Exploring the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park

Exploring the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park.

If you’re looking for information about hiking the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park, you’re in the right place!

Harrison Wright Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Harrison Wright Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.

The Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park in Luzerne County is the most famous waterfall hike in Pennsylvania, featuring 21 named waterfalls along a loop hike of almost legendary status.

Tuscarora Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in August 2023.
Tuscarora Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in August 2023.

And while there is no RIGHT way to see all 21 waterfalls, there certainly is a MOST LOGICAL way, ESPECIALLY if you have kids in your hiking party!

Hikers at Ozone Falls at Ricketts Glen State park.
If you’re hiking the Falls Trail with kids, you DEFINITELY want to follow the route I’ve outlined below.

So follow along as I lay out for you, step-by-step, the shortest, least-strenuous way to explore the waterfalls along the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Ganoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in August 2023.
Ganoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in August 2023.

Where to Park at Ricketts Glen

I always recommend parking at the Lake Rose Trailhead Parking Area when hiking the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park; you’ll find it at GPS coordinates 41.32980, -76.29145.


Overview of Falls Trail Hike

I recommend starting at the Lake Rose Trailhead and hiking the Falls Trail in a counter-clockwise fashion, in the order (1-2-3-4) I have highlighted on the trail map below.

The best way to hike the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park.
The most logical way to hike the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Why You Should Hike the Falls Trail Counter-Clockwise

Here are 3 reasons why I recommend starting at the Lake Rose Trailhead and hiking the Falls Trail in a counter-clockwise fashion.

Delaware Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Delaware Falls on the Ganoga Glen side of the Falls Trail.

1. It allows you to see waterfalls almost immediately.

If you depart from the Lake Rose Trailhead and hike counter-clockwise, you’ll encounter your first waterfall (Mohawk Falls) within 10 minutes.

Mohawk Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Mohawk Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Hike up from the parking area on Route 118 and you have to cover approximately 1.2 miles of flat creek before you see your first waterfall.

The Falls Trail along Kitchen Creek near Route 118 at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Hiking the Falls Trail from the Route 118 trailhead means an extra 1.2 miles of hiking along “flatwater”.

2. It is the shortest route available to see all 21 waterfalls.

If you depart from the Lake Rose Trailhead and hike the 4 segments I outlined on the map above, your loop will end up being around 4 miles long.

If you start at the Route 118 parking lot and do the entire Falls Trail hike, you’re adding an additional 2.5 miles to your hike!

Falls Trail trailhead along Route 118 at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Hiking the Falls Trail from the Route 118 trailhead adds nearly 3 miles (roundtrip) to your hike.

3. It allows you to finish the hike crossing flat land, rather than with a steep climb.

If you look at my segmented map again, you’ll see that both segments 1 and 4 are roughly 1.2 miles long.

So the question becomes, at the end of your hike, which would you rather do?

Hike 1.2 miles of relatively flat terrain, OR hike 1.2 miles of rocky terrain while ascending roughly 1,000 feet along Ganoga Glen?

For most people (and ESPECIALLY people with tired kids in their party), the answer is to finish the hike on flat terrain!


Section 1 (1.2 miles) – Ganoga Glen

The hike begins at the Lake Rose Trailhead.

After following the Falls Trail for a few minutes, you come to a Y intersection.

TAKE THE TRAIL TO THE RIGHT!

Falls Trail Map near Lake Rose Trailhead.
Falls Trail Map near Lake Rose Trailhead.

A few minutes later you’ll be standing at the top of Mohawk Falls (37′).

Mohawk Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania.
Mohawk Falls.

Continuing down the trail, Oneida Falls (13′) is up next.

Oneida Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Oneida Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.

If you are a photographer, you MUST get this shot from below Oneida Falls that everyone, his brother, and his brother’s brother has taken!

Oneida Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania.
Oneida Falls downstream view.

Cayuga Falls (11′) is up next, a diminutive waterfall compared to what is to follow.

Cayuga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Cayuga Falls.

Ganoga Falls (94′) is the tallest waterfall at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Ganoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania.
Ganoga Falls

The namesake waterfall of this glen, it never fails to amaze first-timers at Ricketts Glen.

Ganoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Ganoga Falls.

Moving on from Ganoga Falls, you next encounter Seneca Falls (12′).

Seneca Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania
Seneca Falls

After Seneca Falls, comes Delaware Falls (37′).

Delaware Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Delaware Falls.

Delaware Falls is followed by Mohican Falls (39′).

