If you are in Pittsburgh Riverview Park is a must goto. I go there with my golden retriever, There is 2 huge dog park areas that are totally enclosed and are huge also the entire park is dog friendly. I also go there with my grand daughter as there is a great playground. If you are a jogger or walker there is a huge walkway or jogging area. There are many events that are in the park which are great. If you are in the area this is a must come to park. read more

Riverview Park has one of the largest and most extensive trail systems in the Pittsburgh area. With so many interconnected trails winding through different neighborhoods, it's easy to have a different experience every time you visit. I also like that you can step into a nearby neighborhood and grab something to eat before continuing your hike. Compared to Schenley or Frick Park, it also tends to be less crowded, making it a great option if you're looking for a quieter, more peaceful walk. That said, the trails are not as well maintained as many of Pittsburgh's other parks. Some sections are in great condition, while others have overgrown vegetation, uneven rocky terrain, steep drop-offs, and occasional hazards like broken glass. I noticed small pieces of glass along the Archery Trail, so I would recommend wearing hiking boots or sturdy athletic shoes rather than thin-soled sneakers. Because of the terrain, I think this park is much better suited for walking and hiking than for running. Most of the trails are not wheelchair accessible and may be difficult for young children, older adults, or anyone with mobility challenges. Even with the overgrowth, the scenery is beautiful, and many areas were filled with fragrant plants and wildflowers. I didn't personally see any poison ivy during my visit, but it's always a good idea to stay aware of your surroundings. One area that could definitely be improved is restroom access. There are very few restrooms throughout the park, and one restroom that had been open during a previous visit was locked in the middle of the day on a Sunday. Adding a few portable restrooms near the busiest trailheads would make a big difference for visitors. Parking is easier than I expected. While there aren't many dedicated parking lots, there is plenty of street parking throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. Depending on which trails you choose, you may also come across areas where unhoused individuals have set up encampments. During my visits, everyone kept to themselves and I didn't have any negative interactions, but it's something visitors should be aware of and another reason to stay aware of your surroundings in such a large urban park. The observatory has unfortunately been closed each time I've visited, but the park frequently hosts community events that are worth checking out. It's encouraging to see ongoing improvements, and I hope the city continues investing in this park because it has so much potential. Overall, Riverview Park is a beautiful place to explore and one of Pittsburgh's most expansive trail systems. While there are areas that could benefit from better maintenance, additional restrooms, and continued safety improvements, it's still well worth visiting. With a little more attention, I truly think it has the potential to become one of the best parks in Pittsburgh. read more

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If you want a great city park but don't want to deal with the heavy crowds at Frick or Schenley, you really need to check out Riverview Park up in Observatory Hill. It's a total hidden gem on the North Side. Because of how heavily wooded and steep it is, you instantly feel like you're deep in the woods even though you're only a few miles from downtown. The hiking trails are excellent, especially if you want a bit of a workout on the hills; and since it gets way less foot traffic than the other major city parks, it's incredibly quiet and peaceful. The real crown jewel, though, is the historic Allegheny Observatory sitting right at the top of the hill. It looks amazing against the trees, and they actually run awesome, free night tours where you can look through the old telescopes if you call ahead for a reservation. Plus, the park has a solid off-leash dog area, a pool, and they host free outdoor concerts in the summer. It's just a great, low-key spot to get outside without ever leaving the city limits. read more

This is such a great city park with a mix of paved and natural trails. The paved loop around the park offers nice views and some hills/grades to get your heart rate up. You can bike or walk, with or without your doggo. read more

I love Riverview Park and not just because I live so close! Lol it's such a beautiful park right within the city. I come here at least 3 times/week to walk the loop or the trails. The loop is a little over two miles to complete. There also also multiple trails to walk on too. They also have a pool, the observatory, a dog park, and pavilions. Definitely check this park out if you have not done so. read more

I've loved this park since I was a kid. The pool, the walking trail, the horses, the playground, the hiking. The quintessential Pittsburgh Park. read more

One of the smaller (and sometimes forgotten) parks in the city of Pittsburgh. Nice hiking trails, a city pool, groves, and Observatory. The observatory is owned by Pitt but they do have tours listed on their website. Some of the area is eroding from neglect from the city in regards to funding, deer over population, and ground shifting. The city now seems to be playing catch up in repairing things. There is a one way road that is a loop and goes through the park. It seems almost everyone in the area learned to drive at the park. Safe to walk the trails and/or loop, or bike the loop. read more

