Forested ridgeline hiking trail in the Laurel Highlands near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
29 Trails Within 100 Miles

Best Hikes Near Pittsburgh

29 hiking trails within 100 miles of Pittsburgh, from the Laurel Highlands to two state high points

Closest: 51 miles
Drive Time: 69 min - 2 hrs
Difficulty: Easy to Hard

Jump to Section:

⚡ Closest Trails 🥾 Easy Hikes ⛰️ Moderate Hikes 🚗 Farther Day Trips 📍 All 29 Trails

From the Laurel Highlands to Two State High Points

Pittsburgh itself sits on the Allegheny Plateau — steep river hills, but no real summits. Drive an hour or so south, though, and the Laurel Highlands rise into the Alleghenies around Somerset County, capped by Mount Davis — Pennsylvania's own state high point. Push a little farther across the Maryland line and you reach Hoye-Crest on Backbone Mountain, Maryland's highest natural point, tucked into the same ridge system.

This guide covers all 29 trails within 100 miles of Pittsburgh, sorted by actual distance from real trailhead coordinates — not the city center. Each trail includes:

  • ✓ Exact distance from Pittsburgh (measured from the trailhead, not the summit)
  • ✓ Trail difficulty rating (easy, moderate, hard)
  • ✓ Elevation gain & distance
  • ✓ Parking information & fees
  • ✓ Interactive trail maps
  • ✓ Real-time weather conditions
⚡

