Ricketts Glen Camping Guide

Camping at Ricketts Glen State Park is the easiest way to wake up minutes from the Falls Trail instead of driving in from a distant hotel. The park sits on a high plateau in Northeastern Pennsylvania above Lake Jean, and its campground puts you within a short drive or paddle of the swimming beach and the waterfall trailheads. Here is how the camping works and how to choose where to sleep.

The Lake Jean campground

The main campground sits near Lake Jean and offers around 120 tent and trailer sites spread across several loops. Most sites are non-electric and shaded by hemlock and hardwood forest, which keeps them cool even in midsummer. A handful of sites offer electric hookups, and these book first, so reserve early if you need power. The campground has flush toilets, hot showers, and a sanitary dump station, which makes it comfortable for both tent campers and small RVs.

Sites near the lake side of the loops give you the shortest walk to the beach, while interior loop sites tend to be quieter and a little more private. If you are here mainly to hike the falls, any site works because the Lake Rose trailhead is a short drive away within the park.

Cabins and other options

If a tent is not your style, Ricketts Glen has modern cabins available for rent. These come with electricity, heat, a kitchen area, and a bathroom, and they sleep small groups comfortably. Cabins are popular for shoulder-season trips in October when nights get cold but the fall foliage and waterfalls are at their best. Because there are only a limited number, cabin dates disappear far in advance for autumn weekends.

• Tent and trailer sites - shaded, mostly non-electric, near Lake Jean
• Electric sites - limited, reserve early for RVs
• Modern cabins - heated, year-round, ideal for fall weekends
• Showers and flush toilets - available in the main campground

How to make reservations

All overnight stays at Pennsylvania state parks, including Ricketts Glen, are booked through the state online reservation system. You can reserve campsites and cabins up to several months ahead, and the most desirable summer and fall weekends sell out quickly. Book as early as you can for any weekend between Memorial Day and mid-October, and have a backup site in mind in case your first choice is gone. Midweek nights are dramatically easier to get and far quieter on the trails.

What to know before you arrive

The plateau elevation means nights run cooler than the surrounding valleys, so bring an extra layer even in July. Black bears live in the area, so use the food storage practices posted at the campground and never leave food or coolers out at your site. Firewood should be bought locally or in the park to avoid spreading pests. Cell service on the mountain is spotty, so download maps before you lose signal.

Pairing camping with the waterfalls

The whole point of camping here is the morning advantage. Staying overnight lets you reach the Falls Trail early, before the day-trip crowds arrive from Wilkes-Barre and Bloomsburg, and the soft early light on the cascades is far better for photos. After your hike you can cool off at the Lake Jean beach and paddle the lake in the afternoon. For a full two-day plan that ties the campground, the 21 waterfalls, and a second-day route together, see our Ricketts Glen waterfall weekend itinerary.

Camp here once and you will understand why locals treat Ricketts Glen as a weekend basecamp rather than a day trip. Reserve early, pack warm layers, and let the lake and the falls fill two full days.