Forest & Lake Trail Loop Near Pittsburgh Leads To A Magnificent Hidden Oasis
By Beth Price-Williams|Published June 08, 2021
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Discovering hidden oases really isn’t too tough, especially since we all have our own definition of oasis. If your definition includes a jaunt through the forest, past a sandy beach, and alongside flowers, you’ll love the Forest & Lake Trail Loop. You can even make a beach day of it, if you visit during the summer.
Discover a hidden oasis along the Forest & Lake Trail Loop at Raccoon Creek State Park, just over a half an hour from downtown Pittsburgh.
The four-mile loop trail has earned a moderate rating due, in part, to the elevation changes and the stream crossings. You may want to wear old or waterproof shoes.
If you're hiking during the warmer months, lather up on the tick repellant and bring some along. Ticks can be quite abundant along the trail and at the park.
Combining the Forest Trail and the Lake Trail, the popular path promises a little bit of everything - from cheerful wildflowers during the warmer months to glimpses of the sandy beach.
If you're up for more adventure after you've finished your hike, embark on another trail, or enjoy a bit of wildlife watching. Cross country skiing and snowmobiling are popular during the winter.
Have you hiked the Forest & Lake Trail Loop near Pittsburgh? What’d you think? Share your experience in the comments! Love waterfalls? Take a short stroll to the hidden but beautiful Springfield Falls.
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