This is the first in a series of walks to take with your dog. Each walk is designed with both dog and walker in mind – grassy areas for the pooch, interesting sights (and convenient trash cans) for you. If you have a favorite walk you’d like to share, get in touch!
This walk takes 20-25 minutes at a moderate pace. Make it longer by continuing further on the Eliza Furnace Trail before you turn around, or by taking some of the side paths in the park.
- Start at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh dinosaur, at the corner of Boulevard of the Allies and Cherry Way. (Creation Rex’s default setting is Jurassic, but he’s often amusingly dressed for the season.)
- Walk one block east on Boulevard of the Allies. Cross 1st. Ave., the Parkway on-ramp twice (be careful here), and Grant St.
- Turn right and walk one block south on Grant St., alongside the park. Cross 1st. Ave and continue straight ahead, along the Grant St. side of the PNC building.
- At the end of the building, turn left onto the Eliza Furnace trail (affectionately known as the Jail Trail). Walk along the trail, past the PNC building, under the trolley bridge, past the bike rental concession, and alongside a parking garage. You’ll see grass and trees on both sides of the trail. The Parkway is to your right; if it’s rush hour, congratulate yourself for not creeping along in that traffic.
- Continue under another bridge and past the Municipal Court building and part of the Allegheny County Jail on your left. Once you’re under the Parkway, there’s no more green along the trail for a while, so this is where I turn around.
- On the way back, take the road that runs next to the Municipal Court building and the pedestrian walkway that goes around the building. If you’re lucky, you’ll see some of the dozen or so rabbits that live in the shrubs.
- Go up 1st. Ave., past the parking garage and T station on your left and Shannon Hall (a former warehouse, now an Art Institute dorm) on your right. Walk along the PNC building (notice the nice water feature if it’s on) to Ross St.
- Cross Ross St. and walk diagonally through the park, back to Grant St. Notice the interesting landscaping, including hills, sculpture, and maze-like side paths.
- Cross Grant St. and the Parkway on-ramp. Turn left on 1st. Ave. and follow it around the corner. Notice a couple of nicely restored old buildings (now condos) on the right-hand side, 429 Firstside and the Hartley-Rose Building.
- Turn right on Cherry way and admire the Belgian block street surface and the faux gas lights. (Commercial horse and carriage drivers bring people through this block for the turn-of-the-twentieth-century ambience.) In one block you’re back at the T-rex.
