Schenley Park & Monday’s Brewing (Greenfield)

June 5, 2025hikesandhopsblog 1 Comment

Pittsburgh, PA

We’re lucky to have a number of beautiful parks here in Pittsburgh! Schenley Park is one of my favorites because it has miles of wooded trails and stunning century-old stone bridges. It’s the perfect spot for hiking, running, relaxing, and a bunch of other outdoor activities. Plus, after soaking up nature, you can head right across the Greenfield Bridge to grab a pint and a bite to eat at Monday’s Brewing (yup, it’s open every Monday!)

THE HIKE: Schenley Park Loop

Length: 4.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 400 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Trail use: Hiking, biking, running

Where to Park: There’s plenty of street parking around Schenley Park. If you want to follow these trail directions, park along the road on Overlook Drive, which is free. Other places to park where you can pick up the trail are free parking at the Anderson Playground (the Dino Playground), or paid street parking by the Schenley Visitors Center. All of these locations have either a porta-potty or a full bathroom (Schenley Park Visitors Center).

The Route: There are miles of interweaving trails through Schenley, so you can easily do a short loop or extend for a much longer outing. This is one of my go-to loops that incorporates both the narrow wooded trails and the wider bridle trails and passes some of Schenley Park’s iconic features.

Start off on the Bridle Trail just off of Greenfield Road. Follow this wide trail as it curves around the cliffside overlooking the Parkway. This is a popular trail and you’ll likely be sharing the way with runners, cyclists, and other groups. After following downhill for about 0.8 miles, you’ll encounter the first historic bridge of your hike. This bridge, along with several others in the park, was built in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. At one mile into your trek, you’ll reach a trail junction. To the right is the swimming pool. Stay to the left, getting onto the Upper Panther Hollow Trail and passing under a bridge. After popping up on the other side of the bridge underpass, the Anderson playground will be to your right, along with a water fountain and a porta-potty.

Continue along the Upper Panther Hollow Trail, another very wide path, as it passes under another bridge and follows along the curve of a hillside. At 1.8 miles, take a narrow path to the left as it leads down into the hollow. To the right is one of the stunning 1908 historic bridges that are iconic to the park. Continue straight, up the hillside and over another wide path. To the left is a large rock, whimsically painted like a sitting bird. Continue straight ahead onto a cobblestone slope, now getting on the Steve Falconi Trail. Continue along this single-track trail. This natural path is less busy than previous trails but is also more rustic. At 2.7 miles, the trail lets out beside a pavilion and West Circuit Road. Straight ahead is the historic Westinghouse Memorial Fountain. Continue along the road briefly, rounding the bend to the left to walk along the sidewalk along Schenley Drive. After 0.1 mile, the quaint building to your left is the Schenley Park Visitor’s Center. This is a great spot to grab a bite to eat, learn more about the park, or just use the restroom.

To continue your route, follow the cobblestone path behind the building back down into the park. Take the stone stairs that descend into the woods. In the early spring, these stairs are surrounded by bluebells. Cross over the Lower Panther Hollow Trail and keep heading down the stairs. To your right is the other of the stunning 1908 bridges. At the bottom of the stairs, turn right onto the unnamed trail and follow through some wetlands and a small pond. In several hundred feet, the trail opens up onto the Panther Hollow Lake, a popular spot for fishing and relaxing. Follow the trail as it circumnavigates the lake. Now on the Hollow Run Trail, bear slightly right to continue away from the lake and along a small stream. At 3.6 miles, the trail curves up and reaches a junction. Turn right to get on the narrow path that leads along the stream. On maps, this is also called the Hollow Run Trail, but in person, it has a sign for the Ponticulus Trail. This is an incredibly beautiful trail that meanders along the stream deep in the hollow and is less busy than the rest of the park. It’s a great place for seeing wildflowers and amphibians. Finally, the trail ends in stairs that lead up to Barlett Street. Turn right and follow along Bartlett Street for 0.2 miles to complete your loop.

This is just one of the many route options in the park!

