IN Sewickley Spring 2020 | Page 39

Todd Nature Reserve Kepple Road, Sarver; 412.963.6100, or aswp.org Looking for a new area to hike this spring that’s just a short drive away? Todd Nature Reserve is “full of hiking trails, abundant with the natural beauty of the forest, streams and a pond.” of giant trees and an abandoned picnic pavilion from 1927. IN Mars IN Hampton Adams Township Community Park 698 Valencia Road, Mars; 724.625.2221, or adamstwp.org/parks-community- park.html Crouse Run Nature Reserve Wildwood Road by Tuscan Inn lower parking lot, Allison Park; pinecreeklandtrust.org IN North Allegheny Put on your muck boots and enjoy crossing the stream to the trail that follows. Crouse Run is an enchanted and magical nature reserve! This area includes exposed rock, hemlock trees, wildflowers and birds. Interested in helping to maintain the reserve for years to come? Visit the “support” page of the website. Hampton Municipal Park - Rachel Carson Trail 3101 McCully Road, Allison Park; 412.486.0400, or hampton-pa.org This scenic park provides forested hiking trails, along with a portion of the Rachel Carson Trail, which extends 35.7 miles from North Park to Harrison Hills Park. Hartwood Acres Park 200 Hartwood Acres, Allison Park; 412.767.9200, or alleghenycounty.us Hartwood Acres features a 1929 mansion surrounded by a lush forest. Hike or bike the wooded trails, or take the paved path by the mansion and formal gardens, peppered with magnificent sculpture. Wildwood Mine Loop Pie Traynor Field Parking in North Park, South Ridge Drive, Allison Park; alleghenycounty.us/parks Put your loyal canine friend on a leash and get some fresh air at a unique 4-mile trail. Pass through Rocky Dell Run, a forest Celebrate spring with a 1.3-mile hike that takes you through a beautiful country setting. Acorn Park Magee Road Extension, Franklin Park; 412.364.4115, or franklinparkborough.us Acorn Park welcomes mountain bikers this spring! This 25-acre park is “a natural area having been untouched for over 100 years. Hiking, equestrian, and mountain bike trails traverse most of this park.” Bradford Woods Reserve Bradford Road, Bradford Woods; bradfordwoodspa.org, or alleghenylandtrust.org Hike on a winding trail through tall trees, over a charming wooden footbridge and through a clearing with wildflowers and a pond that make up this 4.5-acre reserve. Knob Hill Park 525 Pleasant Hill Road, Wexford; 724.935.3090, or twp.marshall.pa.us This nature park has a wide variety of trails for springtime adventures! Try the half-mile Sean DeArment Nature Trail. Visit the website for maps of the trails. Rachel Carson Trail Babcock Boulevard and Pearce Mill Road by the Beaver Shelter in North Park, Allison Park; rachelcarsontrails.org Dubbed “The Bloody Muddy” for good reason, this 34-mile trail takes you on the ultimate hike starting in North Park. IN Pine-Richland Deer Lakes Park 1090 Bailey Run Road, Tarentum; 724.265.3520, or alleghenycounty.us Enjoy some spring stargazing! Located just 20-25 minutes away in bordering West Deer Township, this 1,180-acre park features the Wagman Observatory, owned and operated by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh. Take a late afternoon hike, or mountain bike on the park’s 20 miles of trails and then enjoy an evening star party hosted by the association. Visit wp.3ap.org for more information. (Venture Outdoors, ventureoutdoors.org, and L.L. Bean, llbean. com, also host hikes at the park.) Irwin Run Conservation Area Irwin Road, Pine Township; 412.741.2750, or alleghenylandtrust.org This pristine and protected wetland, densely wooded slopes and stream valley are adjacent to North Park! The area is perfect for a peaceful walk, or a challenging mountain bike ride! To learn more about the area and ways you can help preserve it, visit the website. Latodami Nature Center of North Park 575 Brown Road, Wexford; 724.935.2170, or sites.google.com/site/ latodaminaturecenter Combine your curiosity about nature and love of hiking at the 250‑acre Latodami Nature Center! Located in North Park, it includes a field, forest, pond, and wetland and stream habitats, with a series of nature trails. Enjoy a wide variety of naturalist-led hikes each season. Pine Park 100 Pine Park Drive, Wexford; 724.625.1636, or twp.pine.pa.us This 105-acre park has everything you need to enjoy a spring hike! The park includes nature and hiking trails with picturesque views of Pine Lake, wooded areas and rolling hills. Richland Park 1049 Van Velsor Drive, Bakerstown; 724.443.5921, or richland.pa.us Want to see one of the oldest pine trees in Allegheny County? Take a hike on a beautiful wooded trail in this 80-acre park which leads you to Penn Tree, reported to be over 400 years old. SEWICKLEY Continued on next page > ❘ SPRING 2020 37