The Three Rivers Heritage Trail gets its name from the three rivers that surround the Pittsburgh area: the Monongahela, Ohio, and Allegheny Rivers. The trail covers 24 miles of Pittsburgh neighborhoods via discontinuous walkways, all along the riverfronts. Like a self-guided tour, this urban trail implements signs to educate Pittsburgh natives and tourists alike on the historical events, nearby attractions, and wildlife relevant to the areas they visit.
Other than the actual trail itself, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail offers several entry points into the Monongahela, Ohio, and Allegheny Rivers for those who want to participate in water activities such as kayaking.
Not only is the Three Rivers Heritage Trail an active way to tour Pittsburgh, but it also promotes a healthy lifestyle. Most of the trail is paved, which means you can bring your city bike with no problem. Even wheelchair access is available. Either way, if you’re looking to explore Pittsburgh or just have someplace interesting to go for a run, here is what you need to know about the trail and the neighborhoods it crosses. (I was thinking this intro could be cut down?)
1. Downtown
Downtown, also known as the Golden Triangle, is where the skyscrapers are. As Pittsburgh’s main business district, it’s home to some of its most defining landmarks such as Point State Park, Market Square, and Heinz Hall. Downtown’s Cultural District (Liberty Avenue) encompasses many performing arts centers and concert halls. Notable Pittsburgh events such as Light Up Night and other conventions also frequently occur in the downtown area.
2. North Side
The North Side part of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail stretches about 7 miles from Westhall Street in Chatham to Millvale Park in Moon Township and lines the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers. If walking, you could reach the North Side by the Ft. Duquesne bridge and walkway from downtown Pittsburgh.
Many attractions are available in the business districts such as the Carnegie Science Center, Heinz Stadium, National Aviary, Children’s Museum, and Andy Warhol Museum. You can also reach Washington’s Landing and Lawrenceville, not too far from the North Side.
3. Lawrenceville
Lawrenceville is located northeast of downtown Pittsburgh and across the Allegheny River from Millvale Riverfront Park. The neighborhood sports a rich history dating back from Pittsburgh’s industrial times but is now also known as a trendy neighborhood with many popular restaurants and small independent shops.
4. The Strip
Many of the Strip’s specialty shops and outdoor markets close before 4 PM, so it’s more of a morning stop. But, if you can, the Strip is a must-visit destination for small coffee and tea shops! For locals, it offers a variety of grocery stores such as Wholey’s Fish Market and Asian groceries such as Lotus Food Company. It also offers a selection of highly-rated restaurants and an active nightlife. Most notably, it’s home to the first DeLuca’s diner!
5. South Side
South Side’s part of the trail stretches from Panther Hollow, near the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University campuses, through South Oakland, and over the Hot Metal Bridge. It’s easily accessible to university students, but also great for tourists who are looking for a retail environment.
The path lines the riverfront of South Side Flats, around the Monongahela River and East Carson Street. There’s lots of retail in the area from restaurants and clothing stores. South Side also has an active nightlife with clubs, lounges, and late-night pizzerias.
6. Station Square
Farther down East Carson Street, you’ll eventually end up in Station Square. Station Square used to be home to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Complex, but now is a retail and entertainment complex in the South Shore area. Very tourist-friendly, it offers multiple restaurants and touring options.
The Gateway Clipper Fleet cruises through all three rivers in the Pittsburgh area, which makes it a great choice if you’re new to town. Also nearby are the Duquesne and Monongahela Inclines, which are some of the most popular viewpoints in Pittsburgh. You can use quarter-operated binoculars to take a better look at the Golden Triangle.
7. Waterfront
Far to the right of the South Side, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail turns to the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP). However, there is a section across from the Monongahela River called Duck Hollow that allows access to and from Homestead and the Waterfront. The Waterfront is a gigantic outdoor mall beside the Monongahela River, hence its name. The mall mostly includes common franchises and retail stores.
8. Panther Hollow
The western tail of the trail starts a thread in Oakland’s Panther Hollow. Three universities intersect in the Oakland area: the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Carlow University. Panther Hollow is located in central Oakland beside Schenley Park, right between UPitt and CMU.
Many students are likely to take this route and follow the trail into the South Side. But, even if you’re not a student, Schenley Park is an excellent outdoor recreational space for anybody looking to go for a run or sunbathe on a sunny day. Additionally, Schenley Plaza and Phipps Conservatory are in the area.
9. Eliza Furnace Trail
The Eliza Furnace Trail overlaps with the Three Rivers Heritage Trail between downtown Pittsburgh and up until the Hot Metal Bridge, which is a connection between Oakland and the South Side. It’s only about 5.7 miles long, which means it could be completed at an average walking pace if you put 2-3 hours aside.
10. Greater Allegheny Passage
One of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail’s largest accomplishments is its expansion which links to the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP). The GAP is a major biking and hiking trail that stretches from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD. The urban trail meets wilderness trail–if you’re looking for a backpacking adventure outside the city, follow the Three Rivers Heritage Trail either out west from Downtown’s Point Park or from South Side’s East Carson Street. If 24 miles of this urban trail isn’t enough, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail also connects to other trail systems like the Great Allegheny Passage, the Erie-to Pittsburgh Trail, and the Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway. It’s still growing, so you may have even more to explore in the future!
NOTES:
I think publishing this as a “quick guide to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail system” is the way to go. We can pack a lot of useful information that is relevant to both tourists and Pittsburghers. I like the idea of presenting it by neighborhoods, allows us to point to specific portions of the trail and list or mention various attractions and/or points of interest within those neighborhoods. I believe I can create trail maps, corresponding to each neighborhood, using Google Maps. These would be interactive and I embed them in the post. Also, below are some additional neighborhoods
Additional Neighborhoods/Access Points
– Station Square
– Lawrenceville
– Homestead/Waterfront
– Access to Great Allegheny Passage (GAP)
– Oakland/East End
– via Eliza Furnace Trail (aka Jail Trail) & then Panther Hollow
