Best Hikes Near Pittsburgh: A Local Hiker's Guide

August 18, 2026

Looking to get outside near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? Check out this list of trails within an hour of the city

Woman stands in front of waterfall with dog. They are surrounded by cliffs the water cascades down. — *Want to know where Pittsburgh’s closest waterfall is? Keep reading!*

Quick Picks: Best Places to Hike Near Pittsburgh

Best Hikes Under 15 Minutes from Pittsburgh
 All Around Best Hike Closest to Pittsburgh: Fall Run Park
 Best for City Views: Emerald View
 Best for First Time Solo Hikes: Schenley Park

Best Hikes 15-20 Minutes from Pittsburgh
 Best for Trail Runners: Frick Park
 Best to Experience Nature without a Long Drive: Churchill Valley Greenway
 Best to Avoid Dogs: Beechwood Farms
 Best for Art and Music Lovers: Hartwood Acres

Best Hikes 30-45 Minutes from Pittsburgh
 Best for Multiple Trail Options: North Park
 Best if You Love Spooky History: Dead Man's Hollow
 Best for PNW Vibes: McConnells Mill
 Best Fall Foliage: Moraine State Park
 Best for River Views: Harrison Hills Park

Are you a busy day hiker who only wants to visit the best hikes near Pittsburgh? Me too!

As a hiker with a full time job, I need to minimize my travel time to maximize my outdoor time! But I don’t want to do trails that stink just because I need to stay close to home. That means I generally look for the trails that are less than an hour away. That way I can get to the trail head, get my hike in, and go home without spending my whole day traveling.

As always, follow the principles of leave no trace when you're out exploring! Pack out all trash, leave wildlife alone, and generally leave it better than you found it - for more information visit the Leave No Trace Center.

Read on for the best hikes close to Pittsburgh! All driving distances below are denoted from downtown Pittsburgh. If a header has a link, that means that I’ve created a guide specifically for that location. Happy hiking!

Note that for this guide I only included places within an hour of Pittsburgh. For hikes further away from Pittsburgh, check out my regional guides at the bottom of the post!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. I only recommend things I've tried myself or that a trusted peer has recommended. Thanks in advance for supporting my work!

Best Hikes Under 15 Minutes from Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s Closest Waterfall: Fall Run

Address: 187 Fall Run Rd, Glenshaw, PA 15116

Best for: A family friendly hike | Mileage: 1.4 mi | Difficulty Rating: Very easy | Best Time of Year to Go: Either in winter when the waterfall is frozen or after a good rainstorm

Did you know that there’s a waterfall only fifteen minutes from downtown Pittsburgh? Yup! Located at Fall Run Park, you don’t even have to hike that far to see it – the trail is only 1.4 miles long. This trail gets CROWDED so get there early. It’s beautiful in any season, but I particularly love how the waterfall looks when it’s frozen.

Insider tip: Go during a rainstorm (but not thunderstorm) to have the waterfall to yourself. This is a waterfall that is much more impressive after heavy rains.

woman in winter gear stands in front of small waterfall surrounded by cliffs.

woman stands on small bridge over creek with her arms raised.

To plan your visit, check out my complete guide to visiting Fall Run, Pittsburgh's closest waterfall!

Best City Views: Emerald View Trail

Best for: City Views | Difficulty Rating: Easy to moderate | Best Time of Year to Hike: Stick Season, when the leaves have fallen and aren’t blocking the views and the trail isn’t as overgrown

If you’re an out of town visitor with a busy schedule and you only have time for one hike, visit Emerald View Park. This park offers the BEST views of downtown Pittsburgh (known to locals as “dahntahn”). Take this trail for a 2.3 mile hike through wooded areas that will pop you out to some great river views. (Note: I personally prefer to do this trail as an out and back as the second half of the loop takes you through more residential areas, which I wanted to avoid).

If you’re with people who may not be able to manage a hike, you can park near the overlook and still get the same great views without the hike. This is a very urban-feeling hike, so if you’re looking to escape the city, keep reading!

Insider Tip: Visit this hike during stick season, when the leaves don’t block your city skyline views

*Highly recommend visiting this park in winter when the views are best!*

If you want to make sure you never lose a route, upgrade to AllTrails+. Then you can download trail maps to stay on trail even when you don't have service!

Schenley Park

Best for: Trying a Solo Hike in a Safe Space | Difficulty Rating: Easy | Best Time of Year to Hike: Early morning spring or fall (when colleges are in session) or summer

Schenley Park is great option super close to downtown. Close to Pitt campus, there’s often a lot of students using these trails so it was one of the first places I tried solo hiking.

Best Trails at Schenley Park

The Panther Hollow Loop is a good one for a quick 1.9 miles, hitting the park’s best spots.
If you’re looking for something longer, try the five mile Double Loop.