There are certainly quite a few good reasons to go to this park, one being the observation tower, dog park and hiking trails. It is a nice place to go and take a walk. Being that it is an urban park in the middle of the North side the trails walk along kind of busy roads. A good bit of the trails are interrupted by a road that you will have to cross over. There are typically some deer that live here off and on that you may encounter. With the various culls that are going on this may be quite diminished, or non-existent in the near future. It used to be that hunting was not permitted in our city parks, but that is no longer the case anymore. I think that this kind of really blows, but what can you do. read more

Beautiful place to relax and unwind. Nice spot to drive around as well. Springtime is beautiful for blossoms and fall is wonderful for the leaves too! read more

Riverview Park - Park trails - Parks Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Riverview Park is a beautiful place to spend quality time with nature. My husband and I love hiking the many trails throughout the park. The park is rarely busy and dog friendly, which makes it great for the whole family! If you plan on hiking the trails, I suggest printing a park map off of the Pittsburgh Parks website to help you navigate your route. Riverview Park is not only great for hiking, but also for biking, swimming, horseback riding, walking, and running. There is a playground, picnic areas, and an off-leash dog park. read more

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The wind rustles through the trees, you can hear birds singing, and I've got three deer in my line of vision. Who would have thought you were 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh? I grew up in the country, peace and quiet are kind of my thing. I'm so glad that Riverview Park has a nice wilderness feel while still having a "city folk" friendly side. Rascal, my beagle, and I have spent several afternoons getting lost on the wooded trails, chasing squirrels, deer, and bugs. I saw one other group of people, walking a dog, on the trail today. Other than that, we only encountered five squirrel and three deer. Too bad I didn't have my camera ready for that shot. Of course, Rascal, being the bumbling dolt that she is, scared them all away before we could get the chance to say hi. :) read more

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Since we were going to dinner nearby and had a little time before the restaurant opens, we decided to check out this little Park. So glad we did. Beautiful view with comfortable seats and a super cute playground for the kids (or for me when no one is watching). Will definitely be back. read more

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I really enjoy coming to Riverview Park. It's tucked in a quiet neighborhood and I really love going running on the trails here. The main trail is decently marked on Google maps and the hills make it a typical challenging Pittsburgh run for sure! There are plenty of places for picnics, for kids to enjoy, etc. read more

I love Riverview Park! It's one of my favorite spots in Pittsburgh to hang out on a sunny day. I like that there is a circular trail around the perimeter of the park, which makes walking and biking easier for people who are not hard-core atheletes, yet the hills and grades give you a great workout, without being impossibly challenging. It's a great place to take lunch and read a book or to go to the Observatory and look at the stars. It has a great view of the city and lots of open space for kids to play or for your dog to run around. My boyfriend and I have gone here several times to paint outdoors and there are some great spots to set up shop and spend hours painting outside. We always end up meeting really nice and interesting people when we hang out there! read more

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Went to a party at the Chapel Pavilion. Wasn't hard to find for me, as I have a trusty GPS in my car (thank god). Kind of annoying that the drive is one way in the park, as the Chapel Pavilion is JUST to the left of the entrance. I'm not saying that driving around the park wasn't pretty or nice, I just had to get somewhere on time! The Pavilion itself is beautiful! Tons of colorful flowers outside. Kitchen has a fridge and sink. There's a CLEAN bathroom! Plenty of porch to sit on, grass to play on, and riverrock-like area to run around on, too. This place is great for parties. Not sure what it's like to reserve or how much, but I can say that I had a good time there! read more

Riverview Park - Chapel Pavilion - Parks Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A beautiful 287 acre park that features marvelous walking trails, horseback riding and pavilion rentals. In the center of the park is the Allegheny Observatory, and you can sign up for free tours, however you must call for a reservation. There is a 2 mile trail that loops around the park, however the trail is not well marked, so a trail map is recommended. There are some steep slopes in the park, which some will find charming, some will find challenging. Deer are plentiful, as are song birds. read more

