Frick Park

Frick Park was one of the first parks I visited in the Pittsburgh area. The city’s largest park, at 644 acres, Frick offers something for everyone. The Blue Slide Playground (famously referenced by the late Mac Miller in his debut album) and the sledding hill off of Beechwood Blvd are perfect for families with kids, and the Regent Square side (Forbes Ave) has tennis courts and ball fields. Swing by Park Pizza & Cream across the street for a slice and a scoop of ice cream. And, if you have dogs, they can get their zoomies out at the off-leash dog park or on any of the hiking trails.

Be sure to check out the recently modernized Frick Environmental Center and the new, handicap-accessible Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail.

There are several trails within the park, and you can connect them to form longer loops.

Check out https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/pennsylvania/frick-park-tour-loop-trail for a 5-mile loop (approximately 650 ft. of elevation gain).

For a shorter but satisfying loop with some uphill activity, I like to start at the Blue Slide playground, take the Riverview Trail/Riverview Trail Ext. to the Falls Ravine Trail, to the Tranquil Trail past the soccer fields, to the Firelane Trail/Firelane Trail Ext., then Lower Riverview Trail, then back to the Riverview Trail. This ends up being approximately 2.5 miles and 371 ft. of elevation gain.

You can go either direction, but I personally prefer going clockwise and gaining more elevation on the Firelane Trail Ext.

For more information about Frick Park and a trail map, check out: https://pittsburghparks.org/explore-your-parks/regional-parks/frick-park/