A Stroll Along A Quiet, Wooded Trail Led Us To The Lone Waterfall In Pennsylvania's Allegheny County
By Beth Price-Williams|Published March 29, 2024
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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.
Pittsburgh’s got a lot going on, but one thing we don’t have a lot of is waterfalls. While there are small unnamed waterfalls hidden throughout the city and the county, there’s only one named waterfall in Allegheny County, and it’s an attraction all on its own. On one hot summer Saturday afternoon last August, my daughter and I decided to make the short drive from a suburb in Pittsburgh to Fall Run Park to follow the wooded trail that leads to this beautiful waterfall.
Summer days in the Pittsburgh area can be downright brutal, especially during August, which usually means hiding in the A/C or going somewhere we can stay cool. Surprisingly, despite the heat and humidity, Fall Run Park’s towering trees made it so lovely and cool.
Before you can start your journey to Fall Run Falls, you have to find the park. That part can be a bit tricky, so plug the address into your GPS. The turnoff from Highway 8 is well-hidden, but don’t worry if you initially miss it. There are plenty of places to turn around on both sides of the highway.
The parking lot offers ample parking and, like much of the park itself, sits under the shade of the trees. If you’re not in a hurry, there are picnic tables right near the parking lot. The park also has a basketball court and a playground.
The trailhead to Fall Run Falls starts right by the parking lot and meanders through the woods, so you’ll deal with some rocky terrain and slight elevation changes. Wear a pair of comfy shoes. I wore flip-flops and almost turned my ankle a few times. It is doable in flip-flops, but I’m pretty sure it’s more comfortable and safer in tennis shoes or hiking boots.
One of the first things you’ll notice as you walk is how quiet it is. The noise from the park and the highway is completely blocked out, and all we heard was birds and tiny little waterfalls in the stream next to the trail.
Fall Run Falls Trail has all the characteristics of a fairy-tale setting – wooden footbridges, lush green, and some pretty unique rock formations. You’ll discover all kinds of tiny details, like darting chipmunks, if you take it slow and soak up the scenery.
You’ll probably hear the waterfall before you see it. Fall Run Falls stands between 15 and 25 feet; everyone seems to have their own guesses for how tall it is. The sound of the water tumbling down is almost hypnotic; take at least a few minutes to experience it yourself.
You'll see large rocks on which you can sit to admire the waterfall, or you can climb a steep set of wooden stairs to get a bird’s eye view. My daughter made her way up but said there’s really not much to see and the waterfall is barely visible from that vantage point.
There’s another reason to wear sturdy shoes. You can walk down to the base of the waterfall. The rocky surface, though, is pretty slippery, although a couple of pups had no trouble running to the waterfall.
Once you reach Fall Run Falls, you can turn around and head back to the trailhead.
You don’t need a whole lot of time if you plan to follow Fall Run Falls Trail, but you’ll likely find you spend a lot more time than you intended because it's so relaxing. Learn more on the official website of Fall Run Park.
Have you been to Fall Run Falls in Allegheny County? What did you think? We’d love to hear all about your experience in the comments! Do you know of any other waterfalls in Allegheny County? Where are your favorite places to go hiking in Allegheny County? Let us know in the comments, so we can do a bit more hiking and chasing waterfalls. For more outdoor fun, slip on a pair of comfy shoes and check out Pittsburgh Botanic Garden.
