Ricketts Glen is a very special place for me and my family, and we have been visiting annually for many years. Lodging: My family likes to stay in the little cabins in the park. They have two or three bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a fire ring. They are fully furnished and climate controlled, which is nice in the winter and summer. However, there is no WiFi or cell service (unless you have A T and T) so be mindful of that when you book. I have never stayed at the campsites, so I cant speak for accommodations there. Activities: There's so much to do around the park, including boating or swimming at Lake Jean, exploring the many miles of trails, or having a family barbecue. The most famous trail in the park, the Falls Trail, is a must-hike for visitors. The trail can be steep, rocky, and slippery, and the main loop (not including the bottom three falls) runs about 5 miles, which is longer than the advertised distance, so be prepared. Bring good shoes and lots of water and expect some amazing views of the falls. The other trails in the park are also beautiful, albeit far less traveled. I did the 13 mile loop from cherry run to mountain springs road to the mountain springs trail, and it was a great distance and not too steep. We went past the old Lake Leigh dam breast and an unnamed waterfall with a nice swimming hole. The cherry run and mountain springs trails have lots of tall grass, so make sure to wear long pants in case of ticks. Additionally, the spring runs right through portions of the mountain springs trail, so be prepared to get your feet a little wet. I look forward to each year I get to go to Ricketts and even though I am sad I'm home, I'm super excited for next year! read more

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My birthday is the most important day of the year. This is a fact. I get very ornery if I don't spend the day/week/month the way that I want. For 3 years running The Plan has been to go to Acadia. First year: someone went to an international wedding of 500 people and got the Rona Second year: someone bought a big rig and rates were in the toilet Third year: Someone was tired and the planing was overwhelming I just knew this would be The Year. Sike - Rain and thunderstorms forecasted from May 27-June 4 and we had a campsite lmaaoooooo But one thing about me - I'm gon pivot every time. So we booked a Hipcamp and headed to PA instead. I wanted open land, dark skies, and opportunities to hike. Ricketts was only 10 minutes away!! All I knew about this park beforehand was that it was a waterfall paradise. We had our dog with us and arrived at Ricketts around 4pm on a Sunday. We checked out some of the small falls at the trailhead then did the Evergreen Trail. Beautiful view of Adams Falls, a lovely wooded walk through an old growth forest, and some climbs here and there to keep your heart rate up. I love when Wesley goes out on the trails - he sniffs everything, bounds ahead to scout the path, and patiently waits until I can clear obstacles. Still, given the height and uneven terrain of even this shorter trail in the park, I would likely return without him to take on some of the more challenging routes. Making sure he didn't fly off the ledge and I didn't fall off the stone steps had my nervous system on fire lol. I'm also old now and believe feet should always stay rooted to the floor. So yeah. The park is very dog friendly and we love that. But for me and mine, maybe we'll come solo next time. Summed Up: Beautiful Ethereal Calming Steep Heights Dog-friendly Free Do it! read more

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I've lived in Central Pennsylvania my entire life. Ricketts Glen State Park is only about two hours from my house. And somehow, until this year, I had never been there. Looking back, I think the problem was that people would mention Ricketts Glen casually. Nobody ever seemed to RAVE about it. Allow me to correct that: Ricketts Glen is absolutely MAGICAL! If you live within striking distance of this park--and honestly, even if you don't--it deserves a spot on your must-see list. I took an early June Friday off work and made it my mission to hike the Falls Trail and see all 21 waterfalls in a single day. It didn't hurt that it was also National Donut Day and I had strategically acquired a post-hike celebration donut for the occasion. Priorities! Before heading out, I did my homework. I mapped out a counterclockwise route on the Falls Trail, which many hikers recommend for seeing all 21 waterfalls with the most comfortable overall experience. I also downloaded my maps and directions for offline use before leaving home. This turned out to be one of the smartest decisions of the day. Spoiler alert: there is no cell service. Download everything you need before you go. I arrived at the Lake Rose Trailhead around 9 a.m., found plenty of parking, appreciated the clean restroom facilities, laced up my boots, and hit the trail. Within minutes, I encountered my first waterfall. Then another. And another. And another. For the next 4 hours and 11 minutes, I wandered through what felt like a real-life fairy tale, discovering waterfall after waterfall after waterfall. Every time I heard rushing water in the distance, I found myself smiling because I knew another beautiful cascade was waiting around the next bend. What amazed me most was how concentrated everything is. Twenty-one waterfalls packed into a roughly five-mile hike that is challenging enough to feel like an adventure but manageable enough for most reasonably prepared hikers.It was genuinely mind-blowing! I've visited a lot of state parks over the years, and one thing that stood out immediately was how incredibly clean Ricketts Glen is. I saw virtually no litter, no graffiti, and very little evidence of careless visitors. The entire park felt respected, protected, and loved. I've also been fortunate enough to visit some truly beautiful places. After this hike, I can confidently say Ricketts Glen belongs near the top of that list. I took approximately one million photos and videos. Possibly more. By the time I finished the trail and returned to my car, the park was beginning to get noticeably busier. Pro tip: Go early!Next time I'll probably aim to hit the trail around 8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. Mostly because waterfalls are peaceful and magical, while screaming children are...less magical. After my hike, I enjoyed a picnic lunch and my well-earned National Donut Day victory donut while sitting at my car and reflecting on what I'd just experienced. Then I stopped by the park office before heading home. The gentleman working there was incredibly helpful. Since I had forgotten to download my exit route before losing cell service, he took the time to provide printed maps, explain exactly where I needed to go, and make sure I felt comfortable navigating my way out of the park. As someone traveling solo, I really appreciated the extra effort. In fact, I appreciated the entire experience so much that I've already made a decision: Hiking Ricketts Glen and celebrating afterward with a donut is now my official National Donut Day tradition. Twenty-one waterfalls and a victory donut just feels right. If you're planning a visit, bring plenty of water. I didn't need sunscreen or bug spray during my early June hike, but your mileage may vary depending on the season and conditions. I hiked solo and felt completely comfortable the entire time. My advice? Just go. Load your maps. Pack your water. Bring a donut if you're feeling ambitious. And prepare to be absolutely blown away by one of Pennsylvania's greatest natural treasures. read more

