Bushkill Falls was one of the places to visit on my bucket list, so when our travel plans changed from traveling with a grandchild to traveling as a couple it opened up our itinerary to check it out.
We stayed in Jim Thorpe, which is still a good hour + drive away but definitely closer than driving there from our house in Lancaster, PA. It was easy to get to thru some very rural areas. The day of our visit it poured down rain in the morning and we did encounter a good bit of flooded roadways on our travel there. We even had to stop at a casino to kill time and wait out the rain. When it cleared, there was still some flooded areas and I half expected to find them closed but they remained open. I don't think the nearby flooding effected the falls property at all.
I had read up on the falls and knew it was a bit pricey. At $16 and change a head, it's overpriced for what it is. Realistically it should cost half that. If cost is an issue go on a weekday as you save $2 pp at admission. We bought tickets and headed inside the building that houses taxidermy animals. It's there you get to hand in your ticket and enter the property. I inquired about rest rooms and was told where to go, only to walk all the way over there and discover you needed a hand stand to re-enter so I had to walk all the way back. Annoyed by the ticket taker who knew I was going to use the rest room and is the one to issue the stamps why didn't she give me one? Our visit started off on the wrong foot, walking back and forth when I was trying to conserve my energy for the steps that await us. Moral of story...if you gotta go - go BEFORE you buy tickets.
There's different trails depending on fitness levels, being four in total. The red trail is for advanced hikers only and takes the longest, it's also the only one where you see all 8 falls. The green trail is the easiest and shortest, but still has steps. You can't avoid the steps regardless of what trail you choose. Since we're middle aged and don't hike we chose the yellow route, which is the one most commonly taken. The complimentary map they give you outlines the different paths and signs direct the way, so no need to be suckered into buying the "advanced" map for an additional $3 - the freebie will suit you just fine.
Come prepared, and by prepared I mean wear comfortable shoes, bring a hoodie or rain coat there's mist that comes off the falls enough to get you damp, bring water, avoid coming on hot days, and use the rest room first. I also saw people walking with their toddler aged children and thought to myself - big mistake, at some point you will be carrying those children while you struggle to manage all those steps. Unless your child is able to walk long distances by themselves without complaint, up and down steep steps and narrow walkways it's best to leave them at home till they're older. THE FALLS ARE NOT STROLLER FRIENDLY. I'd also leave pets at home. Someone had a dog on a leash when we visited and it kept getting in the way with its leash wrapping around people's legs. It's steep enough without the additional distraction taking up space and creating a safety issue. In fact anyone that's elderly, has mobility issues, a heart issue, or just generally out of shape might want to reconsider.
Like I mentioned we did the yellow trail, it took about an hour, with me making frequent stops to recover. The steps were a killer. My heart was racing. Two days later and my calves are still sore. With the rain earlier in the day many of the wooden steps were slick. While I enjoyed the view and am glad we came, I would strongly recommend you do this in your 20's or 30's. I'm pushing 50 and thought I was going to die. If someone were to have a medical emergency while on the steps I wonder if they have an action plan to get to them. While the scenery was beautiful it was overshadowed by the feeling of exertion.
The trails are not staffed and self-guided. The best time to come would be in the spring or fall, when the view isn't blocked by leaves, and the temperature is tolerable.
Be prepared to stop often for the necessary selfie with the falls - it's the thing to do, plus it offers you a little break!
While they do have some other attractions to do, mining, paddleboats, mini golf, a gift shop, etc. I felt it was just an attempt to draw in more money. The playground at the entrance was nice and had peaceful places to picnic all outside of the pay area. Had we packed a lunch we would have lingered longer.
A once and done experience. read more