Home » Northeastern Pennsylvania

Waterfall Paradise: Tips for Hiking the Falls Trail in Ricketts Glen State Park

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. We will make a small commission from these links if you order something at no additional cost to you.

Hiking the Falls Trail in Ricketts Glen State Park was at the top of my Pennsylvania bucket list for as long as I had one. So, when I was planning a trip to Northeastern Pennsylvania during the fall, I knew that a visit to Ricketts Glen was in order.

Ricketts Glen State Park is located mostly in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with small sections in Sullivan County and Columbia County. The park covers 13,000 acres of land and features 26 miles of Ricketts Glen hiking trails, two lakes, and a great campground. However, the highlight of the park is the Falls Trail.

Erie Falls along the Falls Trail in Ricketts Glen State Park
There are 21 incredible waterfalls along the Falls Trail.

Featuring 21 official waterfalls (plus several bonus waterfalls when water levels are high), the Falls Trail in Ricketts Glen State Park is one of the best hikes in all of Pennsylvania, and, as the best hike in Ricketts Glen, is the main reason many visit the park. It also makes this one of the top Pennsylvania State Parks.

The 7.2-mile trail has a reputation as being super difficult and dangerous. Truthfully, though, as long as you exercise common sense, the trail really isn’t that bad. I was a bit worried that my out-of-shape self would struggle with the trail, but I found it to be much easier than expected.

Wyandot Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park near Benton PA
Wyandot Falls is one of the smallest waterfalls at Ricketts Glen.

That being said, don’t underestimate this trail. The trail does feature many steep drop-offs, uneven stairs cut into the rocks, and slippery conditions when wet. Proper footwear is necessary when hiking the trail, in addition to the usual precautions when hiking anywhere.

Careless steps have led to injuries and even deaths here. There is also no easy way out, so if you get part of the way into the trail and realize it’s too much, you don’t have a choice but to keep going.

Harrison Wright Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in Benton PA
Harrison Wright Falls is probably my favorite waterfall along the Falls Trail.

If you are thinking of hiking the Falls Trail during the winter season (roughly mid-November to mid-April), the park requires hikers to have crampons, ropes, and an ice ax, as well as to check-in prior to starting. You can read about my winter hiking at Ricketts Glen with Valley to Summit, a wilderness adventure company that supplies all of the necessary gear

Winter Hiking at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania
Winter hiking at Ricketts Glen is beautiful but requires special equipment and experience.

With 22 waterfalls in Ricketts Glen State Park, it would be impossible to cover them all in one article. So, this is the first article in a four-part series. In this article, we’ll talk about a few tips for visiting the park, my recommendation for how to hike the trails, and other waterfalls in and near Ricketts Glen that are worth visiting.

Here are the other articles in the series:

The Waterfalls of Ganoga Glen

The Waterfalls Below Waters Meet

The Waterfalls of Glen Leigh

First off, the best time to hike the Falls Trail in Ricketts Glen is on weekdays when school is in session (April-May and September-October). If you visit during the summer, on a weekend, or, even worse, on a summer weekend, expect to share the trail with hundreds, if not thousands of other hikers.

B Ricketts Falls along the Falls Trail in Ricketts Glen State Park
B Ricketts Falls is one of the waterfalls in Glen Leigh.

The traditional parking area for the Falls Trail is along Route 118. From here, the trail heads uphill past three waterfalls to an area known as Waters Meet, where the trail splits in two. Whichever way you go, there is a connector trail at the top, so you don’t have to come back down the way you came up.

While this is the way that many visitors trek, I don’t believe that it’s the best choice for most.

Kitchen Creek at Ricketts Glen State Park in the fall
There is a ton of beauty along the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Instead, drive to the top of the glens and park at the Lake Rose Trailhead Parking Lot. Parking here will allow you to still see all 21 waterfalls along the Falls Trail while cutting off roughly 2.5 miles of hiking.

After parking your car at the Lake Rose Trailhead, follow the trail at the bottom left of the lot. The beginning of the trail is a pleasant walk through the woods.

