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 23. Everyone is welcome on these hikes (note: the minimum age is 8); 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 2 | Leader: Barb Peterson (412) 371-2506 | Approx. 8.9 miles | Difficulty level (1-10): 4 |
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| This hike begins at the Beaver Shelter in North Park, climbs up and over the park, down into Crouse Run valley and Hampton Nature Preserve, up to one of the highest points in Allegheny County, passes Hidden Pond, and finishes with about a mile of dirt road-walking, ending at Route 910 in Dorseyville. This is the easiest of the four sections of the Trail. 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 3 | Leader: Barb Peterson (412) 371-2506 | Approx. 10 miles | Difficulty level (1-10): 8 |
| This hike begins in Dorseyville and heads to Emmerling Park, up Rich Hill, LaFever Hill and Log Cabin hill, heading towards Springdale and the “roller coaster”. We end at Freeport Road in Springdale. Meet at the Springdale Veterans Association Hall parking lot in Springdale at 8 AM. Directions: Take Route 28 to Exit #12A (Pittsburgh Mills). At the end of the ramp, turn away from the mall on the main entrance road, then turn left onto Tawney Run Road. After about 1/2 mile turn right on Riddle Run Road. Follow this road until it ends at Freeport Road and turn right. The Springdale Veterans Association Hall entrance will be on your right in about 1/4 mile. Park on the far side of the lot. Map | |||
| Saturday, June 9 | Leader: Barb Peterson (412) 371-2506 | Approx. 9.2 miles | Difficulty level (1-10): 6 |
| This hike begins in Springdale and follows the picturesque bluffs along the Allegheny River, then tackles Murray Hill, Creighton Hill, Bailey’s Hill and Bakerstown Hill. It ends at Bull Creek Road near Tarentum. 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 10 | Leader: Barb Peterson (412) 371-2506 | Approx. 7 miles | Difficulty level (1-10): 5 |
| This hike begins at Bull Creek Road near Tarentum with about a mile of uphill road hiking. Soon we hit Burtner Hill, one of the biggest and toughest hills on the Trail, followed by some easy and pleasant terrain along the bluffs over the Allegheny River and ending in Harrison Hills Park. Meet at the Bobwhite Shelter in Harrison Hills Park. Take Route 28 to exit 16, turn east (right if exiting northbound) at the end of the ramp, then right again at the T-intersection with Freeport Road. The park is about one mile down on the left. Take the left fork of the Park entrance road and follow it 1/2 mile to the shelter parking lot on the right at the Bluejay sign. Map | |||