Why the Falls Trail Belongs on Every Pennsylvania Hike List
The Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park is the single best waterfall hike in Pennsylvania, and arguably one of the finest in the eastern United States. Tucked into the Allegheny Plateau near Benton in Luzerne and Sullivan counties, the trail threads two stream gorges, Kitchen Creek's Glen Leigh and Ganoga Glen, that drop hundreds of feet over a few miles. Along the way you pass 21 named waterfalls, the tallest being 94-foot Ganoga Falls. This is the kind of payoff that makes the drive into northeastern PA worth it, and it pairs naturally with a longer road trip like our 10-day Pennsylvania outdoor itinerary.
The Full Falls Trail Loop
The classic route is the Falls Trail System loop, roughly 7.2 miles when you start from the upper Lake Rose trailhead off PA Route 118. From Lake Rose you descend Ganoga Glen, cross the Waters Meet junction where the two creeks join, then climb back up Glen Leigh. A shorter option runs the Highland Trail across the top to link both glens for about a 3.2-mile loop if you start from the bottom Route 118 lot.
- Distance: 7.2 miles for the full loop, 3.2 miles for the bottom Highland Trail loop
- Elevation gain: roughly 1,000 feet
- Difficulty: moderate to strenuous, with steep stone steps
- Time: plan 4 to 5 hours to actually enjoy the falls
Parking and Trailheads
There are two main starting points. The Lake Rose trailhead off Route 118 sits at the top and lets you walk downhill to the waterfalls first. The Route 118 lot near the southern park boundary starts you at Waters Meet and forces the climb early. On peak fall weekends both lots fill before 10 a.m., so arrive early. Restrooms are at the main day-use area on Lake Jean, where you can also swim after your hike.
What to Expect Underfoot
The Falls Trail is famous for its stone staircases carved beside the cascades. They are uneven, often wet, and slick with mist and algae near the falls. Twisted ankles and slips are the most common injuries here, so this is not a flip-flop hike. Bring real hiking shoes with grip, use trekking poles if you have them, and slow down on the steps near Ganoga, Sheldon Reynolds, and Erie falls.
Best Time to Hike Ricketts Glen
Each season offers something different at the glen:
- Spring (April to May): peak water volume from snowmelt and rain, thundering falls, fewer crowds
- Summer: cool, shaded hemlock gorge and a swim at Lake Jean afterward
- Fall (early to mid October): the most popular window, with foliage framing every cascade
- Winter: the Falls Trail is officially closed to general hiking and reserved for permitted ice climbers and equipped winter hikers
If you want frozen waterfalls, note that the park requires crampons and an ice axe in winter, and casual visitors should stay on the lake-area trails instead.
Tips for a Smooth Day
Cell service is patchy, so download an offline map before you go. Carry at least two liters of water, since there is no potable water along the trail itself. Go counterclockwise from Lake Rose if you prefer descending to the falls and climbing out through the quieter Glen Leigh side. Finally, leash your dog and pack out everything, because this is a designated National Natural Landmark and the old-growth hemlocks here are irreplaceable.
Make It a Multi-Day Trip
Ricketts Glen sits within a couple of hours of other Pennsylvania highlights like the Pine Creek Gorge and the dark skies of Cherry Springs. If you have a week or more, string them together rather than doing the falls as a one-off. Our Pennsylvania outdoor road trip maps a loop through the state's best gorges, waterfalls, and whitewater so you can build Ricketts Glen into a bigger adventure.