Other Attractions: Schenley Park has a lot to offer! Some other spots that may interest you outside of hiking are the very cool and newly renovated Anderson Playground, the ever-popular disc golf course, numerous picnic pavilions, sporting fields, a swimming pool, and more! Just outside of the park are the stunning Phipps Conservatory, which has a free outdoor garden to walk through, and the Bob O’Connor Golf Course, an affordable 9-hole course open to all.

THE BEER: Mondays Brewing Taproom (Greenfield)

Address: 563 Greenfield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15207
Distance from Trail Head: 0.6 miles, 2 mins
Website: https://mondays.beer/
Food?: Full Menu, operated by Smashed & Fried
Details: Street parking, wine and cocktails, NA options, indoor seating only, no pets

A guarantee at Mondays Brewing? You can always get a good beer on Monday! Monday’s Brewing originally opened in Peters Township in October 2020. They managed to find their footing during a difficult time in the service industry and have grown enough to open a second location. They found the perfect spot in Greenfield in the former Hough’s Taproom, a long-standing staple of the neighborhood. The huge taproom allows Mondays to grow in ways that their cozy Peters Township bar can’t. They have a full kitchen operated by Smashed & Fried, offering a menu of burgers, BBQ, and seafood.

Anchoring the space is a huge U-shaped bar where the Mondays team serves up 20 taps of their own brews along with some sampling of other local breweries. They are also fully stocked with locally made ciders, wine, seltzers, mead, and spirits. There are even some locally made soda and ginger beer options for the non-boozy.

Mondays is a great addition to the Greenfield neighborhood and we can’t wait to see where they go from here!

Our Beer:

Plaza Beer – Dark Mexi Lager – 5%
Lawnmower Beer – Pilsner – 5%

Looking for more Hikes & Hops in Pittsburgh? Check out Settler’s Cabin & Altered Genius Trailside, Dead Man’s Hollow & Firewhistle Brewing, North Park & Cinderlands Taproom, and Best Hikes & Hops in Pittsburgh!

Looking for more adventures in Pennsylvania and beyond? Check out my new book: Beer Hiking Pennsylvania and New Jersey

PA Craft Beer – Homemade, Homegrown

May 30, 2025May 29, 2025hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

This post was paid for with Pennsylvania Taxpayer Dollars and sponsored by the PA Department of Agriculture. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

After a hard day’s work, what better feeling is there than cracking open a cold one on a warm sunny day? But as you enjoy the crisp carbonation of that bitter liquid, do you really know where your beer comes from? A fresh beer can be even more satisfying when it’s brewed and sourced locally!

Here in Pennsylvania, we have over 500 craft breweries, second only to California. For beer to be considered “craft” it is typically made by an independent company using traditional ingredients on a small scale. When you visit a craft brewery, you’re having the freshest beer, made by hand in an onsite brewing facility. Sometimes you can even see the brewing equipment around the corner while sitting at the bar!

*Fermentors right in the taproom at Stick City Brewing*

But to understand where the beer is coming from, we need to back up and remember the basics. Beer is a combination of basic ingredients: water, barley, yeast, and hops. But what sounds simple can turn into a complex alchemy of sourcing ingredients to get a specific flavor profile. Hops are the ingredient that gives beer its quintessential bitter flavor. They typically need a mild, wet growing environment to thrive, which can be difficult to achieve outside of specific geographic regions; most hops grown in the US come from the Pacific Northwest for this reason. While hops are the flashy component, malt is the backbone of beer. Malt is a grain that has been partially sprouted, then dried. It’s used in a variety of foods and drinks, but it’s integral to beer because it provides the sugars that start the fermentation process, thereby putting the booze in your brews. The type of malt used also contributes to the final beer’s color and flavor. Finally, the fermentation process can’t happen without yeast. This microorganism loves to chomp up the sugars in malt and converts them to carbon dioxide and alcohol. Along with water, these three ingredients make up the beverage we know and love!

With the scale of craft beer production in Pennsylvania, brewers need a lot of grain and hops. So, where do they get these products? Many source hops and malt from major distributors in the Pacific Northwest or internationally. However, a growing number are turning to our own booming agriculture industry here in the Keystone State.

