South Hills. Sure, places like Frick Park or Settlers Cabin Park are bigger and grander green spaces, but on those days that you really don't feel like dealing with I-376, it's good to have a local option too! I definitely recommend visiting this spot at least once, no matter how experienced of a hiker you are. Dogs are also welcome, so I also recommend bringing your best friend along on your walk!

This lovely conservation area is 450 acres of beautiful forest with lots to see and a very shadowy…read morepast. The ruins of an old pipe factory are very visible and there are informative signs that tell the story. These occurrences took place in the 1800's. There is history of criminals murdered, accidental death(pipe factory), a hanging, an explosion, a drowning, a giant snake sighting, all taking place in the park. For this reason many people think that the sight is haunted by the people who met their fate here. I hate to burst the excitement, but I have never experienced ghosts, or any other paranormal activity while spending time there. In fact, despite it's dark past Dead Man's Hollow is a very tranquil place. If you have been there during May when Spring season really kicks off you will see tons of wildflowers that are spectacular. The pipe factory had a fire and the ground was burned. This happens to be very good for re-growth and as a result we get to experience a lot of beautiful flora. Also, the old pipe factory remains are covered with cool graffiti. The trails are at times narrow, but they are very clean. You are at some point going to climb up and down hills, so it is a very good workout. I would say that the hiking is a bit more challenging. To find it I would suggest searching via a trailhead name and not just the park name. One example would be "cat fish pond trail." There is a nice parking area near that trailhead. There is also another parking area on the other side of the park(more on that later). This other side is closer to the ruins.

We checked out the catfish pond today. It looked promising at first but soon discovered that there…read moreis very little accessibility to fish there. The spots that are open are at an incline sloped towards the pond and are very slippery and hazardous. I do not recommend taking young kids there. My daughter and I fished for an hour or so and only saw bluegill in the 3-4" range and smaller minnows. We used lures and worms and had many bites but the fish were too small to get hooked. We did see many water turtles and even a few babies whose shell was about 2-3" in diameter. We also saw one large snapping turtle appear for a few seconds. There are also a bunch of bullfrog minnows whose bodies were the size of golf balls (early June). It's a cool place to see but we won't be returning to fish.

You should really check out Montour Woods Conservation Area out by Moon Township if you want a…read moregood, quiet place to hike. I was honestly surprised by how many trails they have packed in there. It's mostly deep woods with a bunch of little stream crossings, and you can do anything from an easy, flat walk to some pretty steep climbs if you want a decent workout. It also connects right to the Montour Trail if you want to keep going. You'll see a decent amount of mountain bikers out there, but the paths are wide enough that it doesn't feel crowded at all. It's just a great, low-key spot to clear your head for an hour or two without having to drive all the way out of the city.

Oh my goodness. How beautiful was this hike!? My son stopped to take a picture in the valley…read morebecause it was so beautiful and he didnt want to miss it. He also recorded the rushing creek and nature sounds. I love trails that feel like a fairy tale. Theres a cave and a gorgeous creek the color of Maine water (not what were used to with the Allegheny river) I do have a warning though snd thats to use the bathroom anywhere before you arrive. There seems to be one port a potty that has not been serviced in far too long.

So lucky to have this trail in our area! Lots of trail heads for parking. Crushed gravel for…read morerunning or biking. The new connector in Moon is a nice break from the monotony and a nice opportunity to do light hiking. Off leash for dogs is permitted.

My daughter and I enjoyed a lovely Saturday morning walk/hike here! I had never been to Montour…read moreTraul but I'll definitely be back. Everything was very well marked and maintained. Lots of options of varying levels and water, ecosystem or built objects of interest. A new favorite!

Oooo, just visited this divine natural area and it is gorgeous! They have a very nice woodland…read morewith a beautiful stream, rock formations, well marked trails and pretty hemlock trees. It is owned by the Audubon Society and is in Sarver, P.A. We went at the end of February and some of the trails were extremely muddy. We had to back track and go different paths because we didn't want to be steeped in mud. You should for sure bring some good boots with lots of traction. It is definitely worth the visit!

A great place to hike not far off of route 28 that's quiet and scenic with lots to see. There's a…read morereally nice pond not far from the beginning of the trail. Great place to take the kids to see wildlife and explore nature plus it's Free.