Discover Pittsburgh Scavenger Hunt
Discover the Steel City with a scavenger hunt across Pittsburgh's three rivers. Stand at the point where the Allegheny and Monongahela form the Ohio, ride the Duquesne Incline up Mount Washington for one of the best skyline views in America, walk the Strip District for pierogi and Primanti Bros, and pose under Andy Warhol's bananas. Yellow bridges, black and gold, yinz finale photo.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Point State Park
Navigate to Point State Park at the western tip of downtown and check in at the central fountain.
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2
Duquesne Incline
Cross the Fort Pitt Bridge to the South Side and check in at the lower station of the Duquesne Incline on Carson Street.
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3
Smithfield Street Bridge
Walk to the Smithfield Street Bridge, the historic yellow lenticular-truss bridge over the Monongahela, and check in at the downtown end.
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4
Strip District
Walk or rideshare north along the Allegheny to the Strip District and check in around Penn Avenue between 17th and 22nd Streets.
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5
Andy Warhol Museum
Cross the Allegheny to the North Side and check in at the Andy Warhol Museum on Sandusky Street.
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6
Market Square
Cross back to downtown and check in at Market Square between Forbes and Fifth Avenue.
Challenges (20)
Pittsburgh kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Pittsburgh backdrop (a yellow bridge, a riverside cobblestone, a black-and-gold storefront) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Point State Park
Navigate to Point State Park at the western tip of downtown and check in at the central fountain.
Three rivers fountain pose
The fountain at Point State Park marks the spot where the Allegheny and Monongahela join to form the Ohio. Take a group photo with the spraying fountain behind the team and the rivers visible on either side.
Trivia: Three rivers
Name the two rivers that meet at the Point and join to form the Ohio River. (One name is enough, separated by a comma if you want both.)
Answers: Allegheny / Monongahela / allegheny / monongahela / Allegheny and Monongahela / Monongahela and Allegheny / Allegheny, Monongahela / Monongahela, Allegheny
Checkpoint: Duquesne Incline
Cross the Fort Pitt Bridge to the South Side and check in at the lower station of the Duquesne Incline on Carson Street.
Mount Washington skyline shot
Ride (or drive up to) Mount Washington and find the Grandview Avenue overlooks. Take a squad photo with the full Pittsburgh skyline and the rivers spread out behind the team. This is the postcard shot of the city and the cover photo for your offsite recap.
Trivia: Duquesne Incline opened
The Duquesne Incline has been hauling passengers up Mount Washington in its wooden cable cars since the late 19th century. In what year did it first open?
Answer: 1877
Checkpoint: Smithfield Street Bridge
Walk to the Smithfield Street Bridge, the historic yellow lenticular-truss bridge over the Monongahela, and check in at the downtown end.
Yellow bridge silhouette
Pittsburgh is famously the City of Bridges, and many are painted Aztec Gold. Find a great angle on a yellow bridge (the Smithfield Street, Roberto Clemente or one of the Three Sisters) and take a squad photo with the bridge silhouette filling the frame.
Trivia: Number of bridges
Pittsburgh is sometimes called the City of Bridges for its remarkable bridge count. Roughly how many bridges does the city have (within 20)?
Answers: 446 / 440 / 450 / 430 / 460
Trivia: Named for
Pittsburgh was named in 1758 by Scottish General John Forbes in honour of which British statesman (last name)?
Answers: Pitt / pitt / William Pitt
Checkpoint: Strip District
Walk or rideshare north along the Allegheny to the Strip District and check in around Penn Avenue between 17th and 22nd Streets.
Primanti Bros classic
The original Primanti Bros on 18th Street invented the Pittsburgh sandwich: meat, slaw and fries piled inside the bread. Order one to share and take a group photo with everyone taking the first bite at the same time.
Strip District market shop
The Strip is full of family-run shops: Wholey's fish market, Pennsylvania Macaroni Co., Stamoolis Brothers. Step into one and take a squad photo with the team holding a Pittsburgh classic (pierogi, a tin of pasta, a smoked fish).
Checkpoint: Andy Warhol Museum
Cross the Allegheny to the North Side and check in at the Andy Warhol Museum on Sandusky Street.
Warhol pop pose
The Andy Warhol Museum is dedicated to Pittsburgh's most famous son. Find a pop-art backdrop (the museum facade, the Campbell's soup cans, the Marilyn prints inside) and take a group photo where the team strikes a Warhol-style deadpan pose.
Checkpoint: Market Square
Cross back to downtown and check in at Market Square between Forbes and Fifth Avenue.
Black and gold spirit
Show your Pittsburgh spirit. Find someone wearing Steelers, Penguins or Pirates gear (or grab a black-and-gold towel from a shop) and take a squad photo with the whole team waving the colours.
Local Pittsburgher tip
Convince a local Pittsburgh resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip. Bonus points if they say "yinz".
Pittsburgh finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Pittsburgh spot (a yellow bridge at sunset, the skyline from Mount Washington, the rivers from the Strip) and take an amazing closing group photo. Cheers from the Steel City!
Frequently asked questions
Four to five hours covers Point State Park, the Duquesne Incline (with a Mount Washington stop), the Smithfield Street Bridge, the Strip District and the North Side at a relaxed pace. The Incline detour adds about an hour. Most groups rideshare between the Incline and the Strip District since they sit on opposite sides of the city.
Yes. The Duquesne Incline has been carrying passengers up Mount Washington since 1877, the cars are wooden and original, and the view of the skyline from the top is the photograph that defines Pittsburgh. A round-trip fare is a few dollars per person. If you only have time for one Pittsburgh photo stop, this is the one.
May to October. Pittsburgh summers are mild compared to Texas, and the rivers shine in the long evening light from May onward. Steeler home games in autumn turn the city black and gold, which is fun for the hunt but means heavy crowds. Winters get cold and grey, so plan indoor stops like the Warhol Museum if you visit then.
Point State Park is the natural starting point: the fountain at the confluence of the rivers is the symbolic centre of the city, and you can walk from there to Market Square, the Smithfield Bridge or rideshare to the Duquesne Incline base in five minutes. Parking is easiest in the Liberty Center or Gateway garages.
Yes. Point State Park is pram-friendly with playgrounds nearby, the Incline ride is a hit with kids, the Strip District is a feast of free samples, and the Carnegie Science Center sits next to the Andy Warhol Museum on the North Side if you want a longer day. No alcohol is required at any stop.