5 Closest Trails to Pittsburgh

Perfect for a quick morning hike

Devies Mountain
2,753 ft

Devies Mountain

7.8 mi
3 hrs
896 ft
Hard View
69 min
Vought Rock
2,946 ft

Vought Rock

1.4 mi
0.5 hrs
78 ft
Easy View
81 min
Packhorse Mountain
2,766 ft

Packhorse Mountain

0.9 mi
0.5 hrs
115 ft
Easy View
84 min
Baughman Rocks
3,153 ft

Baughman Rocks

2.3 mi
1 hrs
170 ft
Easy View
85 min
Mount Davis
3,212 ft

Mount Davis

2.3 mi
1 hrs
170 ft
Easy View
85 min
🥾

Best Easy Hikes Near Pittsburgh

The Laurel Highlands' gentler routes, great for beginners and families

Vought Rock
2,946 ft

Vought Rock

1.4 mi
0.5 hrs
78 ft
Easy View
EASY
Packhorse Mountain
2,766 ft

Packhorse Mountain

0.9 mi
0.5 hrs
115 ft
Easy View
EASY
Baughman Rocks
3,153 ft

Baughman Rocks

2.3 mi
1 hrs
170 ft
Easy View
EASY
Mount Davis
3,212 ft

Mount Davis

2.3 mi
1 hrs
170 ft
Easy View
EASY
Little Snaggy Mountain
2,789 ft

Little Snaggy Mountain

0.4 mi
0.5 hrs
430 ft
Easy View
EASY
Mount Etna
2,595 ft

Mount Etna

3.1 mi
1 hrs
371 ft
Easy View
EASY
The Elbow
2,605 ft

The Elbow

1.1 mi
0.5 hrs
72 ft
Easy View
EASY
Big Savage Mountain
2,566 ft

Big Savage Mountain

1.9 mi
1 hrs
410 ft
Easy View
EASY
⛰️

Moderate Hiking Trails

More climbing, still a manageable day trip

Sugar Point
2,438 ft

Sugar Point

7.2 mi
2.5 hrs
440 ft
Moderate View
MODERATE
The Dunghill
2,730 ft

The Dunghill

7.2 mi
2.5 hrs
440 ft
Moderate View
MODERATE
Salt Block Mountain
2,802 ft

Salt Block Mountain

10.7 mi
3.5 hrs
354 ft
Moderate View
MODERATE
Stein Mountain
2,415 ft

Stein Mountain

11.6 mi
4 hrs
368 ft
Moderate View
MODERATE
Saint John Rock
2,920 ft

Saint John Rock

6.8 mi
2.5 hrs
377 ft
Moderate View
MODERATE
Big Savage Mountain
2,995 ft

Big Savage Mountain

5.4 mi
2 hrs
400 ft
Moderate View
MODERATE
🚗

Farther Day Trips

Worth the extra drive — Mount Davis and the Maryland high point at Hoye-Crest

Dans Rock
2,897 ft

Dans Rock

7.8 mi
3 hrs
466 ft
Moderate View
109 min
Wolf Rock
2,730 ft

Wolf Rock

7.8 mi
3 hrs
466 ft
Moderate View
109 min
Fairview
2,700 ft

Fairview

4.1 mi
1.5 hrs
696 ft
Moderate View
109 min
Wild Turkey Rock
3,228 ft

Wild Turkey Rock

4 mi
1.5 hrs
446 ft
Moderate View
110 min
Eagle Rock
3,127 ft

Eagle Rock

0.3 mi
0.5 hrs
17 ft
Easy View
110 min
Allegheny Heights
3,205 ft

Allegheny Heights

0.8 mi
0.5 hrs
217 ft
Easy View
112 min
Loop Mountain
2,461 ft

Loop Mountain

7.8 mi
3 hrs
929 ft
Hard View
117 min
Hoye-Crest
3,369 ft

Hoye-Crest

4.2 mi
1.5 hrs
125 ft
Easy View
120 min
📍

All 29 Trails Near Pittsburgh

Sorted by distance from Pittsburgh

Devies Mountain
2,753 ft

Devies Mountain

7.8 mi
3 hrs
896 ft
Hard View
51 mi • 69 min
Vought Rock
2,946 ft

Vought Rock

1.4 mi
0.5 hrs
78 ft
Easy View
61 mi • 81 min
Packhorse Mountain
2,766 ft

Packhorse Mountain

0.9 mi
0.5 hrs
115 ft
Easy View
63 mi • 84 min
Baughman Rocks
3,153 ft

Baughman Rocks

2.3 mi
1 hrs
170 ft
Easy View
64 mi • 85 min
Mount Davis
3,212 ft

Mount Davis

2.3 mi
1 hrs
170 ft
Easy View
64 mi • 85 min
Sugar Point
2,438 ft

Sugar Point

7.2 mi
2.5 hrs
440 ft
Moderate View
67 mi • 90 min
The Dunghill
2,730 ft

The Dunghill

7.2 mi
2.5 hrs
440 ft
Moderate View
67 mi • 90 min
Salt Block Mountain
2,802 ft

Salt Block Mountain

10.7 mi
3.5 hrs
354 ft
Moderate View
72 mi • 96 min
Stein Mountain
2,415 ft

Stein Mountain

11.6 mi
4 hrs
368 ft
Moderate View
72 mi • 96 min
Little Snaggy Mountain
2,789 ft