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Very good camping experience here. Decent sites, level and plenty of room. Nice bathrooms and showers with hot water! Rangers were very helpful and informative. Trails are not easy -- even the easy ones. Treacherous conditions when even slightly wet. Rock stairs especially scary. Not for the inexperienced hikers. read more

This was my first time here and my son and I really enjoyed it. They rent kayaks, paddle boards, and pedal boats as well but we didn't try it this time. You can bring your food or purchase food there. read more

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I visit Ricketts Glen about once a year! It's always a great experience and there's so much to do! Group camping sites fit tons of people and feel very private. The only downside about Group site is that there are no showers in the bathhouse and there are no water pumps anywhere! In the park, there is a lake where you can swim, kayaks that you can rent, and the visitor center even has fishing poles that you can borrow! The Falls trail is what attracts most people to this great park. It's about a 4 mile hike to see all of them and every step is worth it! I've never seen or stayed in the cabins. I decided to check them out today before leaving. They are beautiful, have great views, and look like they fit six people. Will definitely keep this in mind for next time. read more

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This is a beautiful park with a very challenging hike. The highland trail is on the easy to medium challenging side and the waterfall trail is a hard hike- it's almost all rocks and steps and very steep in spots. I would not bring children under 8 or small to medium dogs to this trail. The staff are helpful and every thing the welcome center is very well-maintained. I was grateful for the baby changing table and the period products! read more

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Wonderful park with great hiking trails, and lots of waterfalls. One of my favorite places to hike in thee fall. read more

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We spent 8 nights tent camping in the big loop (site 40) as a family with two elementary school aged children. Overall it was a wonderful experience and we highly recommend to anyone who loves camping. The great: I need to highlight the events that are organized by the rangers. They were really wonderful. The day we arrived there was a strawberry jam event (which we couldn't participate in because you had to pre-register). While we were there we participated in yoga on the beach, a sundial activity for children, nature story time, and a fireflies activity. These were all fantastic and interactive. Yoga and fireflies were both well attended talks. For the Sundial and Nature Story, it was only us or us and another family. I really liked how the leader was able to present in a way that hooked my 10 year old as well as younger children. The visitor center will also let you borrow fishing poles to try out fishing. The good: We booked our site about 10 months out and it was the last lake view site available to us for those dates. The view and size were wonderful. Other lake view sites were more private, if you can book them 11 months out when booking opens. We loved our site though and our neighbors, though close, were all very nice. There was a small trail leading down to the lake and an area that you could launch small boats. We brought our stand up paddle board and made sure it was registered. The ability to launch essentially from our campsite was fantastic! As a tent camper, I definitely prefer the Big Loop (where we were) to the Small Loop, where there are full hook up sites and lots of RVs. It was wonderful to walk around and we saw lots of wildlife, including ducks, geese, many birds, a bald eagle, and a young black bear. The not-so-good: Note, there is a young black bear that frequents the campground area and has, apparently, found that human food is easy to get. Please for your safety and the bear's safety lock up all your food, toiletries and trash in a locked vehicle. I'd also highly recommend not feeding ANY wildlife, including ducks and geese. The only other real problem was that the power was out in the big loop bathrooms for the duration of our stay and I didn't notice any urgency to fix that. The plumbing still works, but there is no hot water or lights. They've actually made it pretty workable, placing motion sensor battery lights in the stalls themselves. It definitely made grooming more complex. We had to drive to the small loop or the beach for showers. In addition, sometimes the dish washing sinks behind the bathrooms aren't draining properly. Next time I'll bring a dish pan to place into the utility sink so I have a bit more control of that, but if everyone scrapes their dishes and pots into the trash before washing it would help. read more