After about 5 minutes of hiking, you’ll come to a trail split. Take the trail to the right and head into Ganoga Glen. While you could also go left and head over to Glen Leigh, Ganoga Glen seems like the better one to descend in my opinion from a safety perspective.

Oneida Falls in Ganoga Glen at Ricketts Glen State Park
Oneida Falls is one of the first waterfalls you come to in Ganoga Glen if you start from the top.

Once you make the turn towards Ganoga Glen, the trail starts to get steep. You’ll come to the first waterfall, Mohawk Falls, within a few minutes.

From here, you’ll pass the 10 waterfalls of Ganoga Glen within less than a mile of walking. In many ways, it doesn’t even feel like you are hiking, as the waterfalls are so close together that you’ll find yourself stopping every few minutes.

Ganoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park
At 94 feet in height, Ganoga Falls is the tallest waterfall along the Falls Trail.

It’s along this glen that you’ll find Ganoga Falls. At 94-feet tall, this is the tallest waterfall in the park and one of the tallest in Pennsylvania.

After passing the 10 waterfalls of Ganoga Glen, you’ll reach an area known as Waters Meet. It is here that the streams of Kitchen Creek meet. This is a great area to rest and just take in the beauty of Ricketts Glen State Park.

A panoramic shot of Waters Meet in Ricketts Glen State Park
A panoramic shot of Waters Meet.

When you’re ready to go, you have two choices.

If you cross the bridge, you can head up Glen Leigh. However, first, head downstream towards Route 118 because three of the park’s best waterfalls are within the first half-mile of this trail. These three waterfalls are some of the most beautiful in the park and definitely should not be skipped.

Once you’ve checked out these three waterfalls, head back upstream to Waters Meet, and cross the bridge to head up Glen Leigh. The path up Glen Leigh contains several bridges across the creek and alternates in a series of relatively flat sections and steep climbs around the waterfalls.

Murray Reynolds Falls in Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania
Murray Reynolds Falls is one of three waterfalls below Waters Meet.

On the mile-long trek up Glen Leigh, you’ll pass eight waterfalls, the tallest of which is the 60-foot Ozone Falls. I found the waterfalls of Glen Leigh to be a bit less dramatic than Ganoga Glen, but I’m really splitting hairs at this point as they are all very beautiful.

After you’ve passed seven of the waterfalls in Glen Leigh, you’ll see a sign for a shortcut to the Highland Trail. Skip this trail because you’ll miss the small, but beautiful Onondaga Falls, while only saving about five minutes.

Ozone Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania
Ozone Falls is the tallest waterfall in Glen Leigh.

Instead, pick up the Highland Trail from just above Onondaga Falls. The 1.2-mile long Highland Trail will take you back to your car and passes through the Midway Crevasse, a narrow opening in the rocks.

The trail is fairly easy to follow, but make sure to bear right at the trail split, or you’ll find yourself heading back down Ganoga Glen.

Midway Crevasse along the Highland Trail in Ricketts Glen State Park.
Midway Crevasse along the Highland Trail in Ricketts Glen State Park.

After hiking the Falls Trail in Ricketts Glen State Park, you might think that you never want to see another waterfall again. Suppress that thought, as there are four easy to reach waterfalls near Ricketts Glen that you should visit, as well as a few that are harder to see.

The first two are located in State Game Lands 13, which is just across the road from the park.

Heading down the narrow dirt road into the game lands, you’ll pass the roadside Big Run Falls before coming to a parking area. From here, it’s a short hike to the very, very impressive Sullivan Falls. Click the link for directions and information about visiting the waterfalls in State Game Lands 13.

How to get to Sullivan Falls in State Game Lands 13 in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania.
Sullivan Falls in State Game Lands 13 is a great waterfall to visit after Ricketts Glen.

If you are looking for a challenge, you can also explore the other 20 or so waterfalls in State Game Lands 13. Start with a hike on Heberly Run to see three of the best.

Two other great waterfalls can be found roadside along Route 118.

The one advantage of parking in the lots at the bottom of the hill is that you are close to the other two waterfalls of Ricketts Glen State Park: Adams Falls and Kitchen Creek Falls. However, driving back down to see them is a better choice than hiking an extra 2.5 miles, in my opinion.

