Allegheny National Forest
~90 mi from PittsburghPennsylvania
Pennsylvania's only national forest: 517,000 acres of Allegheny Plateau, old-growth beech and hemlock at Hearts Content, Allegheny Reservoir, and world-class trout fishing.
8 min read
PA · Northeast
National Forests Near Pittsburgh, PA
4 forest guides within driving distance
National Forests Near Pittsburgh
Monongahela National Forest
~134 mi from PittsburghWest Virginia
Monongahela National Forest encompasses 919,000 acres of the Allegheny Highlands in West Virginia, featuring the state's highest peak, the Dolly Sods wilderness, and some of the most rugged terrain in the eastern United States.
6 min read
Wayne National Forest
~145 mi from PittsburghOhio
Ohio's only national forest: 242,000 acres of Appalachian hill country in southeastern Ohio, with sandstone ravines, wildflower hollows, the Symmes Creek corridor, and the state's best backcountry hiking.
6 min read
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
~188 mi from PittsburghVirginia
Complete guide to George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia and West Virginia. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, McAfee Knob, Dragon's Tooth, and trip planning resources.
13 min read
Trails Near Pittsburgh
easyout-and-back
Tionesta Creek Trail
4 mi200 ft gain
~78 mi from PittsburghMay through October
A 4-mile out-and-back along Tionesta Creek in Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania. Flat creek corridor through old-growth timber, excellent fishing access, and strong wildlife habitat.
5 min read
moderatepoint-to-point
North Country Trail: Kellettville Section
8 mi600 ft gain
~84 mi from PittsburghMay through October
An 8-mile point-to-point section of the 4,800-mile North Country National Scenic Trail through Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania. Hemlock ravines, oil country heritage, and the most accessible NCT experience in the region.
5 min read
easyloop
Hearts Content Interpretive Trail
1.2 mi50 ft gain
~94 mi from PittsburghApril through October
A 1.2-mile loop through the Hearts Content Scenic Area in Allegheny National Forest: 300-500 year old beech, white pine, and hemlock trees that survived the logging era intact.
5 min read
moderateloop
Morgan Sisters Trail
7 mi900 ft gain
~94 mi from PittsburghApril through October
A 7-mile loop through oak-hickory ridgelines and creek hollows in the Marietta Unit of Wayne National Forest, the longest and most demanding hike in the unit.
3 min read
moderateloop
Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail
12 mi800 ft gain
~94 mi from PittsburghMay through October
A 12-mile loop through Pennsylvania's only national forest wilderness: old-growth hemlock, remote creek crossings, and genuine backcountry solitude in Allegheny National Forest.
5 min read
moderateloop
Minister Creek Trail Loop
6.5 mi700 ft gain
~95 mi from PittsburghMay through October
A 6.5-mile loop through a deep hemlock gorge along Minister Creek in Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania. Cascades, old hemlocks, and one of the forest's most scenic backcountry circuits.
5 min read
moderateout-and-back
Blackwater Canyon Rail Trail
8 mi600 ft gain
~95 mi from PittsburghMay through October
An 8-mile out-and-back trail along a former railroad grade in Monongahela National Forest, following the Blackwater River through a 1,000-foot-deep gorge to multiple canyon viewpoints.
3 min read
easyloop
Covered Bridge Trail
2.5 mi150 ft gain
~97 mi from PittsburghApril through October
A 2.5-mile interpretive walk in the Marietta Unit of Wayne National Forest, near historical covered bridges along the Little Muskingum River. Easy terrain with strong historical and pastoral character.
3 min read
moderateloop
Morrison Trail
11.7 mi1,000 ft gain
~102 mi from PittsburghMay through October
An 11.7-mile loop through beech-maple forest with views of Kinzua Reservoir in Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania. The best long day hike in the forest, with remote character and reliable trail quality.