Yeah so Ricketts Glen State Park is stunningly beautiful during the month of October. I am very glad that my friend Laura found RGSP in a Google search as a place to go hiking and take photographs. I reckon I will be coming back every year, henceforth. The main trail with all of the waterfalls isn't for the faint of heart. If you are in mildly decent shape, you'll be fine. But if you have any sort of health issues, bad knees, sore feet, etc...then you may want to sit that trail out. It is a very steep descent and climb back up. If you are able-bodied, then please consider making the trek during the fall months. You won't be disappointed. read more

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My destination was the Falls Trail. There is a loop of a couple trails about 4 miles worth to see all 21 waterfalls (the one usually advertised is 7 miles but no need to do all 7 to see all the waterfalls. Instead there is a cutoff trail to shorten it). This is truly a gem of our state of PA. The park is about a 4.25 hour drive from Pittsburgh. It is a pleasant drive. I parked at the Lake Rose Trailhead. This one is right at the Falls Trail trailhead. This is my third visit over the years and I have not had any issues findi g a parking spot here but i do go on a weekday and arrive around 8am. There is a restroom with a pitt toilet and running water. The Falls Trail trailhead is to the right of the restroom. This trail is a good option when temps are high elsewhere. With higher elevation (black mountain summit nearby indicates 2449 ft elevation) and mostly shaded trails, the temps will be a bit cooler. Maps of the park were available at the trailhead. I wouldn't count on that being a given, however, and was prepared by downloading a PDF online and printing and carrying it for reference. I chose doing a loop of Falls Trail (Ganiga Glen) to Waters Meet. I then went south on falls trail (Ricketts Glen) for 3 falls, backtracked back to Waters Meet and continued along Falls Trail (Glen Leugh) until Highland trail on the left. I took that (all waterfalls seen already) as the shortcut then using the shortcut back to Falls Trail and back to the parking lot. All told, around 4 miles of trekking and 4.25 hours because of all the stopping to take photos (lots and lots of photos) of the 21 waterfalls, of the foliage, of the enormous amount of effort put into building steps everywhere, and of butterflies in abundance. It is a wonderful eye-appealing venue, worthy of a trip. How much water is running will depend of rainfall amounts. This visit this past week was superb in that regard. Was the hike strenuous? That seems to be subjective. The map says so. Guess depends compared to what? Something else in the state or other states or what criteria exactly? I've hiked plenty. Let us say it has steps everywhere. Terrain is uneven. You and your party need to be mobile and able-bodied. Strenuous? You are stopping every so many feet to take photos. Dangerous? Well, I wouldn't take a stereotypical 2 year old who runs about as it is a natural area with no barriers between you/them and water everywhere. As long as you are steady on your feet, mind your distance from edges, it is as safe as anyplace with water all around and uneven terrain. read more

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Ricketts Glen has a gorgeous waterfall hike. It's a whole series of waterfalls, each with its own beauty. There are good bathroom facilities at the campground. read more

The Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen has been on my destination wish list for several years now, so I was thrilled to finally get the opportunity to hike it! There are a couple of different options, and after reading up on it, we opted to park at the Lake Rose Trailhead parking lot, hike down the Ganoga Glen side (10 named waterfalls), made it to Waters Meet and headed down to the falls right below it, and then headed back up the Glen Leigh side (8 named waterfalls) then took the Highland Trail back to the parking lot, happy to have seen 19 falls in about 3.5 miles. Midway Crevasse on the Highland Trail was a neat large rock area with benches that was neat to see. We had heard the trail was quite popular, so we made sure to make to the parking lot by 9 am on a weekday and had no trouble getting a spot. I read a lot of mixed reviews about trail difficulty before we went, and I would say that being honest about your group's capabilities is probably the best bet. The signage by the trailhead indicates it is challenging and says no flip flops/sandals. We opted for hiking boots, trekking poles, and packs with plenty of water and food and had a good hike (and passed several folks who said they wished they had poles with them). We didn't have cell service so found having a paper map in our packs handy, though quite a bit of the trail doesn't really have a lot of options to get off track on (some sections just have a narrow passageway as it is). The beautiful waterfalls and scenery are well worth it! We also drove down to the trailhead for Evergreen Trail and hiked far enough to see Adams Fall. It is a unique fall and was worth the extra little mileage! It has a couple of levels and the bottom part ends in Leavenworth Pool - it's worth it to go all the way down to the pool to see the whole thing from there. The park also offers Lake Jean for fishing, a beach for swimming, and boat rentals. There's also camping available onsite. read more

