If hiking somewhere with ruins, natural beauty, and creepy ghost stories sounds exciting, Dead Man’s Hollow Conservation Area in Allegheny County is for you!
This 450-acre nature preserve is located near the confluence of the Youghiogheny River and the Monongahela River and close to the communities of McKeesport, Boston, and Versailles in the southeastern part of the county. It is owned and managed by the Allegheny Land Trust.
While there are several miles of hiking trails, a cool-looking rock formation, and a seasonal waterfall on the property, what brought me to the park was the ruins (along with the ghost stories) located on the conservation area’s eastern edge near the Youghiogheny River.
Read on to find out all about this incredible spot.
Parking for the Ruins in Dead Man’s Hollow
While the Dead Man’s Hollow Conservation Area has several parking areas, the best spot to park, in my opinion, is actually at the parking lot for the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and Boston Ballfield Park in the small town of Boston, southeast of Pittsburgh.
The parking area can be found at 1911 Donner Street, McKeesport, PA 15135.
This lot is fairly large, so it’s unlikely you’ll have any issues finding parking area unless there is a game going on on the field. In that case, it’s worth noting there is a large gravel parking area a few yards passed the field if the gate to go back there is open.
During the warmer months of the year, there is a water station and bathroom facilities at the trailhead.
You can also park in one of the three other trailheads within the conservation area if you don’t mind a more difficult hike (and potentially longer depending on the trailhead you choose). The closest of the parking areas is located at the end of Orchard Road at the following address: 3419 Orchard Dr, McKeesport, PA 15133.
This might actually be the closest parking area to the ruins, but you’ll miss the great walk along the river.
Hiking to the Ruins in Dead Man’s Hollow
If you are starting at the parking lot in Boston, take a right on the GAP to follow it to the north. This is a wide and flat path the follows close to the Youghiogheny River and offers some really fabulous views. I quite enjoyed this walk, especially since autumn colors were at their peak during my visit.
The only negative of the walk was the rather constant sound of the factories on the far side of the river, something that continues for the entirety of your visit, unfortunately.
Follow this section of the GAP for 0.9 miles. Eventually, you’ll reach a well-marked trailhead for the Dead Man’s Hollow Conservation Area on your left, complete with a bike rack if you brought yours with you (It would definitely decrease the amount of time required to reach this trailhead).
From the GAP, it’s only a couple hundred feet to the ruins in Dead Man’s Hollow.
(If you’re starting at the lot from Orchard Road, follow the Black Oak Trail for a third of the mile, and then turn left onto the Dead Man’s Run Trail and follow that to the ruins.)
There ruins in Dead Man’s Hollow are from the Union Sewer Pipe Company, which operated here from 1905 until a fire forced its closure in 1920.
Today, the facades of several buildings can still be seen, along with remnants of the pipes they made scattered throughout the landscape and the remains of a quarry. There is also a really cool underground tunnel to explore.
There are several well done signs scattered throughout the area that offer a wealth of history about what you are seeing and how the land was used in the past.
The concrete facades of the buildings stand quietly in the woods, a testament to the area’s industrial past. They are largely covered in graffiti, some of which is actually quite good.
About 100 feet beyond the factory ruins near the creek, look for a large tunnel that heads below the forest floor and is big enough to walk through. Obviously, use extreme caution if you opt to enter these tunnels as I’m not sure of the stability of the ceilings or if the creek is prone to flash flooding.
The floor of the tunnels is made up large of broken pipes, which is kind of cool, and there are some large pipes to check out in the short open-air section between the two tunnels.
The second tunnel is larger than the first, and while it’s only about 100 yards long, it curves, so you actually can’t see the end when you go in. Definitely bring a flashlight with you if you think you might want to explore the tunnels.
Depending on how much rain there has been recently depends on how far you can walk in these tunnels without getting your feet wet. On the day I visited, even though it hadn’t rained in a few weeks, there was still enough standing water in the second tunnel to keep me from reaching the end.
After exploring the tunnels, retrace your steps back to the trail in front of the factory ruins.
Continuing a few feet further along the main trail, take a left turn onto the Witch Hazel Trail (marked in blue) at a wooden foot bridge. Just a few feet up this trail, you’ll come to a spot known as the Enchanted Staircase.
This staircase is made up of about 20 stone steps which look very cool and are worth the short extra distance to see.
Before leaving the Witch Hazel Trail, don’t miss the small overlook near the bottom of the stairs which offers a great view of the ruins below.
While exploring Dead Man’s Hollow, keep your eyes and hears peeled for strange sights and sounds. The area has a history of murder, hangings, deadly accidents, and more, and some claim those spirits have never left the hollow. Reports over the years include shadow figures, strange smells, and disembodied voices.
I didn’t experience anything like that, but you never know what you might encounter during your visit.
Ultimately, Dead Man’s Hollow is a really awesome spot to explore, and I can’t believe it took me so long to visit despite my love for exploring abandoned places in Pennsylvania. I’m sure I’ll return again soon to explore even more of this beautiful and historic park.
If you’re looking for a fun and unique place to check out near Pittsburgh, definitely add Dead Man’s Hollow to your list.
Looking for even more spots to visit nearby? Check out Braddock’s Falls, Carrie Furnace, and the Nine Mile Run Trail.
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