5 min read
moderateloop
North Country Trail: Archers Fork Loop
6.5 mi750 ft gain
~103 mi from PittsburghApril through October
A 6.5-mile loop in the Athens Unit of Wayne National Forest using the North Country National Scenic Trail and the Archers Fork connector, passing sandstone outcrops and old-growth forest remnants.
3 min read
easy-moderateout-and-back
Chapman Dam Overlook Trail
3 mi350 ft gain
~104 mi from PittsburghApril through November
A 3-mile out-and-back through mixed hardwood forest to Allegheny River views near Chapman State Park in Warren County, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania.
5 min read
moderateout-and-back
Rohrbaugh Plains Trail
5 mi600 ft gain
~106 mi from PittsburghJune through October
A 5-mile out-and-back trail through the most remote section of the Dolly Sods Wilderness, crossing open heath barrens with long-distance views in Monongahela National Forest.
3 min read
moderateloop
Dolly Sods Wilderness Loop
7 mi800 ft gain
~107 mi from PittsburghJune through October
A 7-mile loop through the Dolly Sods Wilderness in Monongahela National Forest, crossing open heath barrens, sphagnum bogs, and red spruce forest on a windswept Allegheny plateau unlike anywhere else in the East.
4 min read
easy-moderateout-and-back
Rock House Trail
3.2 mi350 ft gain
~108 mi from PittsburghMarch through November
A 3.2-mile out-and-back to a sandstone rock shelter formation in the Athens Unit of Wayne National Forest, Ohio. Short, accessible hike with distinctive Ohio Appalachian geology.
3 min read
easyloop
Rimrock Overlook Trail
1 mi100 ft gain
~109 mi from PittsburghApril through November
A 1-mile loop to dramatic sandstone cliff overlooks above Allegheny Reservoir in Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania. Quick access, panoramic Kinzua Bay views, and one of the best viewpoints in western Pennsylvania.
4 min read
easy-moderateout-and-back
Smoke Hole Canyon Trail
6 mi400 ft gain
~113 mi from PittsburghApril through November
A 6-mile out-and-back trail through Smoke Hole Canyon along the South Branch of the Potomac River in Monongahela National Forest, featuring limestone cliffs, excellent fishing, and a historic cave.
3 min read
moderate-hardout-and-back
Seneca Rocks Summit Trail
4 mi1,000 ft gain
~116 mi from PittsburghMay through October
A 4-mile out-and-back trail climbing 1,000 feet to a viewpoint at the base of the Seneca Rocks summit fin in Monongahela National Forest, one of the most iconic hikes in West Virginia.
4 min read
moderateloop
Otter Creek Wilderness Loop
8 mi1,000 ft gain
~116 mi from PittsburghMay through October
An 8-mile loop through the 20,000-acre Otter Creek Wilderness in Monongahela National Forest, covering rugged Appalachian terrain with a remote creek corridor and excellent backcountry character.
3 min read
easyloop
Spruce Knob Observation Area Loop
1 mi100 ft gain
~123 mi from PittsburghMay through October
A 1-mile loop around the summit of Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia at 4,863 feet, with 360-degree views from the observation tower in Monongahela National Forest.
4 min read
moderateloop
Lamping Homestead Trail
5 mi600 ft gain
~128 mi from PittsburghApril through October
A 5-mile loop through sandstone hollows and wooded ridges in Wayne National Forest, Ohio's only national forest. Famous for spring ephemeral wildflowers and quiet Appalachian forest character.
3 min read
easyout-and-back
Sunday Creek Trail
4.2 mi250 ft gain
~130 mi from PittsburghApril through October
A 4.2-mile out-and-back along Sunday Creek in the Athens Unit of Wayne National Forest, Ohio, through quiet second-growth hardwood forest with creek access and moderate wildlife viewing.
3 min read
easy-moderateout-and-back
Highland Scenic Highway Trail
4 mi500 ft gain
~150 mi from PittsburghMay through October
A 4-mile out-and-back trail along the Allegheny Front near the Highland Scenic Highway in Monongahela National Forest, offering high-elevation views and access to the Cranberry Wilderness backcountry.
3 min read