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Loved the scenery! Fantastic waterfalls. Park had nice, clean facilities. However, as many others have pointed out (see the 1-star reviews) -- the park rangers spoiled our evening. The sound enforcement was so strict, you could hear other people zipping up their tents at nearby sites -- it was eerily quiet the first night we were there, and by the second night (Saturday) we found out why. We had 7 people talking around a campfire in normal indoor voices, occasionally laughing, with soft music playing at a level for us and no one else. Argil Posey II showed up at 10:30 pm and told us we had to keep it down and to *whisper* -- we turned off the music right away but no one believed he literally meant we had to whisper -- that is insanity. 20 minutes later he shows up again, tells us we were supposed to be whispering, makes us dump out beer that was already put away in our truck, and fines us for "excessive noise" -- we live far away and couldn't fight it so ultimately paid $334.93 in fines and fees for the noise violation. Talk about a racket! BTW I'm a teetotaler and was dead-sober, this is not some warped perception of reality, this is what actually happened -- it was like if a group of over-30s were chatting in an office room level of noise. Any other group that was talking was also stopped by the rangers and if they had beer they made them dump it. Really -- they smell fun, they destroy fun. [The official policy is "Noise or conduct which could interfere with the sleep of other persons is prohibited between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m" -- so this is a real stretch of interpretation]. Unlike any other campsite my friends have stayed at. Please be warned! read more

Visited many times while living in NEPA but never actually hiked the trails. After relocating to Florida and yearning for some time in nature, I decided to make a day of it and I enjoyed the experience. I can't say for certain the trail I took but it was challenging and steep, many steps to climb, and definitely slippery in some areas. However, I felt that the distance between each waterfall wasn't bad and it kept you going. Once I reached the 64' foot waterfall, I went back the same way I came and going back was much more challenging due to climbing up the elevation vs going down on the way! But it was a good workout! Just a side note- you will not have phone service, which I was aware of and I'd suggest covering up and keeping bug spray on you as I just used it prior to entering trail. I feel this is such a gem, wasn't over crowded and free to explore compared to other parks. On the way home, we stopped at Harvey's lake to end the day with lakeside dinner. read more

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Winter Wonderland! I heard about the dozen of beautiful waterfalls this place has and how majestic they look in the winter frozen over so I ventured to this obscure spot in hopes for a much needed adventure and I was not disappointed. Locals (should) know better but anyone from out of town visiting will be required to have very good crampons (not simple spikes), rope and an ice axe during the winter months were the much more dangerous trails that I hiked are well marked as closed without this proper equipment. Either own or rent before visiting for those wonderfully amazing iced over waterfalls. I would certainly love to re-visit in the summer months to see these falls unfrozen around lush green trees. My route took me passed a whopping 18 waterfalls; some small and others simply majestic!! An absolutely amazing experience. read more

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(This visit took place on Easter morning in the height of Covid season. When things return to more of a normal state, your experience likely will vary.) If you like waterfalls (no not the urban dictionary version either, sickos) then this is your spot. If you do then you've probably heard of or have been to Bushkill Falls or the large number of falls that are within the boundaries of Delaware Water Gap National Park. www.visitbushkillfalls.com/ www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/trails.htm What separates this place from either of those two spots would of course be in the case of Bushkill, cost, and at Delaware Water Gap you can see a lot of falls but they are comparatively spread out where you need to drive. At Ricketts Glen you can get in more falls for free with a one stop hike of only a few miles. Jim at the Uncovering PA website has made several posts over the years as how to best tackle the various trails at Ricketts Glen. To me they're a must read great source of information. uncoveringpa.com/hiking-falls-trail-ricketts-glen-state-park We parked at the Lake Rose trailhead parking lot, which was maybe 1/2 full, and proceeded to tackle the Falls Trail in a counter-clockwise format. The only one we skipped was Onondaga. By that point we were fairly beat and chose to left turn on to the Highland Trail shortcut then continuing on the Falls Trail to the Highland trail for that one last waterfall which would have necessitated turning around in the direction of the parking lot. My own opinion is that I would never want to do this trail during summer or on a busy holiday weekend. Parts of the trail are very tight, wet and there is no room for two people to pass at the same time. I could see things getting nightmarishly bogged down-waiting. Thankfully we only experienced that on a minuscule basis. For the most part it was smooth sailing with only a handful of stops/waits for others. Let me also note that while most of the visitors here only focus on the falls and/or falls trail only, there are over twenty miles of other trails not near the falls along with tons of hunting, fishing, camping and cabin overnight stay options. Our visit was a solid 4.5 hours with a fair amount of picture taking stops along the way. I'm sure our pace was glacial compared to some but why would you rush things when the scenery is this amazing? This place is only about a two hour drive from home and while I am kicking myself for having waited until now to make a visit it sure as hell won't be the last. A+ read more