Adams Falls as seen at Ricketts Glen State Park
Adams Falls is a worthwhile stop after hiking the Falls Trail.

Park at the Evergreen Parking area, near the kid-friendly Evergreen Trail in Ricketts Glen, and head just a few feet down the trail to see the very awesome Adams Falls. Many people I know consider this the best waterfall in the park, and it’s not to be missed.

The last waterfall in the park is Kitchen Creek Falls. This waterfall is not only the smallest waterfall in the park, but it’s also hidden under the road. However, if you want to see it, very carefully cross Route 118 and look under the bridge to see this surprisingly impressive waterfall.

If you visit all the waterfalls listed here, you’ll be able to see 25 waterfalls in one amazing day that you won’t soon forget.

Want to see even more Pennsylvania waterfalls? Visit our page full of the best waterfalls in PA!

Need a hotel near Ricketts Glen? Here are a few great options:

See map for other area attractions.

Great places to stay in and around Wilkes-Barre


Click the map to see more nearby things to do

Map of Northeastern Pennsylvania"

More nearby places worth exploring

Find more things to do in Northeastern PA

47 thoughts on “Waterfall Paradise: Tips for Hiking the Falls Trail in Ricketts Glen State Park”

  1. Excellent article! I really appreciate the detailed information, as I am planning a visit to the Park. Can’t wait for the other articles. Great shooting!

    Reply
  2. I love Ricketts Glen and I agree it never fully feels like a “hike” up a mountain would, because you are stopping so often to take in all the amazing waterfalls! I do agree that it gets very crowded during the summer weekends and the trails get log jammed at times! I can not agree enough and encourage people to wear the proper shoes to this park!! I have gone several times and have seen people going in wearing flip flops, sandals and yes even wedge heels!! It is really not safe to wear anything other than good boots or really sturdy, strong sneakers! On one visit we were just heading out and a rescue team was just headed in to get someone that had fallen! The trails/rocks get very wet and very slippery in places, but this hike is SO worth the trip!!!!! Good article, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Just read your article, my wife and I are coming to do the hike this weekend. I spent a lot of time here when I was a kid. It is so beautiful there. We did one of the trails when we were dating and now it’s been 11 years that we have been there. We are staying overnight after the hike. Great job on the article. Thanks

    Reply
  4. Greetings!

    A couple comments and suggestions for you:

    For those starting the hike at the Lake Rose parking lot, I always recommend going around the triangle in a clockwise direction, doing the HIghland Trail first. This makes it slightly downhill instead of slightly uphill.

    I’ve been suggesting to the park office that the unnamed waterfall off to the side near Delaware Fall be named for Ricketts’ wife; you may want to suggest this also.

    You may want to mention that on the short side trail below Ganoga fall, there’s typically a fallen log where you can sit and enjoy the fall.

    Murray Reynolds Fall is eminently (albeit illegally) jumpable from the cliff by the trail into the splash pool–providing, of course, that you first wade in and be sure there are no obstructions in the pool below.

    I’ve always called Kitchen Creek Fall the “How Not to Build a Highway” Fall.

    I’m very glad you’ve stressed Adams Fall, because far too many Glen hikers miss it. (I’ve asked the office to add it to the trail maps.) It is my favorite place in the world….

    My regards, and thanks for your endeavors! 🙂

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Good suggestions, Bill. I definitely wish they hadn’t built the highway over Kitchen Creek Falls. It’s a very cool one, but hard to see and nearly impossible to photograph.

      Definitely don’t want to recommend cliff jumping, however, as it is against the rules and very dangerous.

      Reply
  5. Fantastic article. I wish I had seen this before visiting. We have been there twice. Absolutely beautiful and will be going back as we have walked the trail beyond waters meet. Thank You for your detailed information. B

    Reply
  6. I havent been to Rickets Glen for 20 years…. now 63 and would like to walk the falls. I walk 3-5 miles a day but it is not very hilly. Do you think it would be too dangerous or difficult for people with/without, lol, my ability?
    Loved your article, printed it out, if not for me, the others will be able to use it.
    Thanks again,
    Arleen

    Reply
    • The trail is challenging and quite steep, so if you can’t handle hills, it might be challenging. That being said, the abundance of waterfalls requires regular stopping. If you are in doubt, you could start from Route 118 and hike up to the first three waterfalls below Waters Meet. This is a fairly easy hike of a couple of miles. From there, you could go on to one or two more before the trail gets too strenuous.

