Three Rivers Water Trail

About the Three Rivers Water Trail

Whether you chose to float along in a kayak or canoe, the Three Rivers Water Trail provides opportunities to see American historical sites, vast natural beauty and outstanding fishing waters. This trail was once awarded "National Recreation Trail" by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2010 for being regionally significant, open to the public and properly maintained.

The rivers draw crowds

said Courtney Mahronich Vita, Director of Trail Development and Government Relations for the Friends of the Riverfront

Friends of the Riverfront

In an effort to change public perception and protect and restore Pittsburgh's riverfront, Friends of the Riverfront was established in 1991. 

Their mission is to:

Build safe, clean, and accessible riverfront trails as part of the Three Rivers Heritage & Water Trail systems to create and maintain an outstanding experience for trail users while providing economic, environmental, and health benefits to the Pittsburgh region.

The Three Rivers Water Trail's growth and popularity is due the stewardship of the Friends of the Riverfront, who created and maintain a series of 30+ river access points along the Allegheny, Ohio, Monongahela, and Youghiogheny Rivers. These access points provides places for people to launch non-motorized boats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.

As recreational interest grows, there is potential for more use of the rivers and the water trail. The Friends of the Riverfront recently developed a 10-year plan for improvements, like creating more accessible launches to continuing to educate people about the cleanliness and safety of the rivers.

Maps and Resources

Fishing Opportunities

With accesses to three rivers along 75 miles, the fishing opportunities are plentiful. Anglers can target anything from Walleye and Sauger to muskies and Smallmouth Bass.

The Smallmouth Bass population is best along the Allegheny, though fish are known to be concentrated around the locks and dams on the Monongahela River. Pittsburgh's 446 bridges within its limits, more than any other city in the world—hold Smallmouth Bass. They hang around the piers, mooring structures and rocky banks with boulders or concrete all throughout downtown Pittsburgh. 

Walleye are another popular gamefish found in the Three Rivers Water Trail. They grow fast foraging on the smaller fishes species and can be found exceeding 10 pounds. Muskies can even be found growing up to 50 inches long in some of our recent biologist surveys. The Allegheny River's islands and where the creeks enter the river create back channels for these monsters to hide. And fishing on Pittsburgh's rivers wouldn't be complete without mention of Channel Catfish and Flathead Catfish, some exceeding 60 pounds. Paddlers can reel in these big fish within the city's limits.

Boating Opportunties

With multiple state parks and historical sites along the way, the Three Rivers is a paddlers paradise offering a variety of opportunities. There are also numerous locations to temporarily tie up a powerboat and venture ashore into the city.

Three Rivers paddlers and boaters may even experience different features than they are used to, like the locks. It's important paddlers understand how to navigate through them, so Friends of the Riverfront hosts on-the-water events each year to educate paddlers on the locks. 

Friends of the Riverfront holds events all year long like events on river health and Water Trail Care. They have plans for a one-day sojourn and other longer, multi-day evens in the future.

View their event calendar.

This content was partially adapated from Three Rivers Water Trail feature by Bob Frye in Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Magazine.