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I've visited Ricketts Glen 3 times - each about 5 years apart (and about 5 years older) - and it seems like the experience is like childbirth in that it is an awesome experience AFTER it is over but can be really painful during the actual experience! :D The views here are stunning and worth a visit if you are a waterfall buff. Keeping in mind that this isn't an easy trail - Looking at a USGS topo map, if you park at the Lake Rose Trailhead at around 2230' elevation, the bottom of the Falls Trail loop at Waters Meet is around 1550' ..pushing close to 700' down...then - get this - you have to go back up the other side! Conventional wisdom suggests if you chose to do the loop (missing the 3 lowest falls, but giving the most 'bang for your buck' with 18) that you should travel the loop clockwise, but on each of my trips, I have gone counterclockwise (down Ganoga Glen first, then up Glen Leigh) and here's why: the Western side has more up/down climbing and steeper elevation changes at one time, while the Eastern side has a more even elevation change which is appreciated if you start to tire out ;) - not a suggestion per say but something to consider when deciding your plan of attack. It also makes your last mile or so the more level Highland Trail and reaching Midway Crevasse (cool rocks) serves as a nice landmark letting you know that you have almost conquered your hike;) OK - all that being said - it is totally worth it. You want to give yourself plenty of time - add maybe 2 hours to how long you think it will take ..as you will want to take pictures, stop and take in the scenery & actually LISTEN to the cascading water ..etc. I would suggest carrying a backpack with water, trail mix, etc. as you're putting your body thru its paces... and heed warnings about the potential of getting stuck if you were to run out of daylight (matches/flashlight). We made the trek 2 weeks ago (late October) and barely made it out before dark - it was the day after a rain and it was slow go with wet rocks & leaves! Would be best to get an early start to allow for potential slowdowns - as of this writing there was about a 15-foot section where the rock ledge steps had crumbled on the Glen Leigh side, so we had to do some old-fashioned scrambling up loose rocks;) Also - this was the first time I did the trails with a hiking stick - and I'm glad I did ...EXTREMELY handy! One more thing - about the only thing you'll be able to do with a cell phone is take pictures ...no reception in the canyons! Did I mention it is totally worth it - truly one of the most picturesque areas in Pennsylvania! read more

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Made the trip from Cleveland just to hike the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen. Amazing hike with a nice variety of waterfalls in two different gorges that converge near the bottom. Started from the top at the Lake Rose Trailhead parking lot. A short hike through a nice pine forest littered with large boulders leads to the Highland Trail across the top. Highland is a nice walk in the woods with ledges; the highlight is the Midway Gorge. At the end of the Highland is the East Side of the Falls Trail. With 8 named falls this side seems a bit more showy. The falls are nicely spaced and there are a number of different natural staircases. All by itself this side would be worth a visit. There are 3 falls lower then the junction of the two sides. These falls are on the smaller size, but well worth the extra hike since they are picturesque and close to the trail. Back at the junction I headed up the West Side of the Falls Trail where there are 9 named falls. You have 2 good sized falls at the bottom then mostly small to medium falls and rapids next to the trail. The one exception is the Ganaga Falls about the middle which is the tallest falls in the park and well worth your time just by itself. Ricketts Glen ends up on many lists as the best park in Pennsylvania and one of the best in the East. The Falls Trail is incredible and one of the most scenic and beautiful trail I have hiked. There are a number of other trails in the park, but if you go make sure to take this hike. A couple of notes: I had no cell service in the park. There are restrooms and water at the parking lot. No admission to get in the park. read more

Beautiful hike with refreshing views ! Did the 4 mile Rickett Glenn falls via Lake Rose trail recently and had a wonderful time. Started with Mohawk falls first and ended with easy Highland trail. Definitely recommend shoes with traction as the trail can get very narrow, rocky and slippery. It can also get crowded and especially so near the narrower sections of the hike (near Huron falls for example) Although it is a smaller hike give yourself time as it can get very steep. Definitely carry some water and a snack if you prefer but water is must. PS: parking spots fill up quick so recommend starting early read more

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Camping for all types (rustic, group, cabins, RV) with toilets, showers near the lake, swimming, fishing and hiking. The Falls Trail is amazing. We did the 4-mile loop and saw 21 waterfalls. It is steep in places with slippery stone steps of varying heights. I'd recommend good hiking shoes and walking stick/poles if you have them. read more

Ricketts Glen State Park - Lake offers swimming area (summer), boat rentals, and fishing. - Parks Near Me - Benton, Pennsylvania

