Hopefully, the snow will be behind us soon and the sunshine will open the door to outdoor activities. Despite being a city known for its hills, Pittsburgh offers many bike-friendly trails. Here are some of my favorite greater Pittsburgh area trails to bike during the warm weather months.
Three Rivers Heritage Trail
Take in all the beautiful views of Pittsburgh while biking through several of neighborhoods. This 33 mile trail takes you along the river and through the North Side, Downtown, Strip District, Lawrenceville, Millvale, South Side, Oakland, and all the way to Kennywood. This trail is perfect for anyone looking to explore Pittsburgh. Usually, I choose a section of the trail and a neighborhood where I’d like to grab lunch for my bike break.
Thank you to Friends of the Riverfront who developed and continues to maintain the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. You can view a map of the full trail here.
North Park
North Park is a popular attraction for all things outdoors. You’ll find people walking, jogging, biking, having picnics, paddleboarding, and kayaking. Take the 5 mile Lake Loop trail for beautiful views of the lake and stop at OTB Boathouse for a cold brew and bite on their lake view deck.
Montour Trail
(Photo Source: montourtrail.org)
If you’re from the South Hills area, the Montour Trail is for you! This 45 mile trail is the longest running trail in Allegheny County. The trail runs from Corapolis to Clairton and there are many trailheads and parking areas to make it easy to ride the trail in sections. Check out the full trail map here!
Great Allegheny Passage
If you’re up for an adventure, the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail is a 150 mile trail that runs from South Side all the way to Cumberland, Maryland. The trail takes you through the Laurel Highlands, Ohiopyle, and then across the Eastern Continental Divide into Cumberland. Cyclists across the nation ride this trail and it’s common to run into bikers who are biking from Pittsburgh to DC or vice versa (I did it!!).
Unfortunately, elevation gain is unavoidable on this trail. However, it’s important to note that most of the elevation gain is done from Pittsburgh to the Eastern Continental Divide. If you’re looking for less of an elevation climb, I would suggest starting further from Pittsburgh and ride towards the city. My favorite is to start in Ohiopyle and ride towards Pittsburgh. Bonus points for family or friends who are willing to be your support car, which frees you from having to bike back to your car!
Check out the GAP trail map and the website makes it easy to plan your trip! It gives you the option of adding your starting and ending point while calculating the total miles and elevation gain for you.