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Ricketts Glen State Park (Falls Trail)

Photo: Chris M Morris / CC BY 2.0 · source

🌊 Lakes & rivers

Ricketts Glen State Park (Falls Trail)

Benton, PA · Endless Mountains, Northeastern Pennsylvania

About

Ricketts Glen packs more waterfalls into a single hike than almost anywhere else in the East. The 7.2 mile Falls Trail follows Kitchen Creek down through three glens, and along the way you pass 21 free-flowing falls (the park counts 22 named ones) stepping over thin sandstone ledges of the Huntley Mountain Formation. The headliner is Ganoga Falls, a 94 foot curtain that stands well above every other drop here. The two upper glens, Ganoga and Glen Leigh, do most of the work, falling close to 600 feet on rocky, often wet stone stairs before the grade eases. Spring runoff and the days after rain bring the fullest flow, and green light filters through old hemlocks all summer. The whole stretch is a National Natural Landmark. Wear real boots, the rock stays slick, and the trail closes in winter to all but equipped ice climbers.

Highlights

94 ft Ganoga Falls, tallest of the park's 22 named falls7.2 mi Falls Trail loop21 free-flowing falls, 11 ft to 94 ftFollows Kitchen Creek through three glensGlens Natural Area, a National Natural LandmarkFalls Trail closed in winter except for ice climbers

Getting there

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