Ricketts Glen State Park: A Waterfall Weekend Itinerary
One gorge, 21 waterfalls, all in one weekend.
A weekend built around the Ricketts Glen waterfalls hike: the Falls Trail past 21 named waterfalls, the Glen Leigh and Ganoga Glen loop, 94-foot Ganoga Falls, and Lake Jean.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
10 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Ricketts Glen: every stop pinned in order.
The Falls Trail, Lake Jean & Grand View · northeastern Pennsylvania
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
Ricketts Glen in photos: 5 of the stops.
Plan and book your 2 days in Ricketts Glen, one step at a time
How 2 days in Ricketts Glen split up
Plan 2 days for Ricketts Glen. Headline hike: Falls Trail. Difficulty: Strenuous. Entry: Free. Ricketts Glen State Park sits in the mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania, and its claim to fame is the Falls Trail, a hike that threads 21 named waterfalls through a deep gorge of old-growth hemlock. Two streams, Kitchen Creek's east and west branches, carve parallel glens, Glen Leigh and Ganoga Glen, that meet at a junction called Waters Meet, and the trail strings the falls together one after another.
Day 1: The Falls Trail · Glen Leigh, Ganoga Glen & 21 waterfalls
6 stops · Day one
Day 2: Lake Jean, the Highland Trail & the Grand View fire tower
4 stops · Day two
The Falls Trail · Glen Leigh, Ganoga Glen & 21 waterfalls
This is the headline day. The classic Ricketts Glen waterfalls hike is the full Falls Trail loop (about 7.2 miles, strenuous), which links both glens. Most hikers start from the Lake Rose trailhead, drop down Ganoga Glen past Ganoga Falls (94 feet, the tallest in the park), reach Waters Meet where the two streams join, then climb back up Glen Leigh past Oneida, Mohawk, and a string of others before closing the loop on the Highland Trail.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive from~55 min · arrive early for parking · DriveRicketts Glen sits in the mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania, about 55 minutes from Bloomsburg and roughly an hour from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport (AVP). Head out early, especially on fall and summer weekends, because the trailhead lots fill by mid-morning. Download an offline map, since cell service in the gorge is spotty.
Lake Rose trailheadFree parking · top of the loop · ViewpointMost hikers start the Falls Trail from the Lake Rose trailhead at the top of the loop, where parking is free. From here you can drop into Ganoga Glen, reach Waters Meet, and climb back up Glen Leigh, doing both glens in one continuous loop. The PA-118 trailhead lower down is the alternative for reaching the lower falls.
- Ganoga Glen & Ganoga Falls
94-ft falls · steep wet steps · HikeDrop down Ganoga Glen past a string of waterfalls to Ganoga Falls, at 94 feet the tallest in the park. The trail is wet stone steps and rooty ledges, slick with spray and moss, with steep drop-offs beside the creek, so take the descent slowly and use trekking poles. This is the showpiece half of the loop.
- Waters Meet
Where the two glens join · ViewpointWaters Meet is the junction where Ganoga Glen and Glen Leigh come together and the east and west branches of Kitchen Creek join. It is the midpoint of the loop: from here you turn and climb back up the other glen past Oneida, Mohawk, and more waterfalls before closing the loop on the Highland Trail.
Glen Leigh climbOneida, Mohawk & more falls · HikeFrom Waters Meet, climb up Glen Leigh past Wyandot, B. Reynolds, R. B. Ricketts, Ozone, Huron, Shawnee, Oneida, and Mohawk Falls, then finish on the Highland Trail back to the trailhead. Going up this side, rather than down, keeps both steep descents off your tired legs. Budget 4 to 6 hours for the full 7.2-mile loop.
- Stay in Bloomsburg
Most hotels · ~55 min to the park · lodgeThere is no lodge inside Ricketts Glen, so base in Bloomsburg, which has the most hotels and sits about 55 minutes from the park. The area near Wilkes-Barre is another easy option, and tiny Benton is the closest town to the trailheads. Book ahead on prime fall and summer weekends.
Lake Jean, the Highland Trail & the Grand View fire tower
After yesterday's climb, day two is a slower one. Start at Lake Jean, the park's 245-acre lake, where there is a sand swimming beach in season and boating, kayaking, and canoeing on the water. It is the easy, scenic counterpoint to the gorge, and a fine place for a morning swim or a paddle before the afternoon heats up.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Lake Jean · beach & boating
245-acre lake · swim & paddle · activityStart day two at Lake Jean, the park's 245-acre lake, with a sand swimming beach in season plus boating, kayaking, and canoeing. After yesterday's gorge climb it is the easy, scenic counterpoint, ideal for a morning swim or paddle. Check the PA DCNR page for current beach hours and any rental availability.
Highland TrailGentler loop · Midway Crevasse · HikeFor more walking without the cliffs, the Highland Trail rolls through the woods above the glens and past Midway Crevasse, a narrow squeeze between huge boulders. It links the tops of the two glens, so you can use it for a gentler loop or as the connector that closes the Falls Trail. A relaxed, lower-stakes way to see more forest.
Grand View fire towerShort trail · Endless Mountains view · ViewpointFinish at the Grand View fire tower, reached by a short trail, for a long look over the Endless Mountains and the surrounding forest. It is a small effort for a big payoff view, and a fine place to wrap up the weekend, especially in fall when the color stretches to the horizon.
