As summer blesses Pittsburgh, you may be wondering how you can plan the perfect picnic. First, make or order a great lunch. Second, choose a gorgeous spot. Third, invite some intrepid friends to share the moment. Now you are officially adventure ready. Photographer and outdoorsman Matt Dayak blended things we all love, great food, a patch of green, good company…and a lunch made by Chef Kenny Cumberland from Bistro to Go. Choose a Pittsburgh picnic spot from his shortlist of fantastic parks, and get going!
Plan a Picnic at One of These Pittsburgh Parks
Riverview Park
Riverview Avenue, Mount Washington
Looking to picnic in one of Pittsburgh’s oldest parks? Riverview has been around since 1894 and is still a North Side favorite. Don’t let the steep hillsides scare you off. There are plenty of great spots to set up, whether you’re rolling out a blanket or claiming a picnic table deep in the woods. The grassy lawn by the observatory is a solid go-to, and if you time it right, you might even catch a peek through one of the oldest public telescopes in the country. Not a bad way to digest a sandwich.
Settlers Cabin Park
608 Ridge Road, Robinson
Looking for a park where you can spread out and really make a day of it? Settlers Cabin has you covered. There’s no shortage of space to find your ideal picnic spot. Whether it’s on a wide, sunny hill or tucked along a shady trail. And if you’re up for a little adventure after lunch, the park’s got everything from playgrounds to wooded paths to the wave pool. Go hit the high dive … I dare you.
Hays Woods
1015 Agnew Street, Hays
This one is great if you are looking for a unique picnic spot in the city. Hays Woods is Pittsburgh’s newest park and its biggest urban forest with over 600 acres of trails, trees, and views. Take a short hike and find a quiet spot overlooking the Monongahela River. Afterward, swing by Page’s Dairy Mart down the hill for some ice cream. Doesn’t get more Pittsburgh than that.
Herrs Island North Park
200 Waterfront Drive, North Side
Get out your pickleball paddles for a few games, then take a short stroll to the northern tip of the island. Once a hub of industry, Herrs Island has been transformed into a quiet, green escape right in the middle of the city. It’s a peaceful spot with a great view of the Allegheny River and the 40th Street Bridge. Perfect for a laid-back riverside picnic.
Emerald View Park
Bailey Avenue, Mount Washington
If you want that classic city skyline view and some actual nature to go with it, this spot delivers. It’s quieter than nearby Grandview Avenue and has plenty of grassy areas to throw down a blanket and kick back. After your picnic (and a brief moment of existential reflection about how many snacks you packed), head down the hill to wander some of the wooded trails. That’s where you’ll catch the low hum of traffic on the bridges below, the city’s own kind of white noise drifting up through the trees. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve snuck away without ever leaving the city.
Pick Up a Gourmet Picnic Lunch From Bistro to Go
Matt Dayak’s own gourmet picnic consisted of the following menu provided by Bistro to Go and Chef Kenny Cumberland.
Devils on Horseback
Bacon-wrapped honey-glazed figs travel well (and taste great) when nestled tightly into a shatter-resistant container.
Granola with Seeds and Nut Clusters
If the hike toward your lunch spot is long and vigorous, keep a jam jar of these energy-boosters in an accessible side pocket.
Root Vegetable Hand Pies
A nutritious, savory serving of veggies … wrapped in a flaky pastry envelope. That’s a guilt-free pleasure worth trying! Keep your environmental impact low with a wrapping of butcher paper and twine.
Cured Salmon (or Grilled Vegetables) on Baguette
Slathered with whipped and herbed goat cheese and layered with roasted tomatoes, pickled onions and arugula, these sandos are substantial. Another occasion for butcher paper and twine.
Mini Banana Breads
This one needs no explanation … except to note that they survive well in a backpack and their paper-and-twine wrapping keeps you from carrying plastic into nature.
Southern Pickled Peach and Chia Seed Pudding Parfait
An intriguing flavor combo that refreshes the senses … and stores well in a sturdy jelly jar.
Pro Picnic Tip: Remember, pack a trash bag for any waste. Whatever you leave home with, it should be with you when you return!
Story and Photography by Matt Dayak
Food by Chef Kenny Cumberland, Bistro to Go
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