Insider Tip: If you like the outdoors but the Pittsburgh climate is not to your liking when you’re visiting (and trust me, I get it), you can visit the Phipps Conservatory. This conservatory showcases thousands of different plants and can be a lovely respite from the gray of Pittsburgh winters.

Love Pennsylvania and can't get enough? Order my book, Scenic Natural Wonders of Pennsylvania, for detailed information about 84 amazing waterfalls, scenic overlooks, caves, and natural areas.

Best Hikes 15-20 Minutes from Pittsburgh

You Won’t Even Know You’re In A City: Frick Park

Address: 2005 Beechwood Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 (for the Environmental Center)

Best for: Trail Runners | Parking Situation: The parking lot near the soccer fields is small. I recommend parking on a side street like Lancaster or Macon and walking down the hill to the park. There are a lot more spots on the west side if you park near the Nature Center | Difficulty Rating: Depends on the trail but mostly Easy to Moderate | Best Time of Year to Hike: Frick is incredible in every season

The truth is: you don’t even have to leave the city to find a great hike. Frick Park is Pittsburgh’s most famous park. My favorite trail is Nine Mile Run or Falls Ravine, which is a great place to see flowers in the spring.

I love this park so much that we chose to live in our neighborhood because it’s close to Frick. Can’t get a recommendation more local than that!

Best Trails in Frick Park

Nine Mile Run is great for an easy boardwalk hike along the stream
Falls Ravine has some elevation, but is a good workout
Dinky Bridge is a rolling single track that’s fun to use to get from the Braddock Ave side to Nine Mile Run

Insider Tip: Remember that dogs are not allowed off leash in city parks including Frick, other than the designated Off Leash Area, back behind Blue Slide park.

Nature without the Drive: Churchill Valley Greenway

Address: 800 Beulah Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15235

Best for: Fully immersing in nature without a long drive | Mileage: | Parking Situation: park in the lots on either side of Beulah Road – note that the corner is a little blind so use caution when exiting | Difficulty Rating: Easy | Best Time of Year to Go: September when the goldenrod is blooming

Looking for your hike to have that apocalyptic feel of a zombie movie? Check out Churchill Valley Greenway, a former country club that has been acquired by the Allegheny Land Trust. Wander around the former golf greens in a beautiful meadow and forest.

This isn’t a hike where I would follow a map. The property is pretty small and you’ll be able to follow the noise of traffic back to your car. My favorite part about this trail is just having a wander. Most of the trails that aren’t former golf cart paths are “community-forged” so are best for hikers with a sense of adventure!

Insider tip: Note that the ALT has put in a TON of work at this property since I started visiting it in 2022 but they are still working to restore it. Be careful on some of the bridges over the stream. In my opinion, this hike is not suitable for young children.

*A sunny afternoon looking out over what used to be a golf green!*

To plan your visit, check out my guide to the trails at Churchill Valley Greenway!

No Dogs Allowed: Beachwood Farms

Address: 614 Dorseyville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15238

Best for: Anyone who wants to avoid dogs | Parking Situation: Fair amount of parking, but can get crowded later in the day on weekends | Difficulty Rating: Easy | Best Time of Year to Visit: Spring, when the flowers are blooming and the pond is coming back to life

Beachwood Farms Nature Reserve, managed by the Audubon Society, has 134 acres with over five miles of walk trails and a nature center that conducts environmental education. I like the 2.3 mile outer loop trail as it showcases the entire reserve and is slightly less crowded than the inner trails.

This is a good one for kids, as it’s very easy walking with lots of a nature to look at. There’s also a super unique playground.

Insider Tip: Beachwood Farms does NOT allow dogs, so leave your furry friends at home for this one.

Need a hike where you CAN take your dog? Check out my list of Best Dog Friendly Hikes Near Pittsburgh!

For Art and Music Lovers: Hartwood Acres

Address: 200 Hartwood Acres, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 (address of the mansion)

Best for: Art and music lovers | Difficulty Rating: Easy to moderate, depending on the hike | Best Time of Year to Visit: Summer for a hike with the concert series, then fall for the foliage

At over 600 acres, Hartwood Acres has hiking AND free concerts every Sunday evening from June to August. This short loop takes you past the amphitheater and off leash dog area, while also making sure you have time in the woods.

I love the unique sculptures that dot the property. Giant art is not something I normally see while hiking! The Hartwood Acres mansion is also a really fun place to check out. It’s a unique piece of history that also happens to make a great photo backdrop.

woman walking in forest in dress — *Scenes from a fall photoshoot in Hartwood Acres*

For more information on Hartwood Acres, check out my guide to hiking at Hartwood Acres.

Best Hikes 30 Minutes from Pittsburgh

An Option for Everyone: North Park

Address: 303 Pearce Mill Rd, Allison Park, PA 15101

Best for: Having a lot of hiking options | Difficulty Rating: Mostly Moderate, depending on the hike | Best Time of Year to Visit: The hiking is good all year, but go early in the morning to avoid crowds

North Park has a ton of options for hikes close to Pittsburgh. The park offers over 40 miles of trails, from paved, to single track, to multi-use for bikers and hikers.

