This is a terrific run combining the campuses of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie-Mellon University, and Schenley Park. Located just east of downtown, these areas are adjacent.
Our mapped route takes you by the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, two of the larger architectural sites of the city, and does a good loop of Schenley Park. Hilly Schenley Park is a highlight, with 456 acres of trails. Be sure to pass through the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Run up the hill to the Schenley Oval, which features a 1 km paved perimeter loop, a running track, and good views.
We chose Birmingham Bridge as a starting point but you can save a mile each way by starting at the University of Pittsburgh, starting at Schenley Plaza. A good add-on option is to head east of Schenley Park through the upscale Squirrel Hill neighborhood (~1.5 miles) into Frick Park, which has miles of woodland trails.
Add-On: If the hilly streets & parks aren’t enough, tackle the 136 steps off Joncaire St., just south of Schenley Ave. near the Frick Fine Arts Building. Can
This is a terrific run combining the campuses of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie-Mellon University, and Schenley Park. Located just east of downtown, these areas are adjacent.
Our mapped route takes you by the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, two of the larger architectural sites of the city, and does a good loop of Schenley Park. Hilly Schenley Park is a highlight, with 456 acres of trails. Be sure to pass through the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Run up the hill to the Schenley Oval, which features a 1 km paved perimeter loop, a running track, and good views.
We chose Birmingham Bridge as a starting point but you can save a mile each way by starting at the University of Pittsburgh, starting at Schenley Plaza. A good add-on option is to head east of Schenley Park through the upscale Squirrel Hill neighborhood (~1.5 miles) into Frick Park, which has miles of woodland trails.
Add-On: If the hilly streets & parks aren’t enough, tackle the 136 steps off Joncaire St., just south of Schenley Ave. near the Frick Fine Arts Building. Can
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Essentials
7 mile RT, through Schenley Park, starting and ending at Birminigham Bridge and Fifth Street
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.
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.
Four parks/preserves north of Pittsburgh with easy running on mainly wooded trails. Highlights include the 5-mile North Park lake loop, the estate trails at Hartwood Acres, and the meadows & woods at Beechwood Farms Nature Preserve.
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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Essentials
7 mile RT, through Schenley Park, starting and ending at Birminigham Bridge and Fifth Street
ls. Be sure to pass through the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Run up the hill to the Schenley Oval, which features a 1 km paved perimeter loop, a running track, and good views.
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Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!