Your next waterfall adventure starts here.
If you happen to be looking for waterfalls near Pittsburgh, PA you are in luck, because there are quite a few waterfalls only a small distance away! Here I’ve compiled a list of three waterfalls I think are worth checking out if you want to get out and explore nature a bit, but you still want to make it home in time for dinner.
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First, Fall Run Falls is the closest waterfall to Pittsburgh being only about 15 minutes from downtown, with a 1.6 mile hike into Glenshaw featuring a 15 foot waterfall at the end. This waterfall is located in Shaler Fall Run Park.
Another beautiful waterfall is Hell’s Hollows Falls in Portersville, PA. Roughly 50 minutes north of the city in McConnells Mill State Park is an absolutely stunning 15-foot waterfall. Hell’s Hollows trail is an easy 0.5 mile hike, and just be careful near the waterfall because it can become slippery.
Lastly, I couldn’t have a list of prominent waterfall destinations without including this one, Buttermilk Falls in Indiana County. You may have heard of this waterfall, especially if you grew up in Pittsburgh just because of how relevant it is to Pittsburgh culture.
This waterfall is about one hour east of Pittsburgh, and only about 0.25 mile walk back to the falls. Depending on if you would like to see all of the waterfalls (10 in total), this may be a more difficult hike than the rest. Mr. Rogers’ grandfather Fred McFeely owned the land the waterfall was on between 1931 and 1956, and Mr. Rogers visited it often as a child. It’s a stop along the Fred Rogers Trail – a driving tour of ten sites in the region that highlight his life and legacy.
If you are interested in hiking, seeing beautiful waterfalls, or even getting a little Pittsburgh history lesson, make sure to check out these waterfall locations!
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing hike, a scenic photo opportunity, or a chance to explore a little local history, these three waterfalls are well worth the trip. And if you’re looking for waterfalls across Pennsylvania – visit pa bucketlist, they have a list of waterfalls. And check out my interview with author Tory Mather, on her new book, “Scenic Natural Wonders of Pennsylvania,” where she lists one of her favorite places for waterfalls:
“I really loved visiting Ricketts Glen State Park. That is a state park in northeastern Pennsylvania that has 22 named waterfalls on a four-ish mile trail. Basically, every time you turn a corner on this trail, it’s like waterfall, waterfall, other waterfall. I love waterfalls, and I was super excited to visit Ricketts Glen for the first time.”