- Getting home: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AVP)
About 1 hour to the airport · DriveThe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport (AVP) is about an hour from the park, and Bloomsburg and Wilkes-Barre both sit within easy reach for the drive out. Top off your gas in one of the gateway towns and leave with daylight to spare on the mountain roads. Keep an offline map handy where service is thin.
Book the 1 night
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the checking. We find what is still open near each trailhead and email you this plan back with a booking link for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Ricketts Glen
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
What we actually learned in the gorge.
Wear grippy shoes, the rocks are slick
The Falls Trail is built from wet stone steps and rooty ledges that stay slippery with spray and moss in every season. Grippy trail runners or hiking shoes are essential, and trekking poles help on the steep descents. Most injuries here are simple slips.
Do the full loop, not an out-and-back
The classic route drops down one glen and climbs back up the other, meeting at Waters Meet, about 7.2 miles total and rated strenuous. Going down one side and up the other keeps both steep sections off tired legs. Budget 4 to 6 hours with photo stops.
Come in late spring or fall
Late spring brings the highest, loudest water as the snowmelt and rain feed the falls, and fall brings peak color through the hemlock and hardwoods. Summer is fine but lower-water; weekends in both prime seasons get busy, so start early.
Check winter status before you go
In cold months the Falls Trail can ice over and the park sometimes closes it from about December through March for safety. When it is open in winter, microspikes are required. Always check the PA DCNR Ricketts Glen page for current trail conditions first.
Parking is free, but lots fill
Ricketts Glen is a Pennsylvania state park with free entry and free parking. The Lake Rose trailhead serves the upper loop and the PA-118 trailhead reaches the lower falls. On fall and summer weekends the lots fill by mid-morning, so arrive early.
Carry water and there is no shortcut
Once you commit to the Falls Trail loop there is no easy bail-out partway through the gorge. Carry water and snacks, plan your full mileage, and tell someone your route. Cell service in the gorge is spotty, so download a map before you start.
Ricketts Glen: questions before you go
Ricketts Glen state park: the questions people ask most.
The full Falls Trail loop, which combines Glen Leigh and Ganoga Glen and passes all 21 named waterfalls, is about 7.2 miles and rated strenuous. Most hikers start from the Lake Rose trailhead, go down one glen to Waters Meet and up the other, then close the loop on the Highland Trail. Plan on 4 to 6 hours with photo stops. Shorter options reach the lower falls from the PA-118 trailhead.
The Falls Trail passes 21 named waterfalls through a gorge of old-growth hemlock. The tallest is Ganoga Falls at 94 feet, in Ganoga Glen, and others include Mohawk, Oneida, and many more. The two glens, Glen Leigh and Ganoga Glen, meet at a junction called Waters Meet, and the trail strings the falls together one after another.
Late spring and fall are the best times. Late spring brings the highest, loudest water from snowmelt and rain, while fall brings peak color through the hemlock and hardwoods. Summer is fine but the falls run lower. Both prime seasons get busy on weekends, so arrive early to get parking and beat the crowds in the gorge.
Not always. In cold months the Falls Trail can ice over and the park sometimes closes it from roughly December through March for safety. When it is open in winter, microspikes are required because the wet stone steps freeze solid. Always check the PA DCNR Ricketts Glen page for current trail status before you drive out.
It is rated strenuous and demands care. The trail is built from wet stone steps and rooty ledges, slick with spray and moss, with steep drop-offs beside the creek. The danger is mostly slips, so wear grippy shoes, use trekking poles on the descents, and take the steep sections slowly. It is doable for fit hikers but is not a casual stroll.
Ricketts Glen is a Pennsylvania state park, so entry is free and parking is free. You park at the Lake Rose trailhead for the upper loop or the PA-118 trailhead for the lower falls. On busy fall and summer weekends the lots fill by mid-morning, so come early. There is no entrance fee to pay.
Aim to reach the trailhead lot by roughly 7:30 in the morning on summer and fall weekends, because the free lots fill fast and the narrow, slick stone stairs of the Falls Trail get crowded. Arriving early also means quieter photos and cooler footing on the wet steps. Wear real deep-tread hiking shoes or trail runners, not fashion sneakers, since smooth soles slip on the mist-coated, mossy stone.
Beyond the waterfalls, Lake Jean is a 245-acre lake with a sand swimming beach in season plus boating, kayaking, and canoeing. The Highland Trail is a gentler woods loop past Midway Crevasse that links the tops of the two glens, and the Grand View fire tower is a short walk to a long view over the Endless Mountains.
There is no lodge inside the park, so most visitors base in nearby towns. Bloomsburg and the area near Wilkes-Barre both sit within easy reach and have the most hotels, and Benton is the closest small town to the park. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport (AVP) is about an hour away if you are flying in.
Yes. Tell us your dates and we check what is still open for the plan on this page, then send it back with a booking link for each night and the total. Nothing is charged and nothing is held, and you pay the normal rate.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 2-day route. Same 7 stops.
- 1 night, a campsite near Bloomsburg
- $22
- 1 night, a room in Bloomsburg
- from $95
- A private local guide, rooms and campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked September 2026
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