It's an amazing hike that you wouldn't want to miss.  A good 2 hour drive from the Harrisburg area,  the Lake Rose Trailhead Parking lot was already more than half full when we arrived at 10 am.  It's easy to assume that during the weekend you will have to settle with roadside parking instead. The Falls Trail is the number one highlight of the park and boasts 21 named waterfalls to keep you engaged.  I did my research and planned our hike.  I can definitely attest and recommend that path we took.  It's an approximately 4.2 mile, 5 hour hike for us that covers all 21 waterfalls.  The Ganoga Glen side of the Falls Trail is more challenging than the Glen Leigh side, and you would want to go uphill on the Ganoga Glen side; in other words, go around the loop on a clockwise direction as described below: o- Start from the Lake Rose parking lot, hike [0.15 mile] to the Y intersection o- Bear left to Highland Trailfor the easy [1 mile] hike. Tip: trail continues *behind* the Midway Crevasse! o- When you see a sign for F.L. Ricketts, skip it until the next sign that says Glen Leigh then you turn right; otherwise you'd have taken a shortcut and missed the Onodaga Fall. o- Enjoy 8 waterfalls on this moderately difficult [1 mile] hike on Glen Leigh  o- At Waters Meet, bear left towards Rt. 118 to catch 3 gorgeous waterfalls that you wouldn't want to miss.  o- Hike back to Waters Meet to complete the [0.75 mile] round trip detour. o- Continue straight to the Ganoga Glen side of the Falls Trail for 10 more waterfalls. This is the most strenuous section of the Falls Trail. Approximately [1 mile]. o- Turn right at the intersection to stay on Falls Trail, and then follow the sign to Lake Rose Lot. This adds about [0.3 mile]. This was a mid-August summer day and the water level was understandable low; therefore, we don't get to see the full splendor of the waterfalls, but they were still amazing as shown in the photo.  Many waterfalls have names posted, but others you would have to identify with the pictures on the brochure or figure out based on the order of appearance. I'm serious about making that extra 3/4 mile detour toward Rt. 118 as these are 3 of the nicer waterfalls. My favorite though is the petite but gorgeous 15' Wyandot Fall. The grounds were wet even though it didn't rain. Exposed roots were muddy and slippery. There are many sections of uneven rocks so you definitely need a good pair of hiking boots.  Contrary to some accounts, the park prohibits swimming or wading in the water. Also, no fishing and no biking. All dogs have to be on leash. read more

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Rickett's Glen has a nice long hiking trail with plenty of waterfalls along the route. There are 2 shorter hikes if you aren't feeling up for the whole trek. Gorgeous scenery and absolutely worth a day trip to check out the falls. If you enjoy camping they also have a variety of options available. The tent sites all have a fire ring and a picnic table. There is ample room for larger tents and still plenty of space after that. read more

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Gorgeous park with a ton of waterfalls. Relatively short, often steel trail next to the streams / falls, so watch your footing, and be extra careful if it's icy. Bring spikes if it's icy. Pay attention to the map so you prioritize your time well; there's so many waterfalls it's easy to get distracted by each of them. read more

The Falls hike is a gorgeous waterfall hike. You can either do a 7 mile route or 5ish mile route depending on where you park, both are moderate to hard depending on how well you handle elevation. Wear proper footwear the trails tend to be damp due to all the waterfalls even if it hasn't rained. Totally worth the trek there are places to rest if you need it. Very popular trail so early is your best bet to avoid crowds. No cell services so make sure you have printed out direction in as out of the park if you don't know the area. read more

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Ganoga Falls review only; Easy trail (a good 4 miles to and from)! There's a small offshoot of the highway you can park on so it's just a simple Yellow marked path! The falls are gorgeous! I did it in just regular sneakers. And the dauchund we had with us had a great time! This is for hikers of all ages! read more

Ricketts Glen State Park - At the top of Ganoga Falls - Parks Near Me - Benton, Pennsylvania

My husband and I had a wonderful day hiking here, but when we got home our dog had a Lyme disease flareup. So please check yourself and your dog. read more

Absolutely gorgeous waterfalls. We saw 21 waterfalls within this shorten Falls trail hike. Instructions below. Take the Falls trail from Lake Rose Parking lot. It is a 5min pleasant walk through the woods, then you'll come to a trail split. Take the trail to the right and head into Ganoga Glen. You'll come to the first waterfall, Mohawk Falls, within minutes. From here, you'll pass the 10 waterfalls within a mile of walking which you will come across the Ganoga Falls, 94' tall, this is the tallest waterfall in the park and one of the tallest in Pennsylvania. Afterwards, you'll reach an area known as Waters Meet. First, head downstream towards Route 118 to see 3 of the park's best waterfalls, they're within half mile of this trail. These 3 waterfalls are some of the most beautiful in the park and definitely should not be skipped. Once you've checked them out, head back upstream to Waters Meet, and cross the bridge to head up Glen Leigh. The path contains several bridges across the creek, and there are flat sections and steep climbs. On the mile-long hike up Glen Leigh, you'll pass 3 waterfalls, the tallest is the 60' Ozone Falls. After you've passed 7 waterfalls in Glen Leigh, you'll see a sign for a shortcut to the Highland Trail. Don't take the shortcut because you'll miss the small, but beautiful Onondaga Falls, while only saving about five minutes. Instead, continue on the Highland Trail from just above Onondaga Falls. The 1.2 mile long Highland Trail will take you back to Lake Rose Parking lot. You pass through the Midway Crevasse, a narrow opening in the rocks on the path. 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. read more

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Tons of waterfalls filled with tons of climbing! Nice views every turn bring a snack and water read more

