AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Frick Park

Cowboy Hill–Bench Trail, 5 sights

2.9 mi · ▲ 640 ft · 1 hr 17 min

Cowboy Hill–Bench Trail, 5 sights is a 2.9-mile out-and-back in Frick Park near Squirrel Hill, PA. The route reaches Cowboy Hill at the turnaround, 1.4 miles in. It climbs 640 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi833 – 1,158 ft · steepest grade: 19%3.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.42931, -79.91362
Nearest town Squirrel Hill, PA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cowboy Hill–Bench Trail, 5 sights

2.9 mi · ▲ 640 ft · 1 hr 17 min

Elevation 834–1,159 ft

Out & Back · Frick Park

Trailhead: 40.42931, -79.91362

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:52 AM · sunset 7:47 PM

Transit-accessible: Beechwood Blvd at Nicholson St stop 188 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  3. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  4. 300 ftTurn right onto Riverview Trail, heading NE.
  5. 250 ftTurn left onto Bench Trail, heading NE.
  6. 100 ftTurn right onto Trough Trail, heading N.
  7. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bench - Trough Connector, heading NE.
  8. 200 ftBear right onto Bench Trail, heading NE.
  9. 300 ftTurn left onto Riverview Ext. Trail, heading NE.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  11. 150 ftContinue straight onto Falls Ravine Trail, heading NE.
  12. 400 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  13. 100 ftBear right, heading N.
  14. 100 ftSharp left, heading N.
  15. 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
  16. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  17. 50 ftSharp right onto North Clayton Trail, heading N.
  18. 0.3 miTurn right onto South Clayton Trail, heading NE.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Biddle Trail, heading NE.
  20. 250 ftContinue straight onto Bradema Trail, heading NE.
  21. 200 ftContinue straight onto Biddle Trail, heading E.
  22. 100 ftContinue straight onto Bradema Trail, heading NE.
  23. 150 ftContinue straight onto Tranquil Trail, heading E.
  24. 0.2 miBear right onto Homewood Trail, heading SE.
  25. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  27. 50 ftBear left onto Rosemary Trail, heading NW.
  28. 50 ftTurn left onto Kensington Trail, heading NW.
  29. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  30. 50 ftBear right onto Cowboy Hill Connector, heading NW.
  31. 100 ftTurn left onto Solstice Trail, heading NW.
  32. 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  33. 100 ftReach Cowboy Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  34. 350 ftTurn right onto Cowboy Hill Connector, heading N.
  35. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  36. 50 ftTurn left onto Kensington Trail, heading N.
  37. 50 ftTurn right onto Rosemary Trail, heading N.
  38. 100 ftBear right, heading N.
  39. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  40. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  41. 100 ftContinue straight onto Homewood Trail, heading NE.
  42. 150 ftBear left onto Tranquil Trail, heading N.
  43. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bradema Trail, heading NW.
  44. 150 ftContinue straight onto Biddle Trail, heading NW.
  45. 150 ftContinue straight onto Bradema Trail, heading NW.
  46. 200 ftContinue straight onto Biddle Trail, heading SW.
  47. 250 ftContinue straight onto South Clayton Trail, heading S.
  48. 50 ftTurn left onto North Clayton Trail, heading SE.
  49. 0.3 miSharp left, heading SE.
  50. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  51. 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  52. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  53. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  54. 100 ftTurn left onto Falls Ravine Trail, heading S.
  55. 0.1 miTurn left onto Riverview Ext. Trail, heading N.
  56. 50 ftTurn right onto Bench Trail, heading N.
  57. 350 ftBear left onto Bench - Trough Connector, heading NW.
  58. 200 ftContinue straight onto Trough Trail, heading NW.
  59. 0.2 miTurn left onto Bench Trail, heading SW.
  60. 100 ftTurn right onto Riverview Trail, heading SW.
  61. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  62. 300 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  63. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  64. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/cowboy-hill-bench-trail-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

51% gravel33% dirt9% paved7% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:52 AMSunset 7:47 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:27 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:47 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:15 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Beechwood Blvd at Nicholson St stop 188 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania