Harrison Hills Park
Encyclopedia
County park
A county park is a park managed by a county. In the United States, county parks are lower in hierarchy than state parks. In the United Kingdom, similar parks for recreation are named country parks....
in Allegheny County
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a part of the county's 12000 acres (48.6 km²) network of nine distinct parks.
It is situated 24 miles (38.6 km) northeast of Pittsburgh in Harrison Township
Harrison Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Harrison Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,461 at the 2010 census. Pennsylvania Route 28 passes through Harrison Township connecting Kittanning to the northeast and Pittsburgh to the southwest. Allegheny Technologies has extensive steel...
. The park features an overlook
Overlook
A scenic overlook, or just an overlook, observation point, lookout or viewing point, is a high place where people can gather to view scenery , and to photograph it. Scenic overlooks are typically created alongside mountain roads, often as a simple turnouts where motorists can pull over onto...
of the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
and offers walking, hiking, and bridle trails.
Trails
The eastern trailheadTrailhead
A trailhead is the point at which a trail begins, where the trail is often intended for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or off-road vehicles...
of the 35.7 miles (57.5 km) Rachel Carson Trail
Rachel Carson Trail
The Rachel Carson Trail is a hiking trail in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in the United States.-Points of interest:* Harrison Hills Park* Hartwood Acres Park* North Park* Rachel Carson Homestead-External links:*...
is just north of the park's entrance. The trail traverses the park's eastern perimeter along the edge of a bluff overlooking the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
. It crosses Rachel Carson Run
Rachel Carson Run
Rachel Carson Run is a long tributary of the Allegheny River located in Allegheny County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The stream is named after ecologist Rachel Carson.-Course:...
, via a wooden arch bridge
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
above Rachel Carson Falls, which meanders below the Ox Roast grove.