A resource of Biophilia: Pittsburgh, #bioPGH is a weekly blog and social media series that aims to encourage both children and adults to reconnect with nature and enjoy what each of our distinctive seasons has to offer. 

Subscribe to Posts Via Email

Even with some April showers (and snow showers) along the way, spring has officially sprung! For many of us, one of the most exciting parts of spring is to see the natural seasonal beauty in a burst of colorful wildflowers. To find out some of the best places around Pittsburgh, I checked with Phipps’ volunteer and photographer-extraordinaire, Paul g Wiegman. Many of the images on Phipps’ website are Paul’s work of artistry, and part of the secret behind is his success is that he genuinely finds joy in the blooming botanical world. As such, he was the perfect person to ask about wildflower locations. Listed below are some of the best places to explore at your leisure plus a few guided events in the area.

Guided Outings
If you’d like to learn along with a group, check some of the best wildflower outings coming up soon! Parking and directions can be found on each of the events' websites.

Enlow Fork
Wildflower Walk – April 29

Moraine State Park
Wildflower Wanderings – May 5 

Settlers Cabin
Wildflower Walk – May 5

Forbes State Forest
Mother’s Day Wildflower Walk – May 10

Phipps Field Ecology Excursions
Multiple Dates in June and July

Jennings Environmental Education Center
Celebrate the Bloom – July 28

Visit at Your Leisure
These parks all have hiking trails leading to veritable wonderlands of flowers. And remember to continue acting as a leave-no-trace ambassador! Always dispose of trash/recycling properly (take it out of the park with you if there is nowhere at the park to dispose of it), stay on the trails, keep a respectful distance from wildlife, and leave behind the things you find—that’s the hardest part for me, but we can keep Pennsylvania beautiful together.

Wild Flower Reserve - Raccoon Creek State Park, Beaver County.
Parking and Trail Access: This reserve off Rt. 30 has well-marked signage for the Wild flower reserve and has a large parking lot and restrooms.
What Will You See: Park environmental education specialist Shane Miller noted nearly 30 species of wildflowers either currently or just about to bloom! A few highlights include Virginia bluebells, white and yellow trout lilies, bloodroot, purplecress, violets, and northern spicebush.
Peak Time to For Wildflowers: Mid-April to mid-May
 

Cedar Creek Gorge, Cedar Creek Park, Westmoreland County.  
Parking and Trail Access: There is parking at the trailhead, by the boatlaunch. Most of the trail is easy walking, but Paul notes that some of the uplands part of the trail are a bit less developed (a more natural, adventure feel!)
What Will You See: Park manager Tom Ferree says: "Now is the perfect time to visit Cedar Creek Gorge to see spring beauties, trout lilies, cutleaf toothwart, and blood root in peak bloom.  The cool spring temperature has delayed blooming and we should start to see twinleaf, bluebells, and trillium this weekend!"  
Peak Time to For Wildflowers: Mid-April to May
 

Great Gorge Trail - Ohiopyle State Park, Fayette County.
Parking and Trail Access: Access the trail from the Cucumber Falls parking lot and follow the path by crossing an open grate bridge over Cucumber Run and then turning right.  
What Will You See: This time of year, Ohiopyle boasts red and white trillium, trout lilies, Dutchman’s breeches, and violets—among many others!
Peak Time to For Wildflowers: Mid-April to mid-May
 

Ramcat Hollow to Finnegan's Ledges along the Great Allegheny Passage Trail - Ohiopyle State Park, Fayette County. 
Parking and Trail Access: Access the GAP trail from the Ramcat Launch Area & Trailhead. From the parking lot, turn left (west) and walk toward Ohiopyle. (Upper right corner of the map)
What Will You See: This trail and the other Ohiopyle trail will display slightly different flowers, but you should probably still be able to see red and white trillium, trout lilies, Dutchman’s breeches, violets and others.
Peak Time to For Wildflowers: Late-April to late-May.
 

Hell Run Trail - McConnells Mill State Park, Lawrence County
In spite of the trail name, “the path along the stream floodplain is well marked and comfortable with lots of wildflowers,” says Paul.
Parking and Trail Access: The trailhead and parking are just off Shaffer Road, on the left side of the highlighted route on the map.
What Will You See: Around this time, visitors should be able to see a wide variety of flowers including trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit, and violets.
Peak Time to For Wildflowers: Late-April to late-May
 

Braddock Trail Park, North Huntingdon Twp., Westmoreland County. (Google map)
Parking and Trail Access: “There's a small parking lot at the end of Robbins Station Road.  Park here and walk through the grassy area to the west.  A trail leads west from that grassy area.”
What Will You See: “Blue-eyed-Mary is the signature wildflower at this location,” notes Paul.
Peak Time to For Wildflowers: Mid-April
 

Wolf Creek Narrows, Butler County.
Parking and Trail Access: West side of Miller Road (Water Street) Bridge
What Will You See: “Trillium grandflora (white trillium) in the upland is the signature species, but there is a wide variety of spring ephemerals,” Paul says.
Peak Time to For Wildflowers: Early May

Photo Credit: Rob Dubas