Hiking the Trillium Trail near Pittsburgh, PA

There are many great spots to see wildflowers in PA, but one of the hidden gems is the Trillium Trail in Allegheny County.

The Trillium Trail is a bit of a misnomer as its the name of a small natural area with three connected, but separately named trails. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful spot to visit for a short hike in the suburb of Fox Chapel, only about 15-20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.

The area’s three trails (Zen’s Train, the Upper Trail, and the Falls Trail, connect together to create a roughly one mile loop of the property. This hike is relatively easy, and it shouldn’t pose much difficulty for most. That being said, there is a bit of an uphill section on the Falls Trail, though it mostly on stairs.

The highlight of the park, of course, is the area’s wildflowers, most notably the trillium that bloom in late April and early May. These rare flowers, of which both red and white varieties can be found here, take many years to grow and are quite delicate.

So, while you shouldn’t pick or disturb any flowers during your visit, make doubly sure that you don’t pick the trillium.

Of course, those aren’t the only flowers you can see during your visit. During my two visits in mid-April, Virginia bluebells were the most common flowers that I saw. Other notable flowers here include bloodroot, skunk cabbage, and wild columbine.

These flowers all tend to bloom at some point from March through May, making these months the most popular (and best) times to visit the Trillium Trail near Pittsburgh. However, despite being the best times to visit, you’re unlikely to see many others during your visit, especially compared to the crowds at spots like the nearby Wildflower Reserve in Raccoon Creek State Park.

In fact, during my two visits, I didn’t see a single other person, though there is a bit of road noise, so it’s not completely peaceful.

The flowers here are quite abundant and you don’t have to walk from your car to see them. Because of this, you could very easily just stop here for a couple of minutes to see some wildflowers, or you could spend 20-30 minutes hiking the entire length of the trails here.

The Trillium Trail is also home to a small waterfall that drops maybe 20 feet over two drops. Unfortunately, this waterfall is deep in a gully on the park’s edge and it’s not possible to get very close to it.

From my experience, this waterfall never flows super well, so if you want to see it flowing at all, you’ll want to visit in the spring or another time when water levels are high. There’s also a fair bit of foliage between it and the trail, so an early spring visit before there are many leaves on the trees is best.

Those hoping to see a decent waterfall are better off heading to the nearby Fall Run Falls, Washboard Falls, or one of the other beautiful waterfalls near Pittsburgh.

Overall, the Trillium Trail is a beautiful springtime spot near Pittsburgh that’s worth checking out if you’re in the area. While it’s not as large or as impressive as some other wildflower preserves, the density of flowers here makes it a nice spot to check out.

It’s certainly not a long stop or worth a long trip to visit, but I still enjoyed my two springtime visits over the years.

Getting to the Trillium Trail

There are two parking areas for the Trillium Trail, both along Hemlock Hollow Road.

The first (which is the one I’ve used in the past), can be found at the following coordinates: 40.520306, -79.900667. This lot is big enough for only three cars or so.

The second lot is a bit larger, though still can only handle a few cars. It is located at the following coordinates a little over a quarter-mile from the first lot: 40.520306, -79.900667.

Note that dogs are NOT allowed on the trails here.

[Click here for information on how to use coordinates to find your destination.]

Looking for more place to visit nearby? Check out the Bayernhof Museum, the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, the Tour-Ed Mine and Museum, and the best breweries in Pittsburgh.