Folks, I've had so many incredible photos I've shot from here over the years and need to really…read morepull them up and get posted. Perhaps it's just an excuse to visit on my next trip home. The park is on the Mount (Mt. Washington) with over 250 acres and crazy-good views of the city. It has gardens and walking trails (10+ miles). The most interesting and best part of this park is that it was a dump site (illegal) restored into a beautiful area for everyone to enjoy.

Emerald View is a Pittsburgh treasure! The concept is stunning, a series of trails that encircle…read morethe neighborhoods of Mt Washington and Duquesne Heights. The reward is a natural paradise in the midst of an urban center and stunning views of the Downtown skyline. You can hike within the dense canopy of leaves, and then arrive at beautiful views of the West End, the West End Bridge, and of Downtown. The park showcases the city in such a unique way, and it is only minutes away from our downtown hotels. What a remarkable treat for Pittsburgh visitors, but also city residents. Created in 2005, it's the newest and smallest of our network of 5 main city parks, that include Frick, Schenley, Highland, and Riverview. The trails were professionally designed, then developed by community volunteers plus a workforce training program. It's 257 acres, and filled with opportunities for birding, nature hikes, and urban exercise.

Although this trail is pretty, and well-kept, I prefer the Yough Trail. If this one had been closer…read moreto where I lived, I might have been here more frequently. Take your pick, but do try them both!! Whitney B. is right on - this trail is a real asset. Crushed limestone surface is great for running, but it's long enough for a serious bike ride. As always, don't forget to pass on the left and hail when passing!

Running, biking, skating, strolling, walking, frolicking, sprinting, slacking - all things that can…read morebe done on the Montour Trail. As Miriam W. mentioned, Arrowhead Trail is a subsection of Montour Trail and that's the area I most frequently use as well. In the spring, summer, fall, and the mild winter months it's such a great place to get outside and get in some exercise. Depending on the season and time of day you decide to go, it can get fairly crowded. But it doesn't bother me too much b/c most people are courteous of others and give you your space. But if you are fortunate enough to find a time of day when it's not so crowded, it's a great place to go and be quiet with your own thoughts in the outdoors. I have seen some squirrels, deers, and wild turkeys roaming about. Kinda freaks me out when I'm by myself - not the squirrels so much as the deers and wild turkeys. I think they are so used to seeing humans they don't scare off very easily.

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.

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!

Great trail for running. Some areas feel safer than others as with any trail. It's always clean too!read more

Is this park the best kept secret of the area? On a few days…read morewhen Blueberry Hill park was too packed, we decided to venture over to Ohio Township park. We really enjoyed the multiple fields, open spaces, and the really fun play place. It's not as massive as other parks in the area but given how few people we usually run into here you don't notice. There's also a walking path that we frequent for stroller walks or general exercise. There's a hiking path that we recently saw on a visit but haven't tried yet. We can't wait to come back and check it out!

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.

This is a well maintained, rather large, county park. There are lots of recreational activities,…read moreincluding kayaking, biking, pickleball, and hiking. The hiking trails are extraordinary, featuring many species of unusual birds. For example, the Veery nests in North Park, but nowhere else in the County.

We have had family picnics as well as weddings at North park ! It's a very well maintained park…read morewith beautiful picnic areas and places to sit for an afternoon and enjoy the outdoors. It's a friendly park for humans and animals - highly recommend you check out North Park for all that it has to offer with many ways to get to the park from either side of the city.

This is a fantastic play park for kids ! Highly recommend and worth the trip. New and improved…read moredesigned for kid's enjoyment. I could get our girls to leave, so much to do and try. This park will definitely be a park in our rotation. Be back soon. Picnic area for a great afternoon.

Amazing park!! There are plenty of open fields and trails to walk on that are kept in great…read morecondition!!! The roads are also paved very nicely and the playground is fun too!! It's only 25 minutes away too!!