Update: the nomination period has ended, vote for one of the nominees and be entered to win!
It’s finally starting to feel like spring! We’ve made it through the long darkness of Pittsburgh winter, and now the sun is setting after 7:20 PM again—phew. To celebrate (and to give myself an extra push to get outside), I’m opening up nominations for this season’s new map vote!
This time, I want to focus on day hikes—those perfect spots you spend a few hours wandering at and return home feeling refreshed. Whether it’s the park down the street or somewhere a few hours away that you dedicate an entire day to, I want to know: Where’s your favorite place for a day hike?
Fill out the nomination form at the top of this post or comment on my Instagram to submit your pick! The top three most popular locations will go into the final vote which I'll announce next week. One lucky voter will win $20 off the finished map.
Even if your nominee doesn't win it may still appear in the new Spring Collection!
The Magic of Green Spaces
Last weekend, I visited Beechwood Farms for the first time. Even though we’re still in “stick season,” getting some fresh air and sunshine felt like magic. It reminded me how much I need these little outdoor escapes—how even a short walk can reset my brain after months of hibernation.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the way nature is grounding. How I need to feel my feet on the unpaved ground. In the past few months, I’ve discovered two enchanting women whose work captures that feeling beautifully.
One is Mary Oliver, now my favorite poet. She writes about the outdoors in a way that makes my heart ache in the best way.
When I am Among the Trees
by Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."
The other is Molly Drake, singer-songwriter and mother of Nick Drake (an artist I’ve loved for a long time). Her recordings have a warm, crackling quality, like old records playing in a quiet morning light. Listening to her has helped prop up my heart through these last cold days.
It’s funny—I never thought of myself as someone who struggles with Seasonal Affective Disorder. But then I step outside on a 50-degree day with the sun shining, and it feels like I’m waking up for the first time in months.
Getting Outside Isn’t Always Easy (But It’s Always Worth It)
I’d love for this map nomination process to be a way for all of us—especially the homebodies like me—to get outside a little more. Some things you should probably know about me:
- I have a terrible sense of direction.
- I struggle with melancholy (which sounds quaint and romantic, but really means I deal with ADHD, anxiety, and the occasional stretch of not leaving the house for days).
- I have chronic pain issues, which means I’m not a multi-day backpacker, but I am someone who can find deep joy in walking just a short distance and leaning against a tree for a while.
Every spring, my first hike feels like restarting—relearning how to be a person who moves through the world instead of curling up under blankets all winter. Maybe someday that will change. Maybe one year I won’t feel like I have to force myself out the door.
For Christmas, I got a book of PA hikes, hoping it would keep me motivated. Yesterday, my partner and I picked Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve for our first hike from the book. It’s managed by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania in partnership with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, and despite forgetting binoculars, we still spotted some cardinals and a few other little birds I couldn’t name offhand.
The book had a 2.5-mile loop, but being that it’s Western PA (aka: hills, hills, and more hills), we opted midway to cut it short at 1.75 miles. The first trail we took, Oak Forest, felt like a little hidden gem—quieter than the more obvious walking paths. At the top of the first climb, we had a brief moment of orienteering when the trail wasn’t immediately clear (a great reminder that I need to rely less on GPS and more on looking around).
One of the things I love about the maps I create is that they show topography—you can see the elevation changes, which makes planning hikes easier. The map in my guidebook only had the trails, with no contour lines to hint at the climbs ahead. Having a sense of the terrain before setting out can make all the difference, especially in a place like Western PA, where what looks like a short loop on paper can quickly turn into an unexpected leg workout.
I think my anxiety is partly tied to my terrible sense of direction. There's something unsettling about feeling like you can’t get anywhere without a digital map—even when you grew up in the area. I used to navigate without GPS, after all. So, in the spirit of getting outside more, here’s how you can find Beechwood Farms the old-school way.
If you can get yourself to PA-28 or the Turnpike (PA-8 intersects both), you’re on the right track. Just keep in mind the general direction you're coming from. For us, we needed to head northeast, so we took PA-28 east to PA-8 north.
How to Get There
- Take PA-8 to the junction of Harts Run Road.
- Turn east onto the Green Belt.
- After about 4 miles, you’ll hit a T-intersection.
- Turn right onto Dorseyville Road.
- The reserve will be on the right, marked by a sign with a bird on it.
The entrance might not look like a typical park (there's a couple of buildings and a parking lot), but you're in the right place!
Your Turn! Nominate a Hike
Now I want to hear from you! What’s your favorite day hike? Whether it’s an easy trail you love to revisit or a challenging one that leaves you breathless, I’d love to include it in this season’s map vote.
Nominate a location by filling out the form above or commenting on my Instagram post. Maybe it’ll be the little extra motivation you need to get outside too.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the Pittsburgh area and looking for a solid "first hike out of hibernation", I highly recommend Beechwood Farms—especially if, like me, you’re looking to shake off winter with a little movement, a little fresh air, and (hopefully) a little less reliance on GPS. I'm looking forward to hearing about your recommendations!