After months of cold, wet despair, it’s finally fun to be outside again. One of the many advantages to living in Pittsburgh is the proximity to the natural world. Within just an hour or two, you can find yourself in total wilderness. While there are great opportunities within the city or suburban limits like Frick Park or McConnells Mills, these hikes near Pittsburgh are a little more out of the way. They’re perfect for a fun day trip or weekend getaway away from the hustle and bustle. The majesty of nature provides comfort, awe, and connection to a higher power, if you’re looking for that. But it can also just be a fun way to spend time with loved ones and see the beauty that our earth has to offer.
7 Hikes Near Pittsburgh for Spring Adventures
Oil Creek State Park
Distance from Pittsburgh: 1 hours, 59 minutes
The trails at Oil Creek State Park have something for both the history buff and the nature lover. The surrounding valley was the site of the first commercial oil well in the United States, and signage and installations around the park tell the story of the oil industry’s rise in Pennsylvania. The hills are steep and the valleys are full of dense foliage, with options for biking along a flatter, paved trail as well.
Spruce Knob
Distance from Pittsburgh: 3 hours, 59 minutes
West Virginia is rife with hiking opportunities, and Spruce Knob is one of the most beautiful. It’s the highest peak in the state and has several campgrounds where you can stay overnight, or it can be done in a day if you’d like to take a shorter walk through the woods. Once you explore Spruce Knob, you can also branch out to nearby other campsites or hikes in the Monongahela National Forest.
Presque Isle State Park
Distance from Pittsburgh: 1 hour, 53 minutes
One of the toughest things about living in the Rust Belt region is not having access to the ocean. Lake Erie provides that long, blue horizon line that you might be missing. Within Presque Isle itself, there are many different trailheads, and you can do it in a day or you can camp. Migrating birds flock to the peninsula of Lake Erie, so if you like birdwatching, you can find some of the most endangered species in the state here.
Hocking Hills State Park
Distance from Pittsburgh: 3 hours, 18 minutes
Though you might think of Ohio as flat, the further south you go in the state, you’ll find more mountainous terrain. Hocking Hills has waterfalls and caves open year-round, with seven different hiking trails. If you’d like to keep some of the creature comforts, you can rent a cabin in the forest with hot tubs, fireplaces, and yes, even WiFi. A cabin like that makes a perfect couple’s getaway or group trip, where some can stay indoors and others can brave the tent.
Ohiopyle State Park
Distance from Pittsburgh: 1 hour, 15 minutes
It’s a classic for a reason. Pittsburghers love Ohiopyle, and Ohiopyle has a lot to offer. In the fall, the foliage brings out gorgeous oranges and reds. But in the spring, the lush green is overwhelmingly beautiful. The forested area around the town has many opportunities for fishing, hikes of different degrees of difficulty, and cultural activities like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob.
Pennsylvania Grand Canyon
Distance from Pittsburgh: 5 hours, 43 minutes
The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon is better for a camping excursion than a day hike, but it’s easier than getting to the actual Grand Canyon. The rolling gorges and deep forest stretches for 45 miles from Wellsboro, PA, all the way to Ansonia. You can join at various points along the trail, but the Tioga State Forest is a good entry point. The canyon makes for great trail running and biking on the Pine Creek Rail Trail, too, because unlike most of Pittsburgh, there’s just a gentle grade and few steep hills.
Twin Lakes Park
Distance from Pittsburgh: 1 hour, 23 minutes
This is a personal favorite for a very relaxed hike you can easily do as a day trip. You could even re-package it as a “nature walk” for skeptical kids. There’s paddle-boating on the lakes, picnic tables, and outdoor fitness equipment to keep everybody entertained. Bring a lunch and sit by the water, and you will have a perfect day.
Story by Emma Riva
Cover photo courtesy of Paria Outdoors
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