Fern Hollow–Bench Trail, 5 sights is a 2.8-mile out-and-back in Frick Park near Squirrel Hill, PA. The route reaches Fern Hollow at the turnaround, 1.4 miles in. It climbs 585 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi833 – 1,158 ft3.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 40.42931, -79.91362
Nearest town Squirrel Hill, PA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Fern Hollow–Bench Trail, 5 sights
2.8 mi · ▲ 585 ft · 1 hr 14 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
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Riverview Trail, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Bench Trail, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Trough Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bench - Trough Connector, heading NE.
- 200 ftBear right onto Bench Trail, heading NE.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Riverview Ext. Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Falls Ravine Trail, heading NE.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 100 ftBear right, heading N.
- 100 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp right onto North Clayton Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto South Clayton Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Biddle Trail, heading NE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Bradema Trail, heading NE.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Biddle Trail, heading E.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Bradema Trail, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Tranquil Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Homewood Trail, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Rosemary Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Kensington Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Homewood Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftReach Fern Hollow, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Kensington Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Rosemary Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Homewood Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left onto Tranquil Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bradema Trail, heading W.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Biddle Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Bradema Trail, heading E.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Biddle Trail, heading S.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto South Clayton Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto North Clayton Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Falls Ravine Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Riverview Ext. Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Bench Trail, heading NW.
- 300 ftBear left onto Bench - Trough Connector, heading SW.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Trough Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Bench Trail, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Riverview Trail, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 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 surface
54% gravel29% dirt10% 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.
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
- Riverview Hill–Iron Gate Trail Loop, 3 sights 1.3 mi · ▲ 219 ft
- Riverview Viewpoint–Bench Trail Loop, 4 sights 1.4 mi · ▲ 316 ft
- Fern Hollow–Bench Trail Loop, 6 sights 2.1 mi · ▲ 443 ft
- Clayton Hill–Fern Hollow Loop, 5 sights 2.2 mi · ▲ 475 ft
- Slag Viewpoint–Nine Mile Run Valley, 5 sights 2.7 mi · ▲ 565 ft
- Cowboy Hill–Bench Trail, 5 sights 2.9 mi · ▲ 640 ft
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