Dog walking in Bethel Park

Brightwood

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Peter Page Park, in the Brightwood neighborhood, is 16.65 acres featuring a walking trail and a community garden, but is mostly undeveloped land through which you and Fido can explore to your heart’s content. Wooded and pastured, this park is a favorite of those intrepid spirits who like to be off the beaten path and see wildlife in its most natural setting. Be sure Fido is leashed. Oak Tree Park is in Brightwood too, but is a little harder to find. Its driveway is nestled between 2 houses and a small wooden sign announces its presence, but it’s easy to miss. This neighborhood park has everything a mom with children would love: swings, slides, basketball backboards. But for someone with a restless pooch who loves to play, it also features lots of grassy, shaded areas in its 3 acres, and is surrounded by trees. Leashes are needed, as are waste bags to be carried away with you. 

Longview/ Mollenauer

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This neighborhood is host to the northwest portion of the 2000-acre South Park. Leashed dogs are welcome to enjoy the many hiking, walking and biking trails, picnic areas and outdoor summer concerts. But probably best of all for your pup, South Park is home to the South Park Dog Park, a completely fenced, off-leash area equipped with drinking water, waste bags and receptacles, and benches for the humans. The park is also divided into small/timid and large/rambunctious dog areas. The surface is grass and mulch, but be aware that in wet seasons, it would be a good idea to throw a towel in the car to wipe the plentiful mud off your fur-pup before taking her home.

Hillcrest

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Village Green Park is a dog-friendly 11-acre park in this neighborhood, featuring a walking trail perfect for a stroll with the pooch, 2 picnic pavilions with tables, and restrooms. While you and Fido are walking about on the trail, the kids can be playing on the sports fields or at the playground. There are turtles and frogs about, much to everyone’s delight, and lots of grass to roll around in. Mollyhill Park is also in the Hillcrest neighborhood, and features 6 acres with activity equipment for the children and lots of grass for the furry bestie and his human for play and relaxation, leashed of course! And if you need to stay overnight, The Crowne Plaza is dog-friendly for a small additional fee. Sweet dreams!

Upper St Clair

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Upper St Clair is a neighborhood of South Pittsburgh, just a few miles from Bethel Park. Here , you will find the Boyce Mayview Park, offering 475 acres of trails, creeks and streams, waterfalls, woods, wetlands and meadows just perfect for a dog and his best pal to explore. It’s easy to see why so many local outdoor enthusiasts favor this park. The 8 miles of trails range from easy to moderately difficult as the elevations rise to more than 1200 feet. Morton Falls, accessible via the Morton Falls Trail, is memorable. Be sure Fido is on his leash and don’t forget to bring water and layers of clothing for the changing zones you might be walking through. Many of the trails are marked, but some are not. If hunger brings you back to town, head over to Ardolino’s for a slice of traditional or gourmet pizza. With a selection of toppings, including pup-pleasing meats, your hunger will become a thing of the past. Bone appetit!