Little Snaggy Mountain

0.4 mi
0.5 hrs
430 ft
Easy View
74 mi • 98 min
Mount Etna
2,595 ft

Mount Etna

3.1 mi
1 hrs
371 ft
Easy View
75 mi • 101 min
The Elbow
2,605 ft

The Elbow

1.1 mi
0.5 hrs
72 ft
Easy View
75 mi • 101 min
Schaefer Head
2,946 ft

Schaefer Head

6.8 mi
3 hrs
1031 ft
Hard View
76 mi • 102 min
Big Savage Mountain
2,566 ft

Big Savage Mountain

1.9 mi
1 hrs
410 ft
Easy View
77 mi • 102 min
Saint John Rock
2,920 ft

Saint John Rock

6.8 mi
2.5 hrs
377 ft
Moderate View
77 mi • 102 min
Meadow Mountain
2,966 ft

Meadow Mountain

9.8 mi
4 hrs
1099 ft
Hard View
77 mi • 102 min
Bearwallow Mountain
2,500 ft

Bearwallow Mountain

1.8 mi
0.5 hrs
213 ft
Easy View
77 mi • 103 min
Sampson Rock
2,936 ft

Sampson Rock

1.1 mi
0.5 hrs
187 ft
Easy View
78 mi • 103 min
Savage Mountain
2,667 ft

Savage Mountain

5.7 mi
2.5 hrs
1224 ft
Hard View
78 mi • 104 min
The Little Mountain
2,927 ft

The Little Mountain

1.2 mi
0.5 hrs
66 ft
Easy View
79 mi • 105 min
Big Savage Mountain
2,995 ft

Big Savage Mountain

5.4 mi
2 hrs
400 ft
Moderate View
79 mi • 106 min
Dans Rock
2,897 ft

Dans Rock

7.8 mi
3 hrs
466 ft
Moderate View
82 mi • 109 min
Wolf Rock
2,730 ft

Wolf Rock

7.8 mi
3 hrs
466 ft
Moderate View
82 mi • 109 min
Fairview
2,700 ft

Fairview

4.1 mi
1.5 hrs
696 ft
Moderate View
82 mi • 109 min
Wild Turkey Rock
3,228 ft

Wild Turkey Rock

4 mi
1.5 hrs
446 ft
Moderate View
82 mi • 110 min
Eagle Rock
3,127 ft

Eagle Rock

0.3 mi
0.5 hrs
17 ft
Easy View
82 mi • 110 min
Allegheny Heights
3,205 ft

Allegheny Heights

0.8 mi
0.5 hrs
217 ft
Easy View
84 mi • 112 min
Loop Mountain
2,461 ft

Loop Mountain

7.8 mi
3 hrs
929 ft
Hard View
88 mi • 117 min
Hoye-Crest
3,369 ft

Hoye-Crest

4.2 mi
1.5 hrs
125 ft
Easy View
90 mi • 120 min

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closest hiking trail to Pittsburgh?
The closest hiking trail to Pittsburgh is Devies Mountain, located just 51 miles away (69 minute drive), in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania.
What is Mount Davis and why is it worth hiking?
Mount Davis is Pennsylvania's state high point — at 3,212 feet in the Negro Mountain range of the Laurel Highlands. It's an easy, mostly flat walk to an observation tower rather than a mountain climb, but it's the highest ground in the entire state and under an hour and a half from Pittsburgh.
How far is Hoye-Crest, Maryland's state high point, from Pittsburgh?
Hoye-Crest, on Backbone Mountain just across the Maryland line, is about 90 miles from Pittsburgh — roughly a two-hour drive. It's an easy out-and-back hike to Maryland's highest natural point.
What are the best easy hikes near Pittsburgh for beginners?
The Laurel Highlands trails around Somerset County — Vought Rock, Packhorse Mountain, Baughman Rocks and Mount Davis itself — are the easiest and closest, all reachable in under 90 minutes with modest elevation gain.
Do I need a parking pass for hiking trails near Pittsburgh?
Most Pennsylvania state forest trailheads in the Laurel Highlands are free. Maryland state park trailheads near Hoye-Crest and the Big Savage/Dans Mountain cluster typically require a small day-use fee in season. Check each trail's parking information page for specifics.
Can I hike near Pittsburgh in winter?
Yes, but the Laurel Highlands and Alleghenies sit high enough to hold snow well into spring — Mount Davis and the Maryland high point cluster both see lake-effect snow off the Great Lakes. Bring microspikes and check conditions before heading up from December through March.

Essential Tips for Hiking Near Pittsburgh

🚗 Getting There

  • • The Laurel Highlands cluster is reachable via PA Turnpike (I-76) E in about an hour
  • • For Mount Davis, take US-219 S toward Somerset and Meyersdale
  • • For Hoye-Crest and the Maryland cluster, continue south on US-219 into Garrett County, MD
  • • Download offline maps in case of poor cell service on back roads

🎒 What to Bring

  • • Water: 2+ liters per person
  • • Snacks: Trail mix, energy bars, fruit
  • • Layers: weather shifts fast at elevation
  • • First aid kit & headlamp

📅 Best Times to Visit

  • • Summer (Jun-Aug): Best weather, most crowded
  • • Fall (Sep-Oct): Peak Laurel Highlands foliage
  • • Spring (Apr-May): Mud season on wooded trails
  • • Winter (Dec-Mar): Lake-effect snow lingers on the ridges; bring full winter gear

⚠️ Safety First

  • • Check weather forecast before leaving
  • • Tell someone your hiking plans
  • • Turn back if weather deteriorates
  • • Stay on marked trails