A great run near the universities is to combine Schenley Park and Frick Park. We recommend creating your own route on the many miles of trails. Run these parks separately, or combine for a longer run. It’s ~1 mile through the historic Squirrel Hill neighborhood (lovely homes, tree-shaded streets) between the two parks.
Schenley Park. This is more of a classic, old-style park, with its Phipps Botanical Gardens, golf course, ice rink, and pool. The hilly, 456-acre park has many miles of trails. A running highlight is the Schenley Oval, with a 1 km paved perimeter path and a running track. A perimeter loop, combining the Steve Faloon Memorial Trail and the Bridge Trail, is ~3.2 miles.
Frick Park. About the same size as Schenley Park, Frick Park has 400+ acres of mostly wooded trails. Also hilly. It’s more of a trail running spot than a park with very landscaped paths. Most trails aren’t paved. A loop of the perimeter is ~3 miles.
Squirrel Hill Neighborhood. A pleasant, hilly residential neighborhood for running, with tree-shaded streets and older set back homes. Forbes St. is a good connector street. Phillips Ave. (highly recommend!) Bartlett St., Darlington Rd.
Add-Ons. For the adventurous, the Nine Mile Trail from Schick Park is a good option to extend or vary your run.
- Nine Mile Trail south to Duck Hollow Trail: About 3.5 miles. Gravel trail that’s a good run. From deep in Frick Park, it’s 1.7 miles along Nine Mile Trail to Old Browns Hill Rd. at the Monongahela River, and then another 1.7 miles on the Duck Hollow Trail along the river. ROUTE MAP
- Nine Mile Trail south, over the Homestead Grays Bridge, to the Great Allegheny Passage Trail. About 3 miles to the Passage Trail (tricky finding it over the bridge, use 5th Ave. and Amity St.), then another ~7 miles one-way along the trail, to the end, paralleling Rt. 837. Fairly hilly. ROUTE MAP
A great run near the universities is to combine Schenley Park and Frick Park. We recommend creating your own route on the many miles of trails. Run these parks separately, or combine for a longer run. It’s ~1 mile through the historic Squirrel Hill neighborhood (lovely homes, tree-shaded streets) between the two parks.
Schenley Park. This is more of a classic, old-style park, with its Phipps Botanical Gardens, golf course, ice rink, and pool. The hilly, 456-acre park has many miles of trails. A running highlight is the Schenley Oval, with a 1 km paved perimeter path and a running track. A perimeter loop, combining the Steve Faloon Memorial Trail and the Bridge Trail, is ~3.2 miles.
Frick Park. About the same size as Schenley Park, Frick Park has 400+ acres of mostly wooded trails. Also hilly. It’s more of a trail running spot than a park with very landscaped paths. Most trails aren’t paved. A loop of the perimeter is ~3 miles.
Squirrel Hill Neighborhood. A pleasant, hilly residential neighborhood for running, with tree-shaded streets and older set back homes. Forbes St. is a good connector street. Phillips Ave. (highly recommend!) Bartlett St., Darlington Rd.
Add-Ons. For the adventurous, the Nine Mile Trail from Schick Park is a good option to extend or vary your run.
- Nine Mile Trail south to Duck Hollow Trail: About 3.5 miles. Gravel trail that’s a good run. From deep in Frick Park, it’s 1.7 miles along Nine Mile Trail to Old Browns Hill Rd. at the Monongahela River, and then another 1.7 miles on the Duck Hollow Trail along the river. ROUTE MAP
- Nine Mile Trail south, over the Homestead Grays Bridge, to the Great Allegheny Passage Trail. About 3 miles to the Passage Trail (tricky finding it over the bridge, use 5th Ave. and Amity St.), then another ~7 miles one-way along the trail, to the end, paralleling Rt. 837. Fairly hilly. ROUTE MAP
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