Natural Areas of Pittsburgh and Its Countyside

Thanks for visiting. This blog has information about natural areas within about 1 to 1.5 hours of Pittsburgh. Below, I've listed a number of natural areas and the organizations that manage them. Information is linked if a website is available. The rest of the blog has more detailed information on state park and forest natural areas, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy properties, and a few county, municipal, and privately-managed properties of note.

Plain Grove Fen, Fringed Gentian, Beaver Creek, and Toms Run Natural Areas. These are undeveloped properties managed by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy - they have no trails, parking areas, etc. Contact the WPC for more information.

Enlow Fork Natural Area, part of State Game Lands #302. Originally protected by the WPC and now managed by the State Game Commission.

Rock Point and Glacier Wetlands Natural Areas, managed by the Wild Waterways Conservancy

A number of properties in and around Murraysville are managed by the Westmoreland Conservancy

Roaring Run Recreation Area, managed by the Roaring Run Watershed Association

Kimberly Run Natural Area, managed by the Somerset County Conservancy

Dead Man's Hollow, Barking Slopes, Fern Hollow, and a number of other properties managed by the Allegheny Land Trust

Powdermill Nature Reserve, managed by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, managed by Saint Vincent College

Jumonville Glen, managed by the National Park Service

Frick Woods Nature Reserve and Nine Miles Watershed, managed by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Buttermilk Falls Natural Area, managed by Beaver County Parks and Recreation. It is located right off of Route 18 near Beaver Falls.

Wagner Hollow Natural Area

Wagner Hollow is located off of Fern Hollow Road in Sewickley Heights, right past the Y intersection with Little Sewickley Creek Rd. There is no parking available - there is some space along the southbound side of the road. The natural area is wooded and contains a scenic portion of Little Sewickley Creek, along with an abundance of spring wildflowers. A single, one-way trail cuts through the center of the property - it crosses the creek a number of times, so be prepared for wet feet. Wagner Hollow is managed by the Little Sewickley Creek Watershed Association.