North of Pittsburgh, there are three large parks & preserves that are particularly special for running: Riverview Park Beechwood Farms Nature Preserve, Hartwood Acres Park, North Park. Scroll down for descriptions of the running highlights in each of these parks.
Riverview Park.This 259-acre park located 4 miles north of downtown is known for its wooded trails and dramatically steep hillsides. There’s also a paved 2-mile loop, generally wooded. TRAIL MAP
Beechwood Farms Nature Preserve. Managed by the Audubon Society, this 134-acre sanctuary has five miles of easy trails around meadows, wetlands, and woods. There’s a Nature Cenrte, pond pavillions, and restrooms. Parking & access off Dorseyville Rd. TRAIL MAPINFORMATION
Hartwood Acres. Flickr.
Hartwood Acres Park. If we were to choose one of the northern Pittsburgh park for running, this would be it! Located 2.5 miles north of Beechwood Farms, this 629-acre park features trails and paths around a historic mansion, an outdoor sculpture garden. The trails are mainly wooded, but there’s a more open ‘meadow’ section at the northwest end. Trail highlights include the 1.5 mile paved trail around the sculpture garden & estate, and the 2.25 mile Purple Trail. INFORMATION
North Park. This 3,000-acre park. located 12 miles north of downtown, is the largest park in the greater Pittsburgh are. There are many miles of trails. Combination of open & wooded. The running highlight is the 5 mile perimeter trail around the lake. The park also has numerous other recreation facilities, including a golf course, ice rink, playing fields, PARK INFORMATIONLAKE LOOP MAP & INFO
North of Pittsburgh, there are three large parks & preserves that are particularly special for running: Riverview Park Beechwood Farms Nature Preserve, Hartwood Acres Park, North Park. Scroll down for descriptions of the running highlights in each of these parks.
Riverview Park.This 259-acre park located 4 miles north of downtown is known for its wooded trails and dramatically steep hillsides. There’s also a paved 2-mile loop, generally wooded. TRAIL MAP
Beechwood Farms Nature Preserve. Managed by the Audubon Society, this 134-acre sanctuary has five miles of easy trails around meadows, wetlands, and woods. There’s a Nature Cenrte, pond pavillions, and restrooms. Parking & access off Dorseyville Rd. TRAIL MAPINFORMATION
Hartwood Acres. Flickr.
Hartwood Acres Park. If we were to choose one of the northern Pittsburgh park for running, this would be it! Located 2.5 miles north of Beechwood Farms, this 629-acre park features trails and paths around a historic mansion, an outdoor sculpture garden. The trails are mainly wooded, but there’s a more open ‘meadow’ section at the northwest end. Trail highlights include the 1.5 mile paved trail around the sculpture garden & estate, and the 2.25 mile Purple Trail. INFORMATION
North Park. This 3,000-acre park. located 12 miles north of downtown, is the largest park in the greater Pittsburgh are. There are many miles of trails. Combination of open & wooded. The running highlight is the 5 mile perimeter trail around the lake. The park also has numerous other recreation facilities, including a golf course, ice rink, playing fields, PARK INFORMATIONLAKE LOOP MAP & INFO
One of our favorite downtown runs in a U.S. city: historic parks, river paths, iconic bridges, a hilltop promenade with great views, and the use of two, short incline railways!
A fantastic run featuring the Grandview Promenade (uses the incline railway to access it), which offers great views of the Monongahela & Pittsburgh skyline. Loops back using the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Can add with hillside trails.
The signature running option in Pittsburgh, with 33 miles of trail, along both banks of all three rivers in Pittsburgh. We've mapped & described the three main sections of the trail: Split District, North Side, & South Side, which can be mixed in various ways.
A classic Pittsburgh run along the Monongahela River between the Smithfield Bridge and the Hot Metal Bridge. Combines the more park-like south side of the river with the city's grittier north side. Good add-on options.
Three miles from downtown, there is great running near The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie-Mellon University. A highlight is Schenley Park, with 456 acres of trails, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
A great run combining two historic city parks: Schenley Park, with its botanical gardens, & more landscaped paths; and Frick Park, which has 400+ acres of mostly wooded trails. The lovely Squirrel Hill neighborhood connects the parks.
Create your own route on the side streets of these adjacent residential neighborhoods. Quieter, tree-lined streets with nice older homes and small commercial areas.
Historic park and neighborhood east of downtown that's wonderful for running. Highland Park features 4 miles of trails. including scenic lake loops. Combine with the leafy streets & Victorian homes in the historic district just south of the park.
Runners can get their heart rate up on Pittsburgh's famous hilly streets and stair paths! Canton Ave. at 37%, is the steepest street in North America. Several stair paths feature 300+ steps. We've mapped the steepest streets & longest stair paths.
A good option near the airport. The Montour Trail runs 46 miles around the southwest part of Pitsburgh and to some of the neighboring communities. A connector trail to the airport was completed in 2012.
Downtown Pittsburgh is the start point of a popular long-distance rail-trail that runs for 150 miles to Cumberland, MD. The first view miles overlaps with the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Wide, flat, gravel surfaced, & mainly wooded, with some nice river views.
A unique tour of Pittsburgh's downtown, Point State Park, and several neighborhoods, whose 11.5 mile route map is in the shape of a ballerina! Josh Key submitted this unique route along with a creative description.
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