Hiking at Point State Park
This activity or structure is ADA accessible.
Visitors can walk along ADA accessible paved promenades on the riverfront and to overlooks for dramatic views of Pittsburgh, its busy waterways, scenic hillsides, and many bridges.
Natural landscaping and a 100-foot tall fountain enhance the beauty of this unique park at the “Forks of the Ohio.” Numerous benches are throughout the park.
Several long distance hiking trails converge in Point State Park.
Point State Park Trail Map (PDF)
Three Rivers Heritage Trail
1.0 mile in the park, 37 miles total | Easiest hiking | Point-to-point trail | No blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, biking
Trailhead amenities: modern restroom, potable water, benches
This trail section within Point State Park has scenic views of the Allegheny River, Pittsburgh Bridges and North Shore. The trail is also in close proximity to a National Historic Landmark and the Fort Pitt Block House. The
Three Rivers Heritage Trail is a pedestrian trail and greenway system in the Pittsburgh area, covering 37 miles along both sides of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. It is a nearly complete route for cyclists, walkers, and runners, and in some places rollerbladers.
In addition, more than 20 miles of trail are in planning or development phases. The trail also connects to the Great Allegheny Passage, the developing Erie to Pittsburgh Trail, and the Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway.
Great Allegheny Passage
The
Great Allegheny Passage Rail Trail offers 141 miles of hiking and biking between Cumberland, Md., and Point State Park. In Cumberland, the rail trail joins the C&O Canal Towpath -- creating a continuous trail experience (325 miles long) to Washington, DC.
The 10-foot wide multipurpose trail is built on railroad corridors of gentle grades, sweeping curves, large bridges, and tunnels that pass through mountains, not over them.
The terminus of the rail trail is at the Forks of the Ohio marker near the fountain in Point State Park.
The trail system links the Cumberland and Pittsburgh metropolitan areas, providing visitors with an opportunity to travel through and learn about a region important to the development of national culture and politics.
George Washington envisioned the Potomac River as a trade route linking the Atlantic Ocean and the upper Ohio River Basin. The history of the region and the tangible character of the trail corridor itself highlight the concept of “the frontier” in American culture and the westward migration of Anglo-American society into the trans-Appalachian region of the continent.
The Great Allegheny Passage is a part of the
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, which is a diverse network of trails and routes running between Point State Park and Point Lookout in Maryland.
The Fort Pitt Museum is an official National Park Service Passport stamp location for the trail.
GPS DD: Lat. 40.44189 Long. -80.01324
Trail Definitions
Difficulty Ratings
Easiest -- For beginner trail users. Grade is gentle with few obstacles.
More Difficult -- For the majority of trail users. Grade is steeper and trails narrower with embedded rocks or roots on the trail surface.
Most Difficult -- For trail users with advanced skills. Grade is steep and provides a definite physical challenge. Routes may not be well marked. Elevation gain or loss is severe.
Trail Route Type
Loop -- Start and end at the same location and follow a single trail to form a loop.
Out-and-back -- Start and end at a trailhead and follow a single trail to an endpoint or specific point of interest, then return along the same route.
Point-to-point -- Trails are generally longer in distance and parks may often contain only a portion of the trail within their boundary. Hiker starts and ends in different locations, often requiring a shuttle.
Connector -- Begin and end in connection with another trail or trails but do not terminate at a trailhead.