Riverview Park - Sunset at the Observatory - Parks Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Dear Friends, This is an absolutely stunning park. I'll visit often now that I've realized this. Only thing is, I was told to be at the Chapel Pavilion and I figured....easy. Not so much....not so much.... The park has a couple roads that run through the actual grounds. A couple of those, as I found out today, are dead ends. Also, you can't technically follow along the outside of the park because it zigs and zags all the way around. I zigged and zagged my way around that park past million dollar homes and sketch neighborhoods (funny how it changes so much up there). I was scared, I was alone, I was petrified. So handy dandy technology helped me a BIT because I was able to FINALLY locate a map of the park and the road I wanted to take to find the Chapel Pavilion. So a half an hour later I show up. Good thing the party hadn't ended(or started since I wasn't there yet, what what!). Once I got there I was able to appreciate my surroundings. It's a lucscious green masterpiece filled with trees, grass and hills galore. Great if you want a good work out or a semi-hike. Or just settle in on one of the hills, relax and read a book. There's a cute little playground to bring the kiddies. Plus, you're able to rent out the Church Pavilion for special events, which I read was an actual church back in the day. Just for God's sake, print out a map! Be warned! Unicorns and Rainbows, Rachel read more

4.5 stars. Riverview Park is considered the gem of Pittsburgh's North Side and it was created in 1894. It predates the City of Allegheny's annexation to the City of Pittsburgh in 1907. It's home to the Allegheny Observatory, a visitor's center, and the Mairdale Watershed. It's also got many recreational amenities such as a swimming pool, playground, baseball diamonds, and of course hiking trails. And it was the hiking that brought me and my girlfriends here this past weekend. We are avid hikers and we'd never been here before. There's nothing quite like hiking on a bee-you-tee-full October day. Now granted, we prefer hiking on cool fall days when that crisp bite in the air gets our blood going. But hey, when the weather's this great, who cares? We met up at the visitor's center, which is accessible from Perrysville Avenue and Watson Boulevard via Riverview Avenue. We began with an easy hike going counterclockwise on the Observatory Trail. This is an approximately 1/2 mile loop and it gives you a great overview of the Observatory and the park. We then crossed the main road and entered the east end of the park, via the Old Kilbuck Trail. We then made a clockwise loop via the Leaning Ash Trail, the Marshall Trail, the Ground Hog Haven Trail, and the Old Zoo Trail. Then we made our way down the Overlook Trail to the Chapel Shelter. By this point we hiked about 2.75 miles and decided to take a snack break. I have type-1 diabetes so I needed to "sugar up". The Chapel Shelter is a remnant of a former Presbytarian church, restored by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservacy in 2008. The restoration included creating a new trail, planting of native species and the clearing out of invasive species. From this point we decided to take it up a notch a little bit. Resuming our clockwise direction, we returned to the Overlook Trail and then took that to the Snyder's Point Loop Trail. We looped on that before taking the Deer Hollow Trail back to the Overlook Trail and then returning to the visitor's center. After taking another break here, we decided to kick it in even more. We decided to go for the rigorous hike as recommended by the park's website. We hit the Wissahickon Trail and then went up towards the park's northern edge via the Archery Trail, the Snowflake Trail, and back east via the Archery Trail again. But then the hike grew more difficult! We resumed the Wissahickon Trail, arced around the picnic grove, before taking the steps up to the road and followed it to the Bob Harvey Trail. We followed that trail to the Bear Pit, then paused to catch our breath (pant, pant) before returning to the Visitor's Center. Man, that last part of our hike really had some steep ups and downs! So as Rachel said, this is a stunning park and it's well worth your visit. But the trails are not well marked and you would be wise to bring a map. The park's website http://www.pittsburghparks.org/userdocs/riverview-letter.pdf has a good one. Although I recommend using a good topography map along with the park's map. A topo map will show you what you're getting into on the trails. We hiked almost 7 miles without leaving the park's borders. Man, I must have sweated off 10 lbs. on that hike! read more

There was not clear instructions for parking but we found an area of dirt by the trails assuming it was for parking, no other problems. Easy to find with Apple Maps read more

This park has it all. Great place to workout, walk the dog, great playground for the kids and amazing groves for parties. Attended a graduation party. We had plenty of space, the bathroom was fully functional and clean in addition to having two grills. Parking was plentiful and above all the park is safe! Highly recommend this location for multiple functions. read more

