Schenley Park – A Green Oasis in the Center of Pittsburgh

It's almost hard to believe that right in the heart of the city is a beautiful 456-acre wooded area with trails and an abundance of activities and facilities. And yet, Schenley Park sits here, tucked in the midst of the bustling university community of Oakland.

From hiking, to ice skating, to watching movies on Flagstaff Hill, there's something for everyone and for every season.

What You Can See in Schenley Park

There are multiple playgrounds and picnic shelters throughout the park as well as a swimming pool, disc golf course, and a sports complex, making this park somewhere you could easily spend a half or even a whole day exploring.

The hiking trails are through wooded areas, our favorites being those that run through Panther Hollow. The fall foliage can be quite stunning, and the trail gives interesting vantage points of the Panther Hollow Bridge and the buildings in Oakland.

If you don't mind steps, you can hike down a bunch to get to Panther Hollow Lake which has a nice backdrop of the Cathedral of Learning.

If you're not into hiking, take a drive up to the Schenley Park Overlook on Overlook Drive. This spot offers a commanding view of Pittsburgh's skyline and is one of our favorite spots in the park for appreciating our beautiful city!

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Hiking in Schenley Park

The main trails that run through the park are in Panther Hollow. To access these trails you can park on Bartlett St. or on Overlook Drive.

Our standard loop is about 1.5 to 2 miles; we usually start at the Bartlett Shelter and jump on the Upper Panther Hollow Trail. Then we head down the steps to the lake and complete the loop on the Hollow Run Trail or the Lower Panther Hollow Trail.

These trails have pretty high traffic with lots of runners, walkers, and bikers, so don't get run over if you stop to admire the beauty or snap some photos.

Schenley Park is located in the heart of Oakland and Panther Hollow Road runs through the center of the park.

Schenley Park is also one of the features in the amazing book “60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Pittsburgh Edition” that we are working through as a part of this series. If you are interested in day hikes near the city we highly recommend picking this one up!

For more parks in Pittsburgh, check out Riverview Park, Highland Park, Seldom Seen Greenway, the Seldom Seen Greenway, Boyce Park, or South Park!

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