      Reply
  7. My friend and I will be in the area in mid September 2016 and are hoping to challenge ourselves with this hike. We are both over 50 but in decent condition even though we sit at a desk all day at work but are otherwise healthy. AS long as we have good walking/hiking shoes and take plenty of snacks and water, is there any reason we shouldn’t be able to complete this trail? Considering time for photos and snack breaks, how long should two over-50 women take to do this hike?

    Reply
    • I wouldn’t think there would be any reason you couldn’t do it. I found that I was stopping so often that I didn’t have the same issues of getting tired like I normally would on a trail of this degree. I’d plan on spending all of the day there. That way you can take your time and enjoy the place. Probably won’t take you all day, but best to have too much time than to have to rush.

      Reply
    • Hard to say. It certainly would be very challenging for at least the 3 year old. Given the steep edges and sometimes slip trails, it might be somewhat of a risk to take kids that young unless they are very good at following directions and being careful.

      Reply
    • We did take a 3 year old, 7 and 8. They all did great, we carried 3 year old maybe 2 miles, when she needed a break in the backpack type carrier. But also all the the older boys go hiking with us on regular basis in Shenandoah, usually very steep 9-10 miles. So this trail was pretty easy compare to what we normally do with them. No climbing required. It was just a pleasant walk, and not a hard workout. We also saw many people not in really great shape on the trail. So I think your boys should do just fine.

      Reply
      • Are your referring to the Falls trail on this comment? Did you guys do the whole thing? This article makes it seem scary. But if you did it with 3 young kids I’m thinking a group of 20-30 year olds should be fine…

      • The article isn’t trying to make it scary. Hundreds of people do it every day with no issue. It’s just trying to make you aware of the issues there and the difficulty of getting help if you need it. A ground of 20-30 year olds should be fine if they are hikers. If they haven’t hiked much, I’d hit up some easier trails first to get used to the distance and elevation gain/loss.

  8. I went into this hike expecting to see a few waterfalls and then have to turn back because the kids would be tired or the trail would be too difficult (according to all the reviews I read), but my kids pleasantly surprised me and completed the entire 6 mile hike. It took us approximately 5 1/2 hours to complete, but there were so many things to see, places to stop off and eat lunch and snacks, and pooling water at the bottom of all the various falls to swim and play in that the time passed by quickly and easily. We obviously had to do a lot of helping and hand holding and it definitely wasn’t an easy trail, but we didn’t even have to put the twins on our shoulders until the very end. I think all the reviews making this trail sound next to impossible, treacherous, or not kid friendly were written by people who went here underprepared, didn’t have enough patience, didn’t use enough caution, or had a different mindset all together than me of what hiking should entail. If you haven’t been here I would highly recommend it! My five kids are 10, 8, 5, 2, and 2 (twins).

    Reply
    • I do think the trail gets a bad rap. If you wear proper footwear and take your time, it really isn’t that bad or that hard of a trail. Whether it’s good for younger kids probably depends a lot on how well they follow directions, but it’s certainly do able.

      Reply
  9. Thank you so much for the article! It was fantastic over Columbus Day weekend! We were looking for something to do on our way back to Virginia following a trip to Niagara Falls. This even came after a visit to Watkins Glen in New York which we were told was the best of the Finger Lakes region. Despite all of those sites that are fantastic in their own rites…Ricketts Glen topped the list. UNFORGETTABLE! And thanks for pointing us there!

    Reply
  10. Certainly one of the most beautiful trails anywhere! Make no mistake it can be difficult and dangerous, especially if wet or cold. I hike this trail at least 2 x’s a year.
    Suggest you allow plenty of time . Rest often and take in the view at various falls. Take water and a snack or lunch.
    If you start at the top(lake), your return will be uphill . You will not be as fresh as opposed to starting at the bottom(rt118). Also by starting at the bottom you are getting a better view of the falls.
    There are no quick exits to this trail. However, in many portions there are less demanding parallel side trails.