Ricketts Glen State Park - Water falls one of the best - Parks Near Me - Benton, Pennsylvania

My girlfriend introduced me to Ricketts Glen because of its cascade of waterfalls, 24 of which are named. Apparently this awesome place could have been a national park, but due to budget issues and WWII, it's now a state park. It's absolutely beautiful. Give yourself ample time for the hike. The Falls Trail is 7.2 miles for the full loop. For those who are short on time, you can take the Highland Trail, Glen Leigh, and Ganoga Glen sides to see most of the waterfalls; this loop is 3.2 miles long. Apparently you can also camp here. There are ten cabins available, furnished with living area, kitchen/dining area, toilet, 2-3 bedrooms. And dogs are permitted in cabin H. Have fun! read more

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I grew up about an hours drive from the park and my grandfather worked there for a time many years ago. But in all the years being near the park, including visits to the cemetery where that grandfather and grandmother are buried, I never was to Ricketts Glen. I was in Pennsylvania for a few days and my last day there, my brother drove his wife and me to the glen. She stayed in the car while he took me on the 3.2 mile loop hike of the Upper Falls area to the intersection and back. We stopped to take a lot of photos. I was not prepared for the hike. No hiking boots--just sneakers--and I didn't have my GPS unit which is a must when I go on a new hike. In any case, we finished the hike in good shape. We left from the Lake Jean parking area and came back via the Bear Walk Trail when we were just a short distance from the end of our loop. Take your time on the rock steps and be careful of footing in wet, almost muddy areas. I haven't put a caption on some of the photos because they would all say "beautiful waterfall." For a desert rat like me, this was an amazing hike. We just have nothing like it in the Mojave Desert and it was a special day which got me ready to come back to Las Vegas with a very fond memory. There is no cell phone coverage so make sure you have ample water, good footware, and then just go and enjoy! read more

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About our trip here: we parked in Beach Lot 2, hiked to the start of the Falls Trail, went the whole way through that trail, and then followed Bear Walk Trail back to our parking lot. The whole trip was about 6 miles long. Let me say that I think this is a beautiful park with tons of stuff to do. You could spend days and days here and still not see or do everything. You can go on the lake, hike on various trails, camp, have a picnic, etc. I really enjoyed the first half of the Falls Trail. Most of the hiking was downhill, but since it had recently rained we ended up walking over lots of mud and slippery rocks so we had to be careful. The waterfalls were great, but once I saw like 8 of them I felt that I was kind of "over it." I mean, once you've seen a few, the others aren't that incredible. The problem for me came about because it was super hot, I was dehydrated, was getting over a cold, hadn't eaten lunch, and hiking isn't really my thing to begin with. About half way through the whole loop I started to get a killer migraine, and there was nothing I could do but keep going with my journey. It would have been difficult to turn around and go back from whence we came since the flow of traffic was very strong and it would have been difficult to maneuver back through the crowds. I also was struggling because there were no port-a-potties or anything, and too many people around to pop a squat. The lesson I took away after having to walk 3 miles with a migraine and tears streaming down my face was this: If you're going to go on a hike here, BE PREPARED! It's going to take a while, the second half is very steep, with the steps being very far from each other and quite high. It's a lot of work, and you need to bring your lunch, plenty of water, and some good hiking shoes with tread on them. One last note - the park rangers we encountered were ASSHOLES. I could go into the two separate encounters we had with them, but it's not worth it. They clearly hate people and love nature. read more

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I don't know why I haven't been here before but if your reading this Ricketts Glen State Park is a must see! What a magical experience. This was a great workout 7 miles of hiking on slippery rocks to see the most beautiful breathtaking waterfalls. If your a waterfall seeker and love nature you will not be disappointed. read more

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This place is quite possibly one of the most beautiful places I've ever hiked at. My friend and I decided to come here last month, and my goodness, was it worth it! We packed up Subway sandwiches with a container of guacamole, some protein bars, and bottled water to bring with us on our journey, and chose a Saturday morning to hike the entire falls trail so that we could see all the 23 waterfalls in all their glory. Both of us are in medical school, so making time to exercise regularly doesn't always work out as much as we'd like. (Translation: Neither of us are in super-crazy-awesome shape, but once upon a time, she could run a marathon without dying and I could set a state record in powerlifting.) I share this mainly just to give you an idea of the terrain and the level of fitness you might need(?). There are parts of the trails that get very steep and can be pretty slippery, so please wear the appropriate footwear. They technically recommend hiking boots, but I don't own any, so I went with my running shoes (from back in the day when I used to actually run). We didn't slip and fall or die, so that was a definite plus! The waterfalls are breathtakingly beautiful, and it was a lot of fun to just get to be outside again. The trail wasn't extremely challenging, but it can definitely tire you out, and exercising common sense if you're trying to take pictures with the waterfalls would be a great idea. Some parts of the trail got a little congested, but overall, it was an awesome morning hike! There is pretty much no reception/wifi there, so you might want to put your phone on airplane mode just so it won't completely murder your battery. I've shared a couple photos here, but if you want a billion more pictures of pretty waterfalls, visit my blog and search "Ricketts Glen." read more

