Home › Pennsylvania › Sewickley › Toms Run Nature Reserve
Toms Run Nature Reserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 79 Google reviews · Running trail in Sewickley, Pennsylvania · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- 3 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Toms Run Nature Reserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Nature preserve featuring hiking trails and picnic tables.
What runners say about Toms Run Nature Reserve
“The initial part of the trail is a beautiful, wide, easy to navigate path that crosses a small stream a couple of times.”
“The initial part of the trail is a beautiful, wide, easy to navigate path that crosses a small stream a couple of times.”
Great 3 mile loop close to Avalon. The trail was well marked and maintained. Be prepared for lots of hills and a few shallow creek crossings. Toms Run road is a bumpy with several pot holes. The parking area is large and rarely filled.
Nicely marked and maintained almost 3 mile loop trail with diverse terrains, sitting & overlook areas. I've taken teens, young kids, friends and dogs here & everyone enjoyed it.
This is a great spot to get out and enjoy 300+ acres of wooded area. The 3 mile loop trail is of moderate difficulty. Please be aware that is is a nature reserve and not a municipal park, don't conflate the trail here with a maintained walking path.
This is a lovely spot sort of in the middle of nowhere....you have to drive down a pretty worn out road to get there. The initial part of the trail is a beautiful, wide, easy to navigate path that crosses a small stream a couple of times.
Trail conditions & character
“Nicely marked and maintained almost 3 mile loop trail with diverse terrains, sitting & overlook areas.”
“I managed to go off path and climb over the first tree, but beyond that, trail maintenance is non-existent.”
“The initial part of the trail is a beautiful, wide, easy to navigate path that crosses a small stream a couple of times.”
“This is a great spot to get out and enjoy 300+ acres of wooded area.”
“Trail is well marked and nice stones placed to get across creeks.”
Plan your run at Toms Run Nature Reserve
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Loop distance3 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- Websitewaterlandlife.org
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Sewickley
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Vinegar Hollow
4.7 ★★★★★ 62 reviews
Unmarked but well-maintained path for casual hikers and dog walkers.
Fern Hollow Nature Center
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Relaxed, beautiful facility offering educational programs, camps, and festivals for all ages.
Montour Trail
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Long and mostly flat former railroad route for hikers, bikers and strollers.
Audubon Greenway Conservation Area
4.5 ★★★★★ 22 reviews
Sewickley Heights Borough Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 154 reviews
Dog-friendly field area with trails for walking, horseback riding and biking.