Pennsylvania has over 7.7 million acres of farmland, most of which are family-owned farms. These nearly 49,000 farms support a multi-billion-dollar industry that supplies jobs and food right here in our state. So it seems like a natural leap for small businesses to source supplies and ingredients from farms right in their backyard, right? PA-Preferred, a program of the PA Department of Agriculture, is a resource for finding locally made food and farm products in Pennsylvania! With this resource, both consumers and producers can easily find businesses to source ingredients from, whether it’s for hobbyist homebrewers or full-time production brewers.

For Nick Salkeld, brewer and owner of Stick City Brewing in Mars, PA, using local products is a no-brainer. “You can physically go out and see the product. You can immediately see and meet the person who grew it,” he said. “You can even see the dirt where it came from.”

Sustainability is a huge part of Salkeld’s mission, and buying local is a key part of that. He often works with a malt supplier in Butler County, CNC Malts, for custom malt blends to get the exact flavor profile and coloring he’s aiming to achieve for his beer. All of the grains at CNC Malts are sourced locally and floor-malted right in Butler County. More than that, Salkeld has a personal connection to the company. The maltsters’ (which is what you call a person who makes malt) processing facility is the old Clearfield Schoolhouse where Salkeld’s dad went to school. It can’t get more local than that!

*A flight of house-made brews at Lincoln Avenue Brewery*

Lincoln Avenue Brewery in Bellevue, PA (affectionately called LAB) also sources much of its malt from CNC Malts. The brewery also boasts a full kitchen, so it’s not just about sourcing local beer ingredients but the whole range of foods to stock their kitchen. A rotating menu based on seasonal fruits and veggies means that they can buy the bulk of their produce from Haffey Farms, a Bellevue Farmers Market staple. For Lisa Saylor, brewery co-owner, buying local just makes sense because it supports a regional sustainability circle. The spent grains from their house-made beer are given back to local farmers to feed their livestock. In turn, that livestock might eventually make its way to Tom Friday’s Market, a butcher shop where Lincoln Avenue sources the bulk of its meat. Talk about farm to plate!

Working with local products and producers is a “more iterative process, rather than top down,” says Salkeld of Stick City. He can work directly with the folks at CNC Malts to create custom grain blends that give Stick City’s beer a unique flavor. But what about those pesky hops that prefer the Pacific Northwest?

It’s notoriously difficult to grow hops in the Pennsylvania climate; as the saying goes, “it’s a wet heat”!. But that’s not stopping some plucky PA farmers from giving it a shot! Especially when a survey from Penn State Extension school found that a majority of craft brewers in the state are inspired by sourcing locally. Stick City, for one, adds fresh hops grown in Western PA by Hazy Daze Farms to their late August beers (when hops are harvested) and also sources dried and pelletized PA-grown hops from CNC Malts. Through the PA Preferred online database, any brewers interested in local hops and grains can find PA farmers growing them.

PA’s brewery culture is booming, and it can only get stronger with more emphasis on sourcing local ingredients. Through the PA Preferred Program, brewers can easily find local farmers to partner with and strive toward beers that are homemade and homegrown, with a taste of Pennsylvania in every sip!

Want to learn more about the PA Preferred Program and how you can support local farmers? Check out www.papreferred.com or follow them on Instagram for announcements of new members to the program.

White Oak Park & Wye Beer Co.

November 17, 2024hikesandhopsblog 2 Comments

White Oak, PA

White Oak Park is one of the nine beautiful Allegheny County parks. This 810-acre is a haven for hikers, bikers, and nature-lovers alike! It has over 8 miles of trail including densely wooded sections with low foot traffic. It’s a great spot for spring wildflowers and has space for a variety of activities, including bocce, a dog park, and athletic fields. After a peaceful loop through the trails, enjoy a brew and a bite at Wye Beer Co. in Trafford, PA. Located right on the Westmoreland Heritage Trail, this brewery is about as outdoors-friendly as you can get!

THE HIKE: White Oak Park Loop

Length: 3.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 321 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1.5 hours
Trail use: Leashed dogs, Bike friendly
Parking: large lot at entrance off McClintock Road

White Oak is a regional park managed by Allegheny County that spans over 800 acres. Here you’ll find plenty of space for recreation, including ball fields, pavilions, a dog park and more. There are many miles of trail included a paved walking path. But where White Oak truly shines is in its deeply wooded hiking trails. These trails, although not terribly well marked at times, wind through huge groves of trees that feel like one is miles away from civilization. Until the trail pops out by a pavilion or bathroom!