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As a city girl I maintained a serious misconception as to what hiking really is. I thought it was tantamount to walking in the presence of leaves and trees and whatnot. Come to find out, it actually involves some pretty serious maneuvering. Ill prepared though I was for a real honest to goodness hike I still loved my trip to Ricketts Glen. The parking situation was a little dicey in the beginning but I would suggest just parking at the big trailhead right off the main road with the parking lot, since the other smaller lots were all full. There are also restrooms and picnic tables here too which we took advantage of. The walk to the trail was very lovely and scenic, at least to me it was! It was about a mile and a half until we got to the actual falls trail but the walk was easy. Falls trail on the other hand. It wasn't overly strenuous but I do have a fear of heights that stopped me in my tracks a few times. We went a day or two after they had some rain and the stones you're meant to shimmy up at some parts were slippery af and truly terrifying. I was emboldened by the fact that toddlers and elderly people were doing this hike without issue so I persevered. I'm so glad I did because there is really beautiful scenery along the way. Namely, all the waterfalls. I believe there were 11 total. While I'm not in a rush to do it again because of my crippling fear and anxiety, it was a beautiful experience and a wonderful place to visit and commune with nature. read more

Ricketts Glen State Park - Parks Near Me - Benton, Pennsylvania

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Things you'll need: hiking boots, swimsuit, some treats for energy. The park is fairly large but the most popular attractions are Falls Trail and Lake Rose. Parking for both fills up quickly on the weekends. Best bet would be to go during the week. If you go on the weekend, be sure to get there by 10 am if not earlier. On average (if your taking pictures), you'll spend 4 hours hiking. If not any pictures, I've done the trail in 2 hours (without stopping). This park is open year round. I've taken a few hikes during the "off-season" but for that you need special gear and have to register with the park office. During warmer months, I highly recommend proper footwear. The trails are wet, and you could easily slip. It's not strange to see people swimming in some of the waterfalls. It's actually encouraged here, where most places it's the exact opposite. I'd say the best way to see the waterfalls would be to start on the Glen Leigh side of the loop that way the Ganoga Falls (94' waterfall) is one of the last ones you see. I've taken the trail both ways and it's much more manageable to descend on the Glen Leigh side and ascend on the Ganoga Glen side. read more

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This is a waterfall chaser's dream-come-true. 21 falls in one hike! This was a moderate hike that took us about four hours to complete (with stops for photos and a break). We opted to hike the 3.2 mile trail. We started mid-day on an overcast Friday. We parked at the Lake Rose parking lot and hiked in to the Falls Trail going to Glen Leigh. There were people of all ages along the trail, a few sporting lots of camera gear. The trail wasn't crowded at all. Being a mosquito magnet, I was only bitten three times. The water levels were low compared to our last visit, but just as beautiful to see the shale under some of the falls. The trail wasn't slippery on that day but hiking shoes are recommended. Hiking poles will help you get up the steep trail/stairs on the Ganoga Falls side. Don't skip the lower three falls! read more

Ricketts Glen State Park - Harrison Wright Falls - Parks Near Me - Benton, Pennsylvania

If you love a good, physically trying hike this is the place for you! Ricketts Glen is beautiful - between the many waterfalls, varying degrees of difficulty for the trails, & quietness. There are a few different areas that you can park & a few different trails varying from easy to difficult. We decided to park at the Lake Rose area & walk the entirety of the Falls Trail (the best trail to take to see the majority of the waterfalls). There is the option to take a 3.2 mile loop or a 7.0 mile loop. I definitely recommend grabbing a copy of the trail map, wearing good sneakers/hiking boots, packing a lot of water, snacks, & a bottle of insect/tick repellent. All around a great workout & beautiful experience - would love to go again. (There's an ice cream shop right out of the exit to the park that you can reward yourself with like we did!) read more

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It is a wonderful place, the abundant nature and the different landscapes that can be appreciated are surprising. The only recommendation is that you be careful with the signposting of the route, it is not very clear, it is also very little, you need clear signaling. read more

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I absolutely recommend this hike if you start from beaver trail, go down falls trail then up the other side of the falls at the base, then west on highland trail. It's a nice 2.5hour loop. I have to come back because the area is quite vast. South of the camp grounds I do not recommend aging people with medical conditions for the simple fact that at the very northern tip of the falls trail trail, head the location is jagged, steep, wet moss, and rocks. For the sake of your elders do not go south on falls rd from the camp grounds. If they are confident in a serious full body workout Go right ahead. But majority of visitors I've seen all there, have cold feet. I recommend the trail East of falls rd with people of medical conditions because it's a bit less dangerous and chaotic. read more

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