Best places to hike around Pittsburgh for National Hiking Day

PITTSBURGH — Wednesday is “National Hiking Day” and we have a list of places around Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania for you to take one... or more! It’s a perfect day to get outside and hit the trail. Just make sure to wear some sturdy shoes.

And if you take any pictures along your hike, share them with us HERE.

Frick Park

Address: 1981 Beechwood Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Frick Park is Pittsburgh's largest historic regional park. With roughly 644 acres, there is plenty to do here, including hike. The park goes deep into the woodlands and is known for extensive trails. Some even go through valleys and feature wooded slopes -- a good escape from the city!

Rachel Carson Trail

The Rachel Carson Trail is a hiking trail north and east of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, spanning 45.4 miles (73.1 kilometers) between Harrison Hills County Park in the extreme northeast corner of Allegheny County, and North Park in the north-central area of the county. The trail is extremely varied, traversing several county parks, following power and gas lines, skirting suburban homes and farms, crossing creeks, meandering through woods and fields, and passing along the edge of steep bluffs.

McConnells Mill

Address: 1761 McConnells Mill Rd, Portersville, PA 16051

McConnells Mill is 2,546 acres of twists and turns and even a waterfall or two. There's 11.2 miles of trails that traverse the gorge. If you need a break from the trails, visitors can tour a gristmill and covered bridge built in the 1800s.

Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail

The Hickory Creek Wilderness is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Hickory Creek was designated as Wilderness in 1984 and contains 8,663 acres of gentle to moderate terrain bound by Forest Road 119 to the south and State Route 2002 and 3005 to the north.

Moraine State Park

Address: 225 Pleasant Valley Rd. Portersville, Pennsylvania 16051

Moraine is a beautiful place to spend a day. Open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset, the park features 29.2 miles of hiking trails that take you through forests and grassy areas, along lake edges and past wetlands. It is even pet-friendly! Check out their list of trails here.

Ohiopyle State Park

Address: 124 Main Street, Ohiopyle, PA 15470

Ohiopyle is a must in this area. The BEST part about Ohiopyle is the views. When you go, go to the overlooks (you drive to one), the waterfalls, the Ferncliff Peninsula which is a botanical reserve, and Meadow Run, a nature-made water park. There is fun for the whole family!

Laurel Hill State Park

Address: 1454 Laurel Hill Park Road, Somerset, PA 15501

Over 4,000 acres of mountainous terrain, and at the center is the 63-acre Laurel Hill Lake. Open in all seasons; sunrise to sunset! Whether you are coming to Laurel Hill State Park to camp, picnic, hike or mountain bike or just driving through, you’ll be able to see the diverse environment! If you’re camping overnight, make sure to look up because there is no light pollution like the city.

Raccoon Creek State Park

Address: 3000 State Route 18, Hookstown, PA 15050-1605

Raccoon Creek State Park is one of Pennsylvania’s largest and most visited state parks. The park encompasses 7,572 acres and features the beautiful 100-acre Raccoon Lake. Facilities are a mix of modern and rustic with group camps from the CCC era.

Forbes State Forest

Forbes State Forest was named for Gen. John Forbes, who, in 1758, ordered the construction of a road from Bedford to Fort Pitt for the British Army’s attack on Fort Duquesne. Forbes spreads across the high ridges of the Laurel Highlands, including the 3,213-ft. Mt. Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania.

Riverview Park

Address: 159 Riverview Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15214

Nestled between Perrysville Avenue, Woods Run, and Marshall Avenue, the 259-acre park is known for its wooded trails and dramatically steep hillsides. The park’s extensive network of trails invites hikers, joggers, and the occasional horseback rider into the woods.

Oil Creek State Park

Address: 305 State Park Road, Oil City, PA 1601

Oil Creek State Park tells the story of the early petroleum industry by interpreting oil boomtowns, oil wells, and early transportation. Scenic Oil Creek carves a valley of deep hollows, steep hillsides, and wetlands.

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