Self Guided Tours - Driving/Walking

Grab your family or friends and set out for a do-it-yourself outdoor adventure! Here are our suggestions for fun outdoor tours:

Download the FREE Hello Erie mobile app to access these GPS-based tours:

• African American History Tour (with audio narration!) celebrating Erie County Black History through numerous historical markers, points of interest, public art and businesses. 
• Gems of The City, a walking tour of historic (lower) Downtown Erie (Dickson House, Hamot House, Captain John Richard’s House, St. Patrick’s Church and more)
• West Bayfront Walking Tour which includes the Bicentennial Tower, Dobbins Landing, West Canal Basin and more. 
• For a list of other tours, please visit our DIY Tours page.  

Downtown Erie Sculpture Walk

Erie Arts & Culture assisted the Erie Downtown Development Corporation to plan and implement  the first-ever Downtown Erie Sculpture Walk, a year-round outdoor exhibition of art. This privately funded initiative was curated by a panel of local leaders, art enthusiasts, and Downtown stakeholders. The Downtown Erie Sculpture Walk features 15 sculptures in Downtown Erie and the Bayfront, representing the work of 13 different artists from throughout the United States. The inaugural set of sculptures are on display through August 2023. As you participate in the Downtown Erie Sculpture Walk, we encourage you to think critically about public art. We've created a handy guide to assist you in the process. The questions we encourage you to reflect on are intended to assist you in moving beyond immediate responses such as "I like/don't like it" and "I don't get it." For a list and map of current sculptures, click here.  (pictured is "Big Sky" by Nathan Pierce)

Lighthouse Tours

The Erie Land Lighthouse opened to the public this summer for the first time in the historic site’s history on May 22, 2021.  The lighthouse, located at the foot of Lighthouse Street on the east side of Erie, has previously only been available to tour during special events.  The Presque Isle Light station, who also operates the Presque Isle Lighthouse on the state park, is open for tours every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, and on every first Tuesday of each month will offer tours free of cost. Visitors will be able to climb the tower, get panoramic views of Lake Erie, Presque Isle, and the North Pier Lighthouse, and learn about the history and function of the lighthouse. The Presque Isle Lighthouse, located on Presque Isle State Park, reopened for the 2021 season on May 27th. That lighthouse will be open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. More information on tours and programs can be found at  www.presqueislelighthouse.org. Both lighthouses have implemented new health protocols to ensure the safety of staff and guests. To view another Erie "light", just walk out along the north pier at Presque Isle (just past the entrance to the Coast Guard Station) and view the North Pier Light.

Erie County Mural Arts Tour!

Take a self-guided tour of Erie's Mural Arts! Explore over 80 murals located throughout Erie County. Explore by yourself or with family and friends.  Make it an adventure in the pursuit of great art! Be inspired by the creativity of our local muralists and residents.  Most of the murals are located outside, however, there are a few located inside buildings (specifics can be found in the mural descriptions).  The majority of murals are not artificially lit, therefore we recommend viewing them during daylight hours.

Download the Erie County Mural List

Download the Erie County Mural Google Map

Greater Erie Regional Trail Network

Do you like to hike in the woods, walk in a city park, and take a stroll on the waterfront? Erie County has a vast array of park and recreational opportunities to explore.  To find trail locations, go to www.erietrails.org to view trail route maps, photos of venues and terrain, plus upcoming activities and events. Check out the newest trail at Wintergreen Gorge.  1.2 miles of gorgeous scenery including four-mile creek and the gorge overlook.  (pictured: Wintergreen Gorge Trail)

Washington's Trail

This trail is a driving route through western Pennsylvania. Traversing modern highways, the route commemorates young George Washington's first military and diplomatic venture in the Fall and Winter 1753 - 1754. Today, the route follows major roads. However, in some areas there are alternate historic or scenic routes suggested which may more closely align with Washington's travel in the Fall of 1753, and these are likely to be back roads.

Download the Washington's Trail brochure

Underground Railroad Biking Route

Adventure Cycling Association’s Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, which memorializes the network of clandestine routes by which African freedom seekers attempted to escape slavery before and during the Civil War, is a 1,997-mile bicycle route from Mobile, Alabama to Owen Sound, Ontario that passes through the City of Erie and along the shoreline of Erie County. To view the various routes click here.