White Oak Park is a bit of a drive from most areas of town, but I highly recommend a visit. J and I were pleasantly surprised to have the trails to ourselves on a sunny fall day and really enjoyed an easy loop through the western portion of the park on the Green Trail.

Begin your hike at the parking lot for the Wedding Pavilion. It’s not quite marked well on Google Maps so you can use the link above! Pick up the Green Trail behind the small pavilion and down the hill. You’ll see the green blazes begin right at the tree line. Immediately, you’ll be surrounded by towering trees and any road sounds fade away. Follow the trail for about 0.5 miles, then it will lead close to a pavilion and bathroom. The rest of the hike meanders through thick trees and then veers close the walking path and pavilions. I’d definitely recommend following a route on an app as sometimes the trail junctions aren’t marked or very clear. At the very end, the trail goes sharply uphill where the path is a bit uncertain. You should come out near the dog park. We then followed the road back to the Wedding Pavilion to finish out the hike.

If you have time, I also highly recommend visiting the meadow area behind the park office. We just happened to visit during peak goldenrod season and it was just so beautiful to see the bees buzzing around the golden spires. There are a number of other trails you can pick up from this area including the Yellow Trail, a 1.5 mile loop.

Overall, although the trails are not well marked and online maps difficult to come by, I highly recommend a visit to White Oak Park. It’s the perfect place to explore and feels off the beaten path. We will definitely be back!

THE BEER: Wye Beer Co.

Address: 3 Forbes Rd, Trafford, PA 15085
Distance from Trail Head: 6.7 miles, 14 mins
Website: http://www.wyebeer.com/
Food?: Full Kitchen
Details: Outdoor seating, family friendly, Pet friendly

Tucked into a small business plaza in Trafford is Wye Beer Co. As you pull into the parking lot, you’re likely to see a few bikes pulling up to the brewery as well! Wye Beer is conveniently located right on the Westmoreland Heritage Trail, so it’s become a popular spot for bikers and beer lovers alike. Walking inside, the brewery is quite spacious, with a large bar and plenty of tables. Arcade games line the walls adding to the space’s fun flair. After ordering a pint, you can also sit outside in the beer garden, complete with a ski lift swing (yes, this was my spot of choice!). If you’re feeling a bit peckish, the menu of shareables and flatbreads is sure to hit the spot. We particularly enjoyed the giant Bavarian pretzel! Now Wye doesn’t limit itself to particular styles, so there’s always a wide variety of options on tap. It’s really important to the owners that they have a beer style for everyone!

Wye Beer is still relatively new to the brew scene having opened in early 2024 by three brothers from Irwin. But they’re no strangers to the restaurant and bar life; the family has owned several other ventures, including the popular Ginny’s Pizza. The brewery’s name pays homage to Blackburn-Wye rail line that used to run through the area. A “wye” is a railroad term for a track junction that forms the letter “Y”. I love when we get a history lesson at a brewery!

Also, I highly recommend a stop at the Parkside creamery for a tasty treat to wrap up your day! The pumpkin pie ice cream really hit the spot!

Our Beer:

Downtown Mindy Brown – American Brown Ale – 5.7%
Pumpky Brewster – Pumpkin Beer – 6.8%
On Point – Pale Ale – 5.6% (Collab with Yough River Brewing)

Looking for other Hikes & Hops in this area? Check out Dead Man’s Hollow & Fire Whistle Brewing or Duff Park & Devout Brewing.

Check out other Allegheny County Parks! Settler’s Cabin, North Park, and South Park

Jennings Environmental Center & Missing Links Brewery

September 21, 2024hikesandhopsblog 1 Comment

Butler County, PA

A family Hikes & Hops outing is quickly being a favorite tradition! Over the summer, we visited Jennings Environmental Center in Butler County with my parents. Sharing a border with Moraine State Park, this quaint center is often overlooked by its more showy neighbors. But this nature center is worth a visit in its own right! The park boasts miles of trails through both wooded and prairie ecosystems and is entirely dedicated to nature education. The park also protects the endangered massasuaga rattlesnake One mile of the North County Trail also passes through the park. This is a fantastic park for all hiking abilities!

