Training Hikes
On these four training hikes, we will prepare for the Challenge by tracing the route just as you will encounter it on June 24. Everyone is welcome on these hikes (note: the minimum age is 12); you do not need to be entered into the Challenge to participate. Be sure to let the indicated leader know you'll be attending a particular hike at least twelve (12) hours in advance! For each hike there is a $3 activity fee per person ($1 for Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy members). This fee will be collected by the leader on the day of the hike. Please bring at least a quart of water (more if the temperature will be warm) and some energy snacks (e.g. Powerbar). Note that we will meet at the hike end point and carpool to the start point, leaving a sufficient number of cars behind to carry people back to the start when the hike is over. Plan for each hike to take 6 hours (up to 4 hours for the hike plus up to 2 hours for sign-in, announcements, car shuttling, and so forth).
| Saturday, June 3 | Leader: Barb Peterson (412) 371-2506 | Approx. 7 miles | Difficulty level (1-10): 5 |
| This hike begins at Harrison Hills Park, skirting the bluffs over the Allegheny River, covering some easy and pleasant terrain. Then we hit Burtner Hill, one of the biggest and toughest hills on the Trail. The last 1.4 miles to Bull Creek Road consists of quick-paced road-walking. Meet at the parking area at the intersection of Bull Creek Road and Ridge Road at 8 AM. Directions: Take Route 28 to Exit #14 (Tarentum). Turn north on Bull Creek Road for a very short distance, turn right on Ridge Road, then immediately turn into the parking area on the right. Map | |||
| Sunday, June 4 | Leader: Barb Peterson (412) 371-2506 | Approx. 8.5 miles | Difficulty level (1-10): 6 |
| This hike starts on Bull Creek Road near Tarentum and hits Bakerstown Hill, Bailey's Hill, Creighton Hill, and Murray Hill in short order. We will hike along the bluffs over the Allegheny River across from New Kensington and finish in Springdale. Meet at the Springdale Veterans Association Hall parking lot in Springdale at 8 AM. Directions: Take Route 28 to Exit #11 (Harmarville). After exiting onto Route 910 head towards Harmarville, turn left at the second traffic light onto Freeport Road and travel about 4 miles through 9 more traffic lights. The Springdale Veterans Association Hall entrance will be on your left just past the last light. Park on the far side of the lot. Map | |||
| Saturday, June 10 | Leader: Barb Peterson (412) 371-2506 | Approx. 9.5 miles | Difficulty level (1-10): 8 |
| This hike begins in Springdale and immediately tackles the "roller coaster", followed by the hill of Mile 14, LaFever Hill, down Rich Hill, and then up to Emmerling Park and back down. Lots of hills on this one. Meet in the River City Glass parking lot at the intersection of Route 910 and Cedar Run Road at 8 AM. Directions: Follow Route 910 along the Yellow Belt to 0.5 miles west of Saxonburg Blvd. intersection, opposite Sunflower Valley Market. Map | |||
| Sunday, June 11 | Leader: Barb Peterson (412) 371-2506 | Approx. 8.5 miles | Difficulty level (1-10): 4 |
| This hike begins at the Cedar Run Road in Dorseyville and starts with some spirited (dirt) road-walking for about a mile, passes Hidden Pond, climbs to the roof of Allegheny County, into the Hampton Nature Reserve, Crouse Run Valley, and finally enters North Park, ending at the Beaver Shelter. This is the easiest of the four sections of the Trail. Meet at the Beaver Shelter in North Park at 8 AM. Directions: Take I279 north to the McKnight Road exit and travel 6.4 miles north. Take the North Park/Ingomar Rd. exit east and turn left at the third traffic light onto Babcock Blvd. There is a long parking lot on the left at the next intersection with Pearce Mill Road, and the Beaver Shelter is at the far end of the lot. Map | |||