Pittsburgh often finds itself gracing lists of the most livable cities. Among all the attributes that attract residents and visitors alike, perhaps its most endearing is access to outdoor spaces. With a multitude of city and county parks, refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life is often just a few blocks away. Thanks to an ever-growing community of off-road cyclists, the Pittsburgh region is also home to some of the best places to mountain bike around. From flow trails to rock gardens, the Steel City has it all.
Best Parks, Trails, and Other Places Around Pittsburgh for Mountain Biking
Frick Park
1981 Beechwood Boulevard
Frick Park is at the heart of Pittsburgh’s mountain biking community. Located in the city’s East End, Frick offers over twenty miles of singletrack for mountain bikers, runners, and hikers. In the early 90s, dedicated builders began establishing trails, sparking the park’s growth. Utilizing Frick’s steep hills and natural contours, progressive trail development has made the park a true riding destination. Post-ride, find a recovery beverage and meal on Reynolds Street in Swissvale.
North Park
Pearce Mill Road, Allison Park
North Park offers riders a wide range of terrain to enjoy. Covering over three thousand acres, there is an extensive network of singletrack, as well as a skills area offering jumps, a paved pumptrack, and Dr. J, a bike park-inspired downhill track. From cross-country epics to jump sessions, there’s something for every level of rider to enjoy at North Park. Complete a solid day of riding with dinner or lunch at the OTB. It’s a bicycle-themed restaurant located lakeside at the boathouse.
Yellow Creek State Park
170 Route 259 Highway, Penn Run
Located an hour’s drive east of Pittsburgh, Yellow Creek State Park offers mountain bikers an array of secluded, old-school trails. Enjoy carving turns through the ferns on this twenty-mile long Yellow Creek Loop, which circumnavigates the lake, offering riders a challenging day out on the bike. Accompanying the main loop are spur trails, where riders can choose to lengthen or shorten their day out depending on mood and skill level. Stay in one of the cabins or yurts overlooking Yellow Creek Lake to make a weekend out of your visit to the park.
Alameda Park
197 Alameda Park Rd, Butler
The trail builders at Alameda Park have been busy over the last decade, adding a dozen or so miles of new trail. Alameda has a little bit of everything, from screaming fast loose descents on Country Club to the latest machine-built flow trail, Twisted Sister. Riders looking to improve their air awareness can hone and expand their skills on Flying Squirrel and Janice Jumpline, both providing progressive jumps and purpose-built return trails.
Roaring Run Trail
Kiskiminetas Township
Often referred to as the Apollo trails, Roaring Run features over 15 miles of technical, rocky trails. The Roaring Run Trail itself is a wide gravel rails-to-trailsstyle path that leads riders to trailheads, utilizing the steep hills along the creek side. The trails are maintained by the Roaring Run Rock Riders, who have been busy adding some new enduroinfluenced trails. Riders looking to test their skills will find plenty of opportunities on this trail network.
Hartwood Acres
4000 Middle Road, Allison Park
Once the backyard of nowdefunct Dirt Rag Magazine, the trails of Hartwood Acres were some of the earliest established in the Pittsburgh area. Some of the original log piles of the early 90s still remain, while the bulk of the trails have had makeovers and reroutes in recent years. These trails are shared by dog walkers, runners, and equestrians alike, so check your trail etiquette manuals before heading out. Plenty of fine dining nearby for proper après, but Whispers Pub is a local favorite.
Quebec Run
Fayette County
If you’re in the mood for a bit of an adventure day and the feel of backcountry riding without ever being too far from the modern world, Quebec Run may be just what you need. Designated a wild area, the trails here are just that. Established over the years by ambitious riders and hikers, the trails at Quebec Run are a bit more raw and rugged than the current trend toward machinebuilt flow trails.
Laurel Mountain
112 Insbruck Trail, Boswell
Similar to Quebec Run, Laurel Mountain offers challenging and rugged riding in the Forbes State Forest. A landscape of mossy rocks, boulders, and trails secluded from the masses, Laurel lends itself to an epic day out. A recommended route is the twenty-mile Best of Laurel Loop. This loop features the greatest hits of the northern trail networks, but if an all-day endeavor is what you are after, fear not, Laurel will provide.
South Park
Wave Pool Drive, Bethel Park
Trail Pittsburgh has been hard at work in South Park over the last couple of years. Much like its northern counterpart, South Park has added a skills area and a downhill flow trail to complement their already extensive singletrack network. South Park is a great place for beginner to intermediate riders to build their confidence and for expert riders to fine-tune their jumping skills. On Wednesday nights during the summer months, there are also BMX races on one of the country’s premier tracks.
Boyce Park
675 Old Frankstown Road, Plum
Similar to South Park, Boyce’s trail network is composed predominantly of intermediate level trails. Housing twenty-four miles of single track, there’s plenty at Boyce to entertain even the most ravenous of riders. Recent additions to the park include a paved pump track and a bouldering wall near the skatepark facilities. Broaden your culinary experiences with a stop at Udipi for a vegetarian Indian meal of dosa and curry.
Story and Photography by Brett Rothmeyer
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