THE HIKE: Jennings Environmental Center

Length: 5 miles (connect to NCT for more)
Elevation Gain: 300 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2 hours
Trail use: Hiking, Leashed pets
Parking: Ample parking at Center

This park is one of four environmental education centers managed by the Pennsylvania State Parks system. It’s slightly different from other state parks because its primary purpose is to educate the community about the local environment. The park also offers 5 miles of hiking trails and connects to the North Country Scenic Trail, as well as cross country skiing in the winter. Be aware that certain areas are open to hunting during the season.

Access and Parking: Jennings Environmental Center is free to visit! Park near the office and classrooms, use coordinates 41.00869377322245, -80.00326119251952

The Route: This route follows several of the main trails at Jennings to make a nice 5 miles figure 8 of the park. It starts at the park office where there are bathroom and educational displays. Begin the trek on the Whispering Woods Trail and head towards the wetland area. After a quick jaunt through the woods, you’ll encounter a large gazebo with interpretive signs about wetlands and the mining past of the region. from here, weave through some of the unmarked trails through the waterways where you may spot turtles hiding in the water and butterflies fluttering to the flowers. After exploring, return to the gazebo and take the North Country Trail (blue and yellow blazes) into the woods. Follow the trail until it reaches a trail junction. Now, you can take the Black Cherry Trail as it leaves the NCT and heads up the hill. This is the steepest part of your journey! This trail passes through peaceful woods and large glacial boulders. About a mile into your journey, pass another trail junction where you will get on the Ridge Trail. Be aware that this trail passes into hunting lands, which are clearly noted with signs along the way. The Ridge Trail then meets back up with the North Country Trail as it heads back towards the Park Office. You’ll cross a small bridge which crosses over a peaceful waterway. Now on the Old Elm Trail you’ll loop back to the park office. You’ve just finished your first loop!

Now, if you’re still looking for more, you’ll carefully cross over PA 528 to the other half of the park. There’s additional parking and bathrooms on this side. There are many intersecting trails that can make small or large loops, depending on how much you want to tackle. We took the Maassuaga Trail and connected that to the larger Oakwoods Trail. This route passes through some lowlands where the ground can get quite muddy. Some of the trails were closed due to beaver activity leading to washed out trails. After a nice meander through the park, we ended our journey by walking through the park’s most unique feature: a prairie ecosystem. The Prairie Loop skirts around a wide open meadow with tall native grasses and flowers. The trails are wide, mown paths, and it is vital to the health of the ecosystem that you remain only on these paths. This area is also home to the reclusive, yet venomous massuaga rattlesnake so it’s best to keep an eye out for this slithering friend. If hiking in the late summer, you will be treated to sights of the amazing Blazing Star praire flower with its distinctive purple spire. After taking the Prairie Loop, follow the Blazing Star Trail back towards the road and cross over to the parking lot to complete your journey.

THE BEER: Missing Links Brewery

Address: 891 Evans City Rd #9209, Renfrew, PA 16053
Distance from Trail Head: 13 miles, 20 mins
Website: http://www.missinglinksbrewery.com
Food?: Full Menu
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly outside

Missing Links Brewery is located in Evans City right next to the Butler Farm Market. They offer a full line-up of house made beer as well as a complete kitchen menu of tasty grub. There’s a large outdoor porch for pup-friendly dining and the entire space is family-friendly. With a comical logo of the owners as caveman, Missing Links like to riff on this with their beer names, like Bedrock IPA, Dinoweizen Wheat Beer, and Bigfoot ESB. With a kitchen menu of pub classic like pizza and sandwiches, this place is sure to be your missing link between a hike and a delicious brew!

Our Beer:

Oatmeal Stout – stout – 5.8%
Razzmatazz IPA – Raspberry hazy IPA – 5.1%
Tropical Mist IPA – NEIPA – 6.4%
Paradise Ale – Wheat Beer – 4.9%
Strawberry Rhubarb Sour – Sour – 4.7%
Blood Orange – Fruit Beer – 5.1%

Looking for more Hikes & Hops in Butler County? Check out Moraine SP & Union Brothers Brewing, McConnells Mill & ShuBrew, or Wolf Creek Narrows & Big Rail Brewing.

