BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Boyce Park is nice

pdf map of trails

http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/maps/bpmap.pdf

better map

http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/maps/GIS/bp.pdf

Here is a link to maps for different parks in Allegheny County

http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/maps.aspx

mingo creek state park would be a long one... you could take the T for most of it though.

The Audobon society has a nature preserve called Beechwood that has about 5 miles of hiking only trails. see the link :

Beechwood Nature Reserve

Its near where Don Parker was killed. Bestway from HP might be to cross the 62nd Street Br then thru Sharpsburg, then up Kitanning Pike to Dorseyville Road. Its on Dorseyville Road just before the Harts Run intersection. There's also a little known very adventurous way thru the Fox Chapel portion I can tell you about if your interested.

Maybe a section of the 34 mile Rachel Carson Trail, if you want some steep hills.It goes from North Park to Harrison City Park.I just did the Rachel Carson Challenge 10 days ago.

Old Freeport to Freeport Road to Harrison Hills Park would be nice if you want to head northeast to a smallish park with great views of the Allegheny River below; Perrysville or Federal north from the North Side to Riverview Park if you want to go due north; Campbells Run Road or ??? to Settlers Cabin Park if you want to go west; you could scout a road route other than US 22 to get to Raccoon Creek State Park, which is an awesome hiking location a little further west; Route 30 to Route 48 South (at North Versailles) to White Oak Park (not a lot of trails, but a new destination, some nice trails). Hmmm, I think I need to get the hiking boots out myself!

I personally like running the numerous loops of trails among the slag piles between Frick and the river east of 9 mile run. I have always been fascinated with the interface areas between industrial wasteland and natural areas, which was fostered while growing up and exploring where steel mills meet what is now dunes national lakeshore land.

I would heartily suggest several parks near my area including Beechwood Farms, Hartwood Acres, Emmerling Park, and Trillium Trails. All of these are within Indiana Township and Fox Chapel Borough and all of them have a plethora of dynamic trails.

The western-most section of the Rachel Carson trail, between North Park and Hampton Twp Park, is pretty nice. Just follow the yellow blazes.

There are also a few moderate trails in Fox Chapel, a bit closer to the city. This guy has a decent summary.

+1 on the stuff in Fox Chapel. The Trillium Trail (and other shorter stuff nearby) is an easy ride from the city.

thanks for the feedback everyone! the links are also very helpful. Looking forward to exploring some new terrain this week.

+1 for beechwood farms. Kitanning pike is a long, long hill, so take it easy at first.

You'll also need to check out the Boyce-Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair, just 12 miles from downtown. I coudn't find much that was working in the way of web links but there was

Boyce-Mayview Park

I'm guessing the county must have recently given it to Upper St. Clair, they used to call it County Park Number 7 ! Anyway they have a very developed trail system, mostly there are signs saying "No Bikes" on the trails though, but.... You'll get lost without a map and I don't see any on-line, they've also built on the site a giant recreation center, which is really huge. The rec center is off Mayview road. I've never been in it but they might have a map for you there ( they have a nicely printed pamphlet one ). Oh, don't go into the recently closed Mayview hospital grounds which is adjacent to the park, unless you like to cause trouble. You're likely to get only a few hundred yards before "state security" descends on you.

The 41 Bus ( catch on Wood or Smithfield Downtown, it crosses the Smithfield St Br) is good for getting you from Downtown to Bridgeville. Just get off at the end of its line at Bank/Mayview and Lesnet. Then its a nice ride to the park down Mayview Rd.

if you head out toward beechwood farms, i recommend taking saxonburg boulevard instead of dorseyville. it requires a bit of a harrowing ride on pa 8, but after that, it is waaaay more pleasant.

Thanks again for the suggestions all. Decided to hit up Trillium. Ventured out with a friend yesterday. That was my first time riding across the highland park bridge, and I guess I should have not chosen to ride it between 2:30 and 5:30 on a Friday afternoon, holiday weekend. We started out single file on the bridge, but cars were cutting so close so we made a quick change to two-abreast. It was fine for the way there, but on the way back there were some crazies. Some people brushed by so close and cut us off as they sped past and changed into our lanes. The roads in Fox Chapel were slightly terrifying to me given how fast I know cars turn the bend and hug the shoulder. I feel much safer in city traffic. This one dude sped past our bikes on a super narrow two-way dirt road that we had parked our bikes and were seated, he was with his friend and was super on the fly, upping his speed as he blew past, seemingly in an effort to startle us. We both just kind of stared at all the dirt he kicked up, dumbfounded for a few seconds after he was out of sight. I think the next time I do this it will be on a quiet Sunday morning...! All in all, it was just such a beautiful day and a lot of fun, but we didn't happen to get much hiking done! Just kind of sat in the grass by a stream upon getting to the area... recovering... For me, new roads are always a little scarier, especially being that I kind of suck at directions. Looking forward to going again sometime, now that I know a little better where I am going. It was so peaceful once we sat down for a bit, and was a good time to just hang out. Still, my nerves and a bottle of wine were both set to chill when I returned to my apartment. Also I guess HP Bridge is the best way to get to this area?

yeah, i pretty much avoid the highland park bridge. it's pretty horrible, even on a lazy sunday afternoon.

i recommend the 62nd street bridge. then you have your choice to go up through sharpsburg (ravine st./sharps hill), or go past sharpsburg and over the highland park bridge hump and up through aspinwall or along freeport to fox chapel road. or head out through etna, up 8 for a stretch and up saxonburg.

lots of options, and you may have taken my least favorite on your first outing!

Ride to Ohiopyle with your backpack in tow and camp for the night. Then, hike 18 miles to the shelters at route 653 on the Laurel Highlands hiking trail and camp for the night. Wake up, eat some oatmeal, hike back to Ohiopyle, camp again and ride back the next morning. There's four grueling days for ya.

Edited to add that I just saw that I was like, four days late on this one.