Hostelling International Pittsburgh  
nee Pittsburgh Council, American Youth Hostels
To provide inexpensive educational travel, intercultural understanding, and an understanding of the natural environment through hostels, hostelling, and outdoor recreation.

The Golden Triangle, our monthly newsletter, keeps members up to date on what trips are scheduled. Still being updated!

Where-Are-They-Now Keep-in-Touch, For past members to contact each-other!
 
The Pittsburgh Council formally operated two hostels in the Pittsburgh region ( Pittsburgh International and Ohiopyle). It was also one of the major outdoor activity groups in the region.   

Both Hostels are now closed.
The Pittsburgh Council is no longer an activity-based organization. Due to the South Side hostel's drain on the organization's funds, the council is now dormant and is reevaluating it goals and mission. If you would like to help in this endeavor contact Grant Erwin, the current president.
  • The Pittsburgh Council's main (and sizeable) contribution to the quality of life in this area was once its outings program - a lively mix of hiking, bicycling, flat-water canoeing, white-water canoeing, kayaking, caving, climbing, ski-touring, backpacking and a few others (kite-flying??), plus countless schools in many of these activities.
  • AYH built the Baker Trail and the Rachel Carson Trail that could take one from Pittsburgh to Allegheny National Forest. These trails have been adopted by the Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy
  • AYH published numerous editions of numerous guides to hiking and canoeing in the region. A revision if the Canoeing Guide to Western Pennsylvania should be available Aug-Sept 2005
  • AYH's extended summer trips took many of us on unforgettable trips such as backpacking on Mt. Rainier, the Olympic Rainforest, the Olympic Seashore, the North Cascades and Rocky Mtn. National Park, cycling hostel-to-hostel in New England, hut-hopping in the White Mountains, whitewater canoeing and sail-canoeing on the streams and lakes of Wisconsin and countless others.
  • No one will ever know how many multi-decade-long friendships came out of the delights, camaraderie, trials and tribulations of all those thousands of trips.

This web site preserves some of the history of Pittsburgh Council. The March 2009 newsletter   pdf logo lists some other organization and outdoor activities  in the Pittsburgh area.
Hostels are friendly, inexpensive lodgings for travelers with dormitory-style accommodations, private/family rooms, self-service kitchens or cafeterias, dining areas, secure storage and common rooms for relaxing and socializing with other travelers from around the world.  
Ativity logo The Outdoor Activities Program is primarily low-impact recreational trips at the beginner and intermediate level. We have our own equipment for many of the activities and frequently have schools for beginners. You can find information on the activities program in general or go directly to the activity that interests you most from the list of Bicycle tours, Canoeing, Hiking, Kayaking, Rafting, Rambles, Sea-kayaking and Trail Maintenance.

The Golden Triangle, our monthly newsletter, keeps members up to date on what trips are scheduled and what is happening at the hostel.

Pittsburgh Council is part of a national organization ( Hostelling International in the United States) which is member of an international organization (Hostelling International around the world) which has over 5,000 hostels all over the world.

Member Discounts: AYH members receive discounts in the Pittsburgh area and around the country.

"To provide inexpensive educational travel, intercultural understanding, and an understanding of the natural environment through hostels, hostelling, and outdoor recreation."

Pittsburgh Council | Activities Program | Comments/Questions

This page was last updated January 21, 2006