Keystone SP & Yellow Bridge Brewing

August 4, 2024June 4, 2025hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

Delmont, PA

Looking for a day trip less than an hour from Pittsburgh? Look no further than Keystone State Park. This Laurel Highlands gem has a lake beach, hiking trails, kayak & SUP rentals, fishing, and more! You can even turn it into a weekend trip by renting a campsite or yurt. After a day at the lake, visit Yellow Bridge Brewing for a brew in the quaint taproom.

THE HIKE: Davis Run, McCune, and Lakeside Loop

Length: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 393 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets
Parking: large lot at beach

The 1,200 acre Keystone State Park is the perfect day trip or weekend destination. The centerpiece is the large Keystone Lake that’s open for various water activities, including swimming, fishing, and boating. There are also 8-miles of trail ranging from easy to more moderately difficult.

It’s hard to believe while enjoying the beauty of Keystone State Park, but the waters actually have their origins in the former bustling steel industry of southwestern PA. The Keystone Coal and Coke company dammed the meeting of the Davis and McCune runs to create a lake that would supply water to their coke ovens. In 1945, the Keystone Company sold the area to the state which sealed off the mines. Today the park is a beautiful spot for recreation.

Where to Park: There are several large parking lots at Keystone but not all of them are connected. For this hike, park at the Beach parking lot for access to the trailhead. If renting kayaks or only doing the Lake Loop, park at the lot off Slag Road. *As of July 2024, there is not access within the park from the beach to the boat launch. You must go outside of the park to access Slag Road.

The Route: This route combines several of the trails for a 5-mile loop that includes wetlands and ends around the lake. From the beach parking lot, head toward Keystone Park Road. You’ll start out on the Davis Run trail which actually begins across the street, opposite from the lake. The road is not very busy but still cross with care. Get on the Davis Run Trail marked with blue diamonds. Our route combines the Davis Run Trail (blue diamond), McCune Trail (yellow diamond), and Strawcutter Trail (green diamond) for just under three miles before crossing back over the road. These trails are intersecting so there’s plenty of opportunity to lengthen or shorten your outing. During the first half of the hike, you’ll pass by marshes so keep an eye for wetland species like skunk cabbage in the early spring. The trails abound with ephemeral wildflowers in the early spring. These trails also loop through hardwood forests and then through tall pine trees. At the end of the wetland loop, cross back over the road to complete the 2 miles Lakeside Loop (no blaze). The section around the lake is a wide flat path that is a great option for strollers or those with mobility issues. Add on the 0.3-mile Pine Trail (no blaze) for a short trek off the Lakeside loop into the towering pines. The Lakeside Loop also passes by the lakeside campground and then crosses the dam. To the right is the boat launch and kayak rental. Cross through the parking lot to pick up the trail again. Along the north side of the lake, you’ll pass by several pavilions and picnic tables which are perfect for a post-hike snack. Complete your hike by following the trail back to the beach parking area.

THE BEER: Yellow Bridge Brewing

Address: 2266 PA-66, Delmont, PA 15626
Distance from Trail Head: 12 miles, 17 mins
Website: https://yellowbridgebrewing.com/
Food?: in-house Pizza
Details: Indoor seating, bar games

Yellow Bridge Brewing opened in 2016 by two brothers who decided to take their homebrewing to the next level. Today, there are two locations: Delmont and Greensburg. You can usually find a range of 10 homemade brews on tap along with local wines and ciders. Yellow Bridge has a main line up of 6 core beers that are made pretty consistantly and then peppers in more unique seasonal and one-off barrels. The original Delmont location is off PS-66 which can make the parking lot a wee bit difficult to get into but trust me it’s worth it! The inside is a wide open with tables and the bar on one side and the other open to the brewing equipment.

I’m not usually one for the heavy IPAs but Sebastian, the Double IPA was definitely a favorite. It was smooth with a tropical aroma and went down a little too easy for 8%! Thankfully the in-house pizza menu has some tasty offerings.

Our Beer: