Five Pittsburgh Parks to Explore This Summer

PHOTO VIA ADOBE STOCK | SCHENLEY PARK IN OAKLAND

After a gloomy, gray-skied Pittsburgh winter there is nothing better than going outside and getting some fresh air and Vitamin D. And what better way to do it than to explore the area’s parks? Pittsburgh has five regional parks spanning 1,920 acres of land. Here’s a closer look at what to know about them.   

Emerald View Park

With “view” in the name you would expect Emerald View Park to boast some beautiful vistas, and it does not disappoint. The 257-acre park is one of the best places to view Pittsburgh’s iconic skyline. 

The 11-mile network of trails offers views of Downtown Pittsburgh and the hills and valleys that surround the city. For history buffs, the Grand View Scenic Byways 1.5 mile trail has interpretive signs that tell the story of Pittsburgh and Mount Washington histories. 

The park has multiple suggested entrances and trailhead parking, for more information visit here. 

PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Frick Park

With a whopping 644 acres, Frick Park is Pittsburgh’s largest historic regional park. The park has an extensive trail system with varying difficulty. For those looking for a little more activity, the area features tennis courts, baseball fields and the only public lawn bowling green in Pennsylvania. 

For children, and kids at heart, the park is home to the Blue Slide Playground, the inspiration behind the late Mac Miller’s 2011 album “Blue Slide Park.” It also gives children the opportunity to learn about nature at the Frick Environmental Center. For the birders, Clayton Hill is home to more than 100 species of feathered friends. 

Frick Park is located in the Squirrel Hill Neighborhood and can be accessed by going to Frick Park Access Circle. 

Highland Park 

The 377-acre Highland Park is known as Pittsburgh’s “Victorian Gem,” for its late 1800s-style beauty. When you first enter the park, you are met with the Entry Garden, a Victorian-style gathering place with fountains, a reflecting pool, benches and gardens.  

Born out of the need for a municipal water system, the park features the Reservoir Loop, a most popular trail for walkers and runners. There’s  also a bike track, swimming pool, sand volleyball courts; for more fun the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is a short walk away. 

Valley Refuge Shelter in Riverview Park | Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Riverview Park

Located on Pittsburgh’s North Side is the 259-acre Riverview Park. The trail features dense woodlands and the typical steep hillsides that Pittsburgh is famous for. In the middle of it all is the historic Allegheny Observatory, which hosts free reserved tours every Thursday and Friday from April to the end of October. 

The park also boasts a swimming pool, activities building, playground, ball field and shelters. The Visitor Center is located at 1 Riverview Ave. 

Schenley Park

The 465-acre Schenley Park is located in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. Like most parks, there are trails and woods to walk, hike and stroll but also various activities to keep you entertained in the summer months. Par up and play a round at the Bob O’Connor Golf Course, the only golf course within the city limits. During the summer months take a dip in the swimming pool to beat the heat. Play soccer, tennis or jog around the track at the Schenley Oval Sportsplex. 

Looking for more culture? While you’re in the heart of Oakland, check out the Cathedral of Learning, Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and the Carnegie Museum and Library, all within a short walking distance. 

The Schenley Park Visitor Center is located at 101 Panther Hollow Rd.