First visit was interesting. Wanted to see the allegheny observatory and drive up there. The observatory is interesting because it really pioneered the development of 'Standard Time' in the 1800s to assist the railroads, which I learned upon arrival. Unfortunately, it's being renovated so it was closed :-(. The park appears to have a ton of trails--can't wait to try them out! read more

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Came here for the hiking trails, where were okay... but not exactly what I was expecting. It was more like random beaten paths with random forks and no real direction or trails or signs. It's a nice day to just wander about, lots of people walking/jogging on the asphalt road that runs through the park. I guess it's also kind of weird to be on a "trail" but see into people's backyards and a huge road. But whatever! It's a nice park to have a picnic on the grass! read more

This is my favorite park in Pittsburgh! I got married at the chapel shelter, which is a very nice building (I think it's an old converted church) surrounded my a beautiful landscape with lots of flowers. You also get the small field behind the shelter included in your rental, which we used to set up lawn games. It's the perfect venue for a small wedding and our guests loved it! My husband and I go to the park almost every weekend and take our dogs for hiking. They love it and get so excited when we pull into the park. There is a great dog park behind the observatory, but my dogs prefer the trails. It's a very wooded park so there's lots of shade on the trails, we've even seen deer up close on a few occasions. It's rarely busy there, so it really feels like an escape from the city. This is the best hidden gem in Pittsburgh in my opinion, perfect for a picnic or some exercise. I highly recommend it! read more

Riverview Park is probably one of the nicest parks I've seen in the Pittsburgh area (North Side). It's a great place for kids to play, have a picnic, and just enjoy the outdoors. This may sound a bit odd, but I'm a huge fan of the playground's rubber ground. If any of you work with kids or have kids, you can understand why it's a nice change of pace from cement and wood chips. On July 20 from 10am-1pm, the Roving Art Cart returns to Riverview Park! Kids are able to create different art pieces, get their face painted, watch a clown make balloon art, and much more. Just make sure you and your kids have hats, plenty of sunblock, and a water bottle! read more

One of the main reasons I chose to live in the Observatory Hill neighborhood after living here a few years ago is Riverview Park. I am an avid runner, I spend lots of my marathon training hours at Riverview. It's a beautiful, clean park where everyone you pass smiles and says hello. Anyone who has ever run at North Park knows what a rarity that can be. The trails are decent, good for jogging and hiking. Most days you'll see more deer than people on the hiking trails. The paved loop around the park is approximately 2.5 miles with a few hills, a large one if you take the paved path the opposite way of traffic. Nice picnic pavilions. Cute playground. Riverview 5k is a great race to run in the city, one of the only 5k races I know of to be offered in the evening. We love the music and movies in the park in the summer months! If the trails were better tended this would be a 5 star park for sure! read more

Can't believe I've only just discovered this place. You can literally feel lost and alone in this small forest. Some of the views are incredible. Walking and hiking the trails are very therapeutic. read more

This park is one of the best kept secrets in the city of Pittsburgh. I've been going to the park since I was a kid, having been raised in the area. It was a go-to spot for swimming, hiking, biking, walking, running and picnics. As an adult, it continues to be that same venue but now for movies and jazz as well. I love that there is only 1 way around.. although I've seen people violate that. It keeps people safe. read more

Riverview Park is a great park in Pittsburgh that not many people know about. It's on the Northside between Brighton Heights/Woods Run, and Perry North. There are some nice pavilions, cool walking trails, a pool, walking and bike lanes that go through the park. It is 1 way around and a few miles long. Off the path trails through the woods will give you a nice hike or mountain bike. You will see deer and other animals. Great place to try something new if you are looking for a little exercise and some new scenery. It would be nice if they put the bridge back up that was there to connect Davis avenue and Brighton Heights. Now it just takes a little longer to get there from that area. You can see it, just have to go around to get there. read more

Hey! Just a word of advice. Leave your car windows down if you want them unbroken when you leave. Got mine broken today. I was riding my bike so left my pants in the car. Yep! Stole my pants. Like an idiot I left my phone in my pants. Wallet in my shirt so i still have that. Best bet!? Do not turn your back on your car at this place. read more