There's more than homeless people and pigeons taking up space under the Roberto Clemente Bridge on the North Shore.
It's also where Kayak Pittsburgh, a wing of the nonprofit recreation group Venture Outdoors, rents kayaks and canoes to people who want to paddle the Allegheny River.
Kayaking the three rivers provides a different way of looking at the city, Joe O'Neil, kayak director, said.
"It's so beautiful and relaxing," O'Neil said. "You can see all the geese, trees and wildlife."
Never kayaked before⢠No problem. The activity is beginner-friendly. Kayak Pittsburgh staff outfits kayakers with a life-vest and equipment, then gives them basic paddling instructions -- all in about 10 minutes.
Joe Dioguardi, 55, of Beaver, took time earlier this week to try kayaking for the first time before heading to PNC Park for a Pirates game.
"I got out of work early and figured I'd give it a shot," he said. "I look forward to the proximity to the water and the exercise I will get. I bet the relaxation will be tremendous."
The long flat-water kayaks are stable and, kayak trainers say, easier to steer than canoes.
Kids are welcome to kayak. They have to meet a minimum weight requirement of 33 pounds to get in the boats and must be 12 and older to paddle in a solo kayak.
Susan Petersen, 46, of Friendship, has kayaked before in Washington state and Maine, and is thrilled that she doesn't have to travel far from home to take to kayak.
"My family is gone this week, so I thought now would be a good time to go kayaking," she said.
Some choose not to go solo, but rather use the river recreation as a way to bond family, friends or co-workers.
Attorneys with Downtown law firm Tucker Arensberg decided kayaking would be a fun outing for their summer associates. The suggestion came from one of the associates, Neil Gregorio, after he passed by Kayak Pittsburgh one day.
"It is the city's best kept secret," he said.
After returning from rowing the river -- up to Washington's Landing, across the river, around the Point and back to Kayak Pittsburgh -- the group of five men agreed the workout was worth it.
"By the time we got to the West End Bridge, we said, 'it may be a good time to turn around,'" attorney Brad Tupi said. "We were having a lot of fun."
Rowing options
There are kayaking and canoeing options for people of all levels -- from beginner to advanced -- in the city.
Kayak Pittsburgh
Under the Roberto Clemente Bridge, North Shore
Hours: 4 p.m. to dusk weekdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.
Cost : $14 for the first hour for solo kayaks; $10 every hour after. Tandem kayaks cost $20 for the first hour; $15 every hour after. Canoes cost $15 for the first hour; $10 every hour after.
Contact : 412-969-9090; www.kayakpittsburgh.org
Notes : Walk-up rentals are ongoing. There are group tours, private lessons and specialty outings available with prior reservation.
Steel City Rowing Club
157 Jane St., South Side
Contact: 412-828-5565; www.steelcityrowing.org
Notes : A nonprofit organization that provides a variety of rowing and paddling training programs for adults, youth and high school and college students.
Three Rivers Rowing Association
Washington's Landing and Millvale boathouse locations.
Contact: 412-231-8772; www.threeriversrowing.org
Notes: The facilities are open year-round for instruction. There are no rentals, but there are bimonthly tours from May to November which are open to the public. Additional Information:
