Two 19th-century cable cars are once again doing double duty as Pittsburgh's best seats for fall color this season. The Monongahela and Duquesne inclines, perched on Mount Washington, carry riders up steep hillsides for views of the city's changing leaves, its skyline and the three rivers that converge in Pittsburgh, placing visitors near restaurants, shops and other businesses on and below the hill.
The Monongahela and Duquesne inclines offer views of the changing leaves around Pittsburgh's skyline and three rivers, according to USA Today, which reported the inclines also place visitors near businesses along Shiloh Street and across Mount Washington. The Monongahela Incline's lower station connects directly with Station Square, the outlet reported, putting riders near another cluster of restaurants, shops and attractions. The incline runs between Station Square on the South Side and Grandview Avenue on Mount Washington, according to the Pittsburgh Union Progress.
A Commuter Line That Doubles as a Tourist Draw
The Monongahela Incline, which opened on May 28, 1870, transports more than half a million riders each year, according to Pittsburgh Regional Transit, which owns the Duquesne Incline and notes that the nonprofit Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline operates it. The same agency says it traditionally sees ridership increase in September, continuing into the autumn months, the report noted.
That seasonal uptick stands apart from a separate ridership trend reported earlier this year. Rides on the Monongahela Incline were down 30% in May 2026 compared with May 2025, according to Pittsburgh Regional Transit data cited by WESA, a decline unrelated to the typical autumn pattern. The Monongahela Incline functions as both a major tourist attraction and a vital transportation link for commuters getting to and from work, according to the incline's own site.
A Sister Incline With Its Own History
Across Mount Washington, the Duquesne Incline opened on May 20, 1877, and was rescued and restored by local residents in 1963, according to the incline's official site. Its upper station houses a museum of Pittsburgh history, and both the upper station and its observation deck are wheelchair accessible, the site notes.
Visitors looking to see both inclines in a single outing can ride one up and walk roughly 20 minutes to the other, according to Visit Pittsburgh, which describes the route as passing observation platforms, gardens, residences and overlooks, with chances to shop and dine along the way. Steel Mill Saloon, sitting across from the Duquesne Incline, offers more than 30 brews for those finishing the walk with a drink, per the same source.
Beyond the hillside, broader fall foliage patterns across the region have shifted through the season. As of early October, Allegheny County foliage was just starting while peak colors had already reached the higher elevations of the Laurel Highlands, according to Axios. Explore Fall had projected that by Oct. 30 a broad band stretching from the central Rockies to the East Coast would be at or near peak color. The National Weather Service noted that a strong El Niño could raise temperatures and delay some peak colors, Axios reported.