Best Hikes at North Park

If you like something easy and paved, try the five mile North Park Lake loop that has great views of all angles of North Park’s lake.
If you want something less crowded and more woodsy, check out this six mile segment of the Rachel Carson Trail that starts at North Park.

Insider Tip: North Park is Allegheny County’s most visited park. Don’t expect solitude unless you’re there first thing in the morning on some of the less popular trails.

*Hiking with sunrise on the Rachel Carson Trail (segment from the ice rink to goldfish)*

Click here for a complete guide to hiking at North Park.

Spookiest Hike near Pittsburgh: Dead Man’s Hollow Conservation Area

Address: 3303 Liberty Way, McKeesport, PA 15133 (Cool Spirit Trailhead)

Best for: Hikers who love a hike with a spooky backstory | Difficulty Rating: Easy to Moderate, depending on the hike | Best Time of Year to Visit: Fall is great for foliage and spooky vibes

Into history, hiking, and the potential for being haunted? Check out Dead Man’s Hollow Conservation Area in McKeesport, PA. Thirty-five minutes from Pittsburgh, this area is the home of an abandoned pipe factory. Visitors can check out the 1.9 mile Cool Spirit Trail (easy) or the 5.6 mile Witch Hazel Trail (moderate) among many others.

*Remains of the abandoned pipe factory at Dead Man’s Hollow*

To plan your visit, check out my full guide to Dead Man's Hollow: Pittsburgh's Spookiest Hike.

Best Hikes 45 Minutes from Pittsburgh

Moody Ferns, Waterfalls, and Evergreens: McConnells Mill State Park

Address: McConnells Mill Rd, Portersville, PA 16051 (this address is the best place to park for all hikes except Hells Hollow)

Best for: Getting Pacific Northwest Vibes in PA | Difficulty Rating: Moderate to Hard, depending on the hike | Best Time of Year to Visit: Spring is great for the waterfalls and fall is amazing for foliage

I love McConnells Mill and it is worth the drive. It feels so secluded and it’s hard to believe it’s so close to a major city. The combination of evergreen trees with the sounds of Slippery Creek Gorge make this a park I continue to return to, year after year.

Best Hikes in McConnells Mill

For an easy, family friendly hike, check out Hells Hollow waterfall trail.
Try the Kildoo Trail for a 2.3 mile trail that runs along the creek. Don’t let the distance fool you though – it is moderately challenging.

Insider Tip: If you’re a beginner hiker, I’d save these hikes for a dry day in a warmer season. When icy, the trails here can be very slippery. The trails also flood very quickly, so I don’t recommend anyone goes during threat of heavy rains.

*McConnell’s Mill on a beautiful fall day*

Love the idea of visiting a waterfall and want to see more? Check out my post on the Best Waterfalls near Pittsburgh!

Best Fall Foliage: Moraine State Park

Address: 225 Pleasant Valley Rd, Portersville, PA 16051

Best for: Fall Foliage | Difficulty Rating: Moderate to Hard, depending on the hike | Best Time of Year to Visit: Fall is hands down the best

Moraine State Park is about forty minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. While it’s most well known for Lake Arthur, this park also has some amazing hiking trails. Some of my favorites include the NCT/Glacier Trail and the Sunken Garden Trail.

Best Trails in Moraine State Park

Sunken Garden Trail
Glacier Ridge / The North Country Trail (they overlap)
Butterfly Trail

Insider Tip: Moraine State Park isn’t just good for hiking, it’s also an amazing place for exploring by boat. I love kayaking and stand up paddleboarding at Moraine as well.

Check out my complete guide to Moraine State Park!

Best River Views: Harrison Hills Park

Address: 5200 Freeport Rd, Natrona Heights, PA 15065

Best for: River Views (Allegheny edition) | Difficulty Rating: Moderate | Best Time of Year to Visit: This is a good stick season hike, as you’ll get more river views during your hike

Harrison Hills is an underrated park in the Allegheny County Park system. This park offers amazing views of the Allegheny from high above. It’s also got a ton of trails to choose from. This is another place that has sections of the Rachel Carson Trail, including the challenge start/end point.

Insider tip: Harrison Hills may seem to be 30 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, but Route 28 always has traffic. That’s why it’s in this section!

For more details about each of the trails, check out my Harrison Hills Park Overview!

Best Hikes over an Hour from Pittsburgh

Visited all the trails close to Pittsburgh? Check out some of these great Pennsylvania sites that are within a couple hours drive of Pittsburgh!

Do you have any other favorite hikes near Pittsburgh? Let me know in the comments below!

Best Hikes Near Pittsburgh: A Local Hiker’s Guide