Best Bike Trails In Pittsburgh

With summer in full swing, it's a great time to grab a bike and hit the trails. And don't think that living in a city means you don't have access to some great trails, no matter your experience level. From shorter trails in parks to long trails spanning multiple states and allowing for a fun weekend trip, here are five of Pittsburgh's best bike trails.

North Park

Spanning over 3,000 acres in Hampton, McCandless, and Pine townships, North Park offers trails open to hiking, biking, and even horse-back riding, with over 40 miles of single-track trails. Beginners can try out the park's terrain trails suited for mountain biking before hitting the freeride skills area. And it's likely the only place where you'll get such an opportunity -- the skills area is the only public biking area in a 100-mile radius to offer freeriding. Four short trails with progressive difficulty help bikers hone their skills with drops, skinnies, and jumps, including an expert dirt jump.

Three Rivers Heritage Trail

The name says it all. The 24-mile Three Rivers Heritage Trail runs on both banks of each of the city's three rivers, with access to neighborhoods, business districts, and attractions -- making it popular not just for a leisurely weekend bike ride but for bike commuting, as well. It also connects a number of other trails, such as those running across the state to Erie and Harrisburg, as well as the Great Allegheny Passage. In 2010, the trail was given National Recreation Trail status, a title reserved for trails which are locally or regionally significant, have been open to the public for at least 10 years, and are well-maintained.

Frick Park

Enjoy a bike ride through the woods... in the city. Located in the largest of Pittsburgh's regional parks, Frick's mountain-bike trails are among the best within the city itself, with entrances from multiple city streets. Though most of the trails are mutli-track and are often also occupied by pedestrians, Frick Park does offer some single-track riding for intermediate-level bikers. Trails are accessible year-round, but if you're unfamiliar with them, be warned -- they're not marked.

Related: Best Summer Backpacking Trips

Great Allegheny Passage

Looking for a long trip? The Great Allegheny Passage has 150 miles of trails running from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland. Connected with the aforementioned Three Rivers Heritage Trail and the 184-mile C&O Canal Towpath, it expands to 334 miles between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., and it's only going to get longer--the upcoming Montour Branch will connect nearby McKeesport with Coraopolis and the Pittsburgh airport. If you're making the trip, small towns located about every 10 miles provide amenities. The trail is open daily from dawn until dusk.

Schenley Park

Pittsburgh's oldest park, the 456-acre Schenley Park is located in Oakland and includes a café, visitor center, and Phipps Conservatory, but it's also a great destination if you're looking to go biking. The two-mile Loop Trail is suitable for all skill levels and open year-round. To make biking easier, the city added a bike lane connecting the park with Oakland.

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Janelle Sheetz is a 20-something closed-captioner by day, writer by night, just outside of Pittsburgh. She also regularly contributes to AXS.com and Examiner.com, and her writing has also been featured on The Billfold and Neutrons Protons.