I love me a good river and the Monongahela is a good river. From the native American word,…read moreMonongahela means "falling banks" in reference to the rather unstable banks of the river that used to collapse quite a bit. That doesn't seem to be a problem in Pittsburgh but you never know. Today, the river is long and slow and deep. That makes it good for shipping and I just happened to spot a barge bringing materials upriver from the Ohio and stopping here on the South Shore. The river flows almost entirely south to north, which is rather unique. Coming from the confluence of the West Fork River and the Tygart Valley River, it drains a good piece of the Appalachian mountains through its 130 miles that are entirely navigable thanks to a series of locks and dams. Pronouncing the name of the river is always a great opportunity to find the out-of-towners. But it's "mnaoŋihla". Enjoy it!

The Monongahela River is 127.8 miles long, it starts in Fairmont West Virginia and flows north to…read morePittsburgh. It's made up of the West Fork and Tygert River. The reason this river flows north is due to the fact the mountains south of here in West Virginia are much higher than Pittsburgh and forces the river to flow downhill, which in this case downhill is north. It was named by the native Americans and has been translated to mean "deep sliding banks" or "falling banks." The "Mon" has no islands it's entire length, which is almost as unique as flowing north. Just about every long river in North America has an Island. It's one of the rivers that feeds into the Ohio River. There are two major rivers that flow into the Mon, and that's the Cheat River and the Yough. For many years the Monongahela River was so polluted because of the steel mills that lined the river almost it's entire length, that this river would never freeze, even in the coldest of winters. Because of it's navigational importance mile 0.0 is actually located at the Point of Pittsburgh and mile 127.8 is Fairmont. At one time it was referred to as the "biggest little river in the world" due to the fact more cargo traveled up and down the Monongahela River than traveled through the Panama Canal. There are nine locks and dams on the Mon, the first being located near Kennywood Park, it's called Lock and Dam No. 2. The Last Lock and Dam is Opekiska, near Fairmont. Older Locks and Dams have numbers attached to them, newer ones have names.

Wow, this trail was a surprise for us.. we were staying in southside and noticed this trail . Got…read moreup early in the morning and went for a walk... never seen a trail in the heart of the city.. fantastically built with a pathway for walking and biking.. make sure you walk on one side cause there's gonna be a lot of bikes in the path.. I wish I had the time to do the whole trail, but I could only do 1/2 of it.. along the trail. You will see some spectacular views of Pittsburgh downtown... he can also hear birds chirping and possibly spot a few of rare varieties.. overall a fantastic trail without forest..

The entire trail is actually 33 miles long. I didn't walk all of it, not even close, but I got…read moreenough of a flavor on my last wintry morning in Pittsburgh when I walked the sections on the North Shore and around Point State Park. It's a fully paved, ten-foot wide promenade that follows both banks of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, which unite to form the Ohio River. Except for the occasional jogger, there was barely a soul out when I was walking because the weather was bitterly cold. At the same time, the scenic views were constant and unique to the area. It was the ideal way to end a trip to Pittsburgh. RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/9R906ozJBw

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.

The covered bridge here at Hillman State Park is very cute! It's a cheerful bright red and located…read moreon a road that didn't seem too busy, giving us a good opportunity to slow down and enjoy checking it out. The park is home to a radio control model airport with a variety of amenities - preregistration has to be made through the nearby Raccoon Creek State Park office. A large number of signs posted indicated that the park is open for hunting. There are also hiking trails available.

It's August, so I was out hunting for butterflies to take photo's of and I have never been to this…read morepark, so I decided to head out here. I have heard of it when going to Raccoon Creek Park, which is a much better park. I couldn't even find the place for the first 30 minutes in the area. I finally stumbled upon it and must have gone in the back way. Well, it was full of hunting areas and trails that are full of so much brush that it seems like it would be tick infested, in fact there is a sign warning about ticks. Anyways, I couldn't find any good trails, but I ran into a lot of milk weed and some butterflies that I did capture on my digital camera. I was not excited about this park. It seems like it is set up for people who want to hunt. That kind of scares me a bit because I don't want to get shot!

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.

Honestly, this is a place I go for birdwatching, but I see others here for the view or to walk…read moretheir dog on the nearby trail. It's tucked away, but definitely worth seeking out. If you want to grab takeout, this is an amazing place with a great view of the Allegheny. Oh, and keep your eyes and ears open for some great birds.

A good place to spend some time. Plenty of free parking and space to walk, fish, feed the ducks,…read morebbq, or just relax and watch the boats. I recommend a visit if you happen to be in the area.

When I lived over in Bloomfield, West Penn Park was a short walk away. Tucked right into the side…read moreof Polish Hill, it's got that perfect, rugged Pittsburgh charm and some of the best skyline views you can find away from the usual tourist traps. The real crown jewel for me was always the concrete skatepark, which is hands-down one of the most organic, community-built DIY spots in the city. Honestly, whether you're catching air or just catching the sunset over the city, it's a legendary slice of the 'Burgh.

This is a small pleasant park at the entrance to Polish Hill. There are green areas and playground…read morefor children. A lot of traffic nearby. Not an extensive park facility, but would be a nice spot for a run or walk.

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.