North Park Latodami Nature Center

The Latodami Nature Center is located at the edge of Allegheny County’s beloved and largest park, North Park. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to get a little bit off the beaten path and out into nature. And by «a little bit» I mean this sweet hidden spot is just a couple miles off bustling Route 19.
I understand there are a number of activities that take place year-​round at the nature center, everything from group hikes to seed gathering to seed sowing to maple syrup demos to bird watching. During our springtime visit, however, my husband and I stopped by just to look around the grounds. In fact, that day in April the main structure within the nature center, Latodami Barn, wasn’t even open. Still, plenty to see and do! As far as logistics go there’s a gravel parking lot and portable toilet, both of which are wheelchair-​accessible and adjacent to the Latodami Barn. Also located in that vicinity are hiking trails, a small covered picnic area, a small lake (no fishing), and multiple buildings graced with lovely artwork. I found the entire area incredibly charming and colorful, even with no leaves yet on the trees.
There is no fee to enjoy this great space.
I’ll keep this review short and sweet. Susan D.‘s FTR is awesome, and I don’t feel the need to reinvent the wheel!

Located in North Park, Latodami Nature Center is a sort of park-​within-​a-​park and its trail system is a sort of trail-​system-​within-​a-​trail-​system. Its history dates back to when John B. Cole and his wife Matilda owned Cole’s Tavern. They farmed an area which today is included in the boundaries of North Park. In 1927 the County Commissioners passed a resolution establishing North and South County Parks. Between 1927 and 1930, over 2,000 acres of land were purchased to create North Park.
North Park and the Latodami Nature Center were very much a product of the Great Depression. Allegheny County, under the Civilian Conservation Corps (a product of the New Deal), began construction on the park using its own chapter. In 1935, construction was placed under the aegis of the Works Progress Administration. The WPA funded the planting of trees and shrubs, and construction of a bird sanctuary, shelters, and an island in North Park Lake.
Latodami Nature Center is home to hundreds of bird species. It’s been an important waystation for migrating monarch butterflies. And it has over 5.5 miles of hiking trails.
Of course I came for the hiking. I was heading up a group of co-​workers (plus a few of my friends) as part of my employers wellness program. We began or hike at the Nature barn, which is off of Brown Road, about 14 mile east of Brown road a nd Reynolds Road. The Nature Barn is a convenient meeting place because it’s central to the trail system with adequate parking and ‘portable comfort stations’ (i.e. ‘outhouses’).
We began our hike in a semi-​clockwise loop on the North Trail. This trail begins with an uphill climb from the barn. The area was active farmland into the 1990s and we saw old pastures and apple orchards. Reportedly, this is a great birding area. We used the North Trail as a connector to the Skyline Trail. This hedgerow trail takes you through Upper Field, 32 acres of fallow farm fields. Halfway up the trail, there’s an observation blind built by Eagle Scouts. The trail ends at a parking lot, so we turned around and headed back.
Next we headed back down to the Observation Trail. The Observation Trail gives hikers a unique view of the forest. There’s a nice observation deck, again built by Eagle Scouts, that provides a great view of the forest canopy. Note: the map shows that the Observation Trail continues, connecting to the CCAC Trail and the Wagon Wheel Trail. It doesn’t. Development of an adjacent property caused subsidence, resulting tin the erosion of the hillside. In fact, the CCAC trail no longer exists.
No matter. We picked up the Meadow Trail, which loops around Pigeon Field. This trail features a new apple orchard, stream crossings, a deciduous forest, and Monarch Meadow, a rest stop for migrating butterflies. This trail also features a steep hill – at the top is the aforementioned Pigeon Field, which is another god birding spot.
After taking a much needed snack break (happens when you’re a type-​1 diabetic), we pressed on to the White Tail Trail. This short trail is in poor condition, but it’s the only way to connect to the western half of the trail system. We made our way over to the Crow’s Trail, which works its way uphill through a mature wooded valley. We then hit the longest trail, the 1.8 mile Bluebird Trail. This trail goes through grassland habitats, a soccer field, and more birding spots. The Bluebird Trail actually leaves the property to connect with Perry Highway (US # 19). Well then we headed back towards or starting point. With all the looping and doubling back we did, I’d say we put in a good 8 miles.