Did you know that here in Allegheny County, PA there are nine amazing regional parks? These parks are completely free and offer over 12,000 acres of recreational land managed by the county. From wave pools to amphitheaters, hiking trails to working farms, there’s so much to explore in your Allegheny County Parks.
I’ve visited each of the parks and will be updating this page with information about my favorite trails and recreation areas at each of them. While the parks are maintained by the County, the Allegheny County Parks Foundation does the heavy lifting, behind-the-scenes work to support these vital green spaces. To learn more about them and to support your parks, visit their website.
Settler’s Cabin
Location: 608 Ridge Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Highlights: Hiking trails, waterfall, wave pool, pavilions, dog park, dek hockey field, playgrounds, connector trail to the Panhandle rail trail
Featured Trail: Park at Tomahawk shelter to access the Waterfall Trail! You’ll start on the Blue Trail, leading through a dense pine grove. Stay on Blue until it connects with the Green trail heading down a hillside. At the bottom of the hill is the roughly 5-ft tall waterfall. You can continue on the Green trail away from the waterfall along the stream and it will eventually meet up with the Red Trail. This loop back to connect with the Blue Trail, making a pleasant 2.5ish mile loop.
Check out Settler’s Cabin & Altered Genius Trailside
Round Hill
Location: 651 Round Hill Rd, Elizabeth, PA 15037
Highlights: Exhibition farm with tours, spray park, playgrounds, hiking trails,
Featured Trail: The Red Trail leads through open meadows and alongside a wooded creek. You can begin the trail at the Harmony House shelter or take the Yellow Trail from the main parking lot by the duck pond to connect to the Red Trail. At times the trail can be difficult to follow so it’s best to have a map handy! Make sure to add on a walk through the farm to see the animals at the end!
South Park
Location: 3730 Buffalo Dr, South Park Township, PA 15129
Highlights: Game preserve, wave pool, ice rink, hiking trails, sports fields, dog park, Oliver Miller Homestead, South Park Theatre (free concerts!), playgrounds, golf course, connector trail to Montour rail trail
Featured Trail: Park at the Oliver Miller Homestead and Cascades lot to hike the Vale of Cashmere Trail. To begin, cross over East Park Drive towards Grant Grove shelter. To your right, the trail begins in a small meadow. This narrow trail eventually heads into the woods along a small stream. Eventually you’ll find the Vale of Cashmere, a 100-year-old water feature from when the park was first created. Past the feature, you can pick up the Buffalo Ridge Trail and keep making right turns along it to make your way back to the Oliver Miller Homestead. Make sure to stop at the Cascades to see a modern-day version of a water feature!
Check out South Park & Spoonwood Brewing
White Oak Park
Location: 3 Muse Ln, White Oak, PA 15131
Highlights: Ballfields, hiking trails, wildflowers, dog park, playgrounds
Featured Trail: Park at the Wedding Garden off Sylvan Drive to get on the Green Trail. Some maps call this the Pet Haven Trail or Rainbow Trail. You’ll follow the Green blazes for a roughly 2.5 mile loop of the west section of the park. The trail is sometimes difficult to see, so follow your route on the Allegheny County Parks app or AllTrails. This is a great trail for solitude and has an abundance of both spring and fall wildflowers!
Check out White Oak Park & Wye Beer Co.
North Park
Location: 303 Pearce Mill Rd, Allison Park, PA 15101
Highlights: Huge pool, lake with boating, kayak rentals, and fishing, hiking trails, ballfields, nature center, golf course, ice rink
Featured Trail: The Rachel Carson Trail runs through North Park and is, in my opinion, one of the prettiest sections of the long-distance trail. Start at the Harmar Pavilion and head to the right on the yellow-blazed trail for some steep hills, fun rock scrambles, and several creek crossings.
Check out North Park & Cinderlands Taproom
Deer Lakes Park
Location: 1090 Baileys Run Rd, Tarentum, PA 15084
Highlights: Hiking Trails, spray park, Wagman Observatory, disc golf, ballfields, fishing
Featured Trail: Check out the featured trails on the Allegheny County Park Foundation’s webpage! I visited this park as part of a trail running day where we did sections of all the trails in the park for a large 10 mile loop. The trails were wooded and we hardly saw another person! In the summer, be sure to end your hike at the spray park to cool off!
Boyce Park
Location: 675 Old Frankstown Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15239
Highlights: Wave pool, winter sports (skiing, snowboarding, tubing), hiking trails, sports fields, hiking trails, pavilions, dog park
Features Trail: Yellow Trail (also called Log House Trail). Park at the Carpenter Log House off of Pierson Run Road. Follow the Yellow blazes into the woods for a 1.2-mile trek that leads through open fields and wooded trail. Excellent for fall colors!
Harrison Hills Park
Location: 5200 Freeport Rd, Natrona Heights, PA 15065
Highlights: Hiking trails (including river vistas), nature center, dog park, ballfields, playgrounds,
Featured Trail: The 5-mile Red Trail leads you through a loop of the highlights of this park. You’ll pass through a rocky gorge, wetlands with a bird blind for wildlife viewing, and the stunning overlook above the Allegheny River. The trail is challenging but well worth it! There are several places to park to start the trail but I parked at the lot near Cottontail and Chipmunk Drives.
Hartwood Acres Park
Location: 200 Hartwood Acres, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Highlights: Sculpture garden, Mansion tours and special programs, hiking trails, amphitheatre (free concerts!), dog park
Featured Trail: The Paved Trail is an accessible path that winds through the heart of the park. It passes by the Mansion area, allowing hikers to add on a stroll through the Sculpture Garden to their excursion. Following the path leads towards the Amphitheatre, where one can also see the wildflower meadow (note the mown paths here are not wheelchair-friendly).
Check out 10 Things to do at Hartwood Acres Park
Hikes and Hops 