    Reply
  11. Are there any restroom facilities along the trail loop? If so, where are they located? If not, where would facilities be located. We are planning on spending the day hiking and know that this will be an issue somewhere along the way. Thank you

    Reply
  12. I can not wait to hike Ricketts, are the trails marked so we will not get lost lol ? Is it safe for my 13 year and 18 year olds to hike?

    Reply
  13. Just visited Ricketts Glen on a Monday, in July , after a major rainstorm.
    It was incredible. The whole route had raging rapids racing toward each waterfall.

    Reply
  14. We love hiking and photographing the falls at Ricketts Glenn. Walking poles are very helpful on the trail, especially on the steep and uneven stone steps. I like having two poles to help keep my balance. Snacks, water and lunch are always good to have. Also allow plenty of time and start early enough in the day. Thank you for the article, we have missed seeing some of the falls, will be sure to check them out next time.

    Reply
  15. This is a beautiful hike. Walking sticks & hiking boots helped a lot. Looking at all the sneakers and yoga pants, we thought we were overdresssed, but Im glad we prepared. Surprisingly I oouldn’t find anything in the park materials that tells how long each leg is, so your article helped. I did half of it years ago then out to the road as my hiking buddy wasnt going to make the uphill climb. One different tip, going across the top and down Glen Leigh, then hiking back up Ganoga Glen (which is steeper) affords the benefit of facing the most beautiful falls rather than turning around to see them, plus hiking UP the steeper side is better/safer/easier….than going DOWN it. The park recommended that or I may have done the opposite.

    Reply
    • I’ve done it both ways, and I honestly think it’s easier going the way I suggested. There’s actually more elevation gain in a shorter distance in Glen Leigh, but it’s in short bursts instead of a continual elevation change, which is why I think it’s easier to go up that way (short uphill sections instead of a constant uphill). As for facing the falls, you have to go down one side, so I don’t see that as being a significant issue, especially since there are more waterfalls in Glen Leigh.

      Either way, there’s not really a wrong direction to hike it, and it all boils down to personal preference.

      Reply
  16. Used your tips yesterday, thanks so much! Saw some great plants too- Solomon’s seal, trillium, orchids. And we watched baby mergansers in the water!

    Reply
  17. I am so grateful to found this article before we leave for Rickett’s Glen. I was hoping to print out your recommendations. Having issues doing that. Is there a print button I am missing?

    Reply
  18. Thanks for this article! Is there any way to see any waterfall with a person on a wheelchair? Or What’s the closest waterfall from any parking? Thank you.

    Reply
    • The closest waterfall is Adams Falls, which is across the road from the main trail. However, none of the waterfalls in the park are visible from a handicapped-accessible spot, unfortunately.

      Reply
  19. Great article! A friend and I went up to see the falls yesterday. Finding this article really helped us plan our day. We kept debating which side to walk up after parking at the bottom. We decided to walk up the steep side so that the falls could be seen as we walk up them and we thought it was easier to climb than descend the steepest parts. We are in our mid 30s and that was the right choice for us, taking a ton of photos it took us 6hrs but we had a blast and would recommend that route!

    Reply
    • I am headed out there today for an early morning snowy hike. Are the trails marked well enough to be seen if there is ice and snow?

      Reply
      • If you’re on the Falls Trail, there’s really no need to worry about blazes. Basically impossible to get lost as there is only one route through the glens.

  20. Jim,

    This article was so very helpful. Your descriptions and detail are spot on! Anyone taking this hike should read this article! As I was scrolling, I realized how long ago this was written, but it is still spot on today! Thank you for taking the time to make our adventure the best it possibly could be!
    Peace

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Waterfalls of Pennsylvania Book by Jim Cheney

"Waterfalls of Pennsylvania" by Jim Cheney

If you love PA waterfalls, you won't want to miss this waterfall book from Jim Cheney, author of Uncovering PA, featuring more than 180 great waterfalls. Order it now on Bookshop.org or Amazon.


Item added to cart.
0 items - $0.00

Sharing is Caring

Help spread the word. You're awesome for doing it!