Ricketts Glen State Park

The centerpiece of Ricketts Glen is the Falls Trail, a loop that threads through two glens, Ganoga Glen and Glen Leigh, each a long series of waterfalls, which come together at a spot called Waters Meet and continue down a shaded gorge. Along the way the trail passes more than twenty named falls, from wide curtains sliding over rock ledges to tall plunges dropping into deep pools, the tallest of them falling some ninety feet in a single dramatic cascade.

The effect of so many waterfalls in such a short distance is remarkable, a near-constant procession of falling water in every shape and size, framed by the deep green of the glen. The falls run fullest in spring with the snowmelt and after rain, while autumn drapes the gorge in color, and each season gives the glen a different character. It is easy to see why the trail is considered one of the finest waterfall walks in the country.

Part of what makes Ricketts Glen so special is the forest that shades the falls. The park protects a stretch of rare old-growth woodland, spared from the logging that cleared most of Pennsylvania long ago, and among the trees are towering hemlocks, pines, and oaks, some of them centuries old and reaching remarkable size. Walking beneath them, in the cool damp air of the glen, feels like stepping into an older, wilder version of the eastern woods.

This ancient forest is a large part of why Ricketts Glen was designated a National Natural Landmark, and it gives the glen its deep, hushed, cathedral-like feeling. The combination of the great trees and the endless waterfalls is what sets the park apart, a place where geology and forest have together created something close to magic in the mountains of Pennsylvania.

The Falls Trail is as demanding as it is beautiful, and it deserves respect. It is steep and rocky, with stone steps and roots made slick by the constant spray and damp, and there are drop-offs beside the water. Good hiking shoes or boots with real grip are essential, careful footing is a must, and it is wise to allow plenty of time, take the climbs slowly, and be honest about turning back if conditions or fatigue call for it. Every year the trail's hazards catch people out, so caution here is not optional.

In icy or freezing conditions the trail becomes genuinely treacherous and is best left to those properly equipped with traction gear and experience, or skipped altogether. Staying on the trail, keeping back from the edges and from the tops and bases of the falls, and resisting the urge to climb on wet rock all matter. Approached with the right footwear and a careful, unhurried pace, the loop is a safe and unforgettable hike.

Above the glens, the park opens onto Lake Jean, a pretty mountain lake that offers a gentler side of Ricketts Glen. In the warm months its beach draws swimmers, and paddlers and anglers take to the water, while a campground nearby makes it easy to turn a visit into an overnight or a weekend. It is a fine place to rest and cool off after the exertion of the Falls Trail.

Beyond the falls and the lake, the park holds miles of additional trails through the forest and along the ridges, with wildlife, wildflowers, and quiet corners to discover. Whether you come for the great waterfall loop, a swim in the lake, or a longer stay in the Endless Mountains, Ricketts Glen rewards the trip, and its falls alone make it one of the natural treasures of Pennsylvania.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.

Ricketts Glen State Park, in the Endless Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania near Benton, is a National Natural Landmark famous for its Falls Trail, a loop that passes more than twenty named waterfalls through a deep, forested glen. Two mountain streams tumble down parallel gorges in long staircases of falls before meeting and flowing on together, all shaded by a rare stretch of old-growth forest with trees centuries old, and up top the park holds Lake Jean for swimming and boating. Its extraordinary waterfalls and ancient forest make it one of the finest natural areas in the state. A spectacular and beloved waterfall park, it delights visitors. With its falls and forest, Ricketts Glen offers a compelling destination in Pennsylvania.

Ricketts Glen is famous for having more than twenty named waterfalls, strung along the loop of its celebrated Falls Trail, which winds through two glens, Ganoga Glen and Glen Leigh, that meet at a spot called Waters Meet. The falls range from wide curtains sliding over rock to tall dramatic plunges, the tallest dropping some ninety feet, and seeing so many waterfalls along a single hike is what makes the trail so remarkable. They run fullest in spring and after rain. The procession of waterfalls is the great highlight of Ricketts Glen in Pennsylvania.

The Falls Trail is strenuous and demands respect: it is steep and rocky, with stone steps and roots made slick by constant spray and damp, and there are drop-offs beside the water, so sturdy shoes with good grip, careful footing, and plenty of time are essential, and it is wise to turn back if conditions or fatigue call for it. In icy or freezing conditions the trail becomes treacherous and is best left to those properly equipped or skipped. Staying on the trail, keeping back from the edges and the falls, and not climbing on wet rock keep a hike safe. Taken carefully with the right footwear, the loop is a safe and unforgettable hike at Ricketts Glen in Pennsylvania.

Spring is spectacular, when snowmelt and rain send the waterfalls roaring at their fullest, while autumn drapes the glen in brilliant color and is a favorite time for the Falls Trail, and summer offers lush green shade plus swimming at Lake Jean. Winter turns the glen into a landscape of ice that is beautiful but makes the Falls Trail treacherous and only for those properly equipped. For the fullest waterfalls aim for spring, or visit in fall for the foliage, at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania.

Ricketts Glen is in the Endless Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania, with Lake Jean and its beach within the park, the small town of Benton nearby, the rugged World's End State Park in the Loyalsock gorge to the northwest, and the rolling forested country of the Endless Mountains all around. That makes Ricketts Glen a compelling stop to combine with World's End State Park and the waterfalls and creeks of the Endless Mountains on a visit to Pennsylvania.