Mohican Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park
Mohican Falls.

Up next – Conestoga Falls (17′).

Conestoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Conestoga Falls.

Continuing down the trail, Tuscarora Falls (47′) will come into view.

Tuscarora Falls at RIcketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania
Tuscarora Falls.

Tuscarora Falls can look vastly different depending on flow, moreso than many of the other falls at Ricketts Glen.

Tuscarora Falls at RIcketts Glen State Park in PA
Autumn at Tuscarora Falls.

Erie Falls (47′) is the final waterfall on the Ganoga Glen side of the Falls Trail.

Erie Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Erie Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Section 2 (0.7 miles) – Waters Meet Loop

Just downstream from Erie Falls, you’ll come to a spot known as Waters Meet, where the left and right branches of Kitchen Creek merge.

The Glens Natural Area Registered Natural Landmark plaque at Waters Meet along the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park.
The Glens Natural Area Registered Natural Landmark plaque at Waters Meet along the Falls Trail.

For the time being you are going to continue down Kitchen Creek (in other words – do not cross the bridge yet) as there are 3 more outstanding waterfalls to be seen on this lower section of the Falls Trail.

Bridge at Waters Meet at Ricketts Glen State Park
Bridge at Waters Meet

Harrison Wright Falls (27′) will be the first waterfall you come to below Waters Meet – easily one of the most popular and photogenic waterfalls at Ricketts Glen.

Harrison Wright Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania.
Harrison Wright Falls.

Next up will be Sheldon Reynolds Falls (36′).

Sheldon Reynolds Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park
Sheldon Reynolds Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Murray Reynolds Falls (16′) is the final waterfall on this section of the Falls Trail.

Murray Reynolds Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Murray Reynolds Falls.

From here you are going to turn around and backtrack to Waters Meet.

Waters Meet along the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Waters Meet on a summer afternoon.

Section 3 (0.8 miles) – Glen Leigh

Back at Waters Meet, you now want to cross the bridge and procede up the Glen Leigh side of the Falls Trail.

Waters Meet at Ricketts Glen State Park
Waters Meet

The first waterfall you’ll encounter as you start upstream will be Wyandot Falls (15′).

Wyandot Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania.
Wyandot Falls.

Above that you have B. Reynolds Falls (40′).

B. Reynolds Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park
B. Reynolds Falls.

One of the unique things about B. Reynolds Falls is that you can stand behind the falls and look downstream through the veil of water.

The view from behind B. Reynolds Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
The view from behind B. Reynolds Falls.

Above B. Reynolds Falls is R.B. Ricketts Falls (36′).

R.B. Ricketts Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park
R.B. Ricketts Falls.

Up next – Ozone Falls (60′).

Approaching Ozone Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park
Approaching Ozone Falls.

Ozone Falls is the second-tallest waterfall at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Ozone Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park
Ozone Falls.

Upstream from Ozone Falls is Huron Falls (41′).

Huron Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Huron Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Huron Falls is followed by Shawnee Falls (30′).

Shawnee Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania
Shawnee Falls

After Shawnee Falls comes F.L. Ricketts Falls (38′).

F.L. Ricketts Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park
F.L. Ricketts Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park

And then comes the final waterfall on the Glen Leigh ascent – Onodoga Falls (15′).

Onondoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Onondoga Falls.

Just above Onondoga Falls, the trail crosses over Kitchen Creek and you’re ready for the final segment of the hike.


Section 4 (1.2 miles) – Highland Trail

Falls Trail sign near Onondoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Falls Trail sign near Onondoga Falls.

The last leg of the journey is a relatively flat 1.2 mile journey along the Highland Trail, passing through a boulder field called Midway Crevasse.

Midway Crevasse along the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Midway Crevasse along the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park.

From Midway Crevasse, it’s a 10 minute hike to your vehicle back at the Lake Rose Trailhead.

Midway Crevasse at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania.
Midway Crevasse at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Congratulations!

You’ve just completed one of the most iconic hikes in Pennsylvania!

The Glens Natural Area plaque near the Route 118 Falls Trail trailhead at Ricketts Glen State Park.
The Glens Natural Area plaque near the Route 118 Falls Trail trailhead.

Final Thoughts

When you follow the route I’ve outlined in this write-up, you’ll cover approximately 3.9 miles of trail and see all 21 named waterfalls along the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen.

RB Ricketts Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in August 2023.
RB Ricketts Falls in August 2023.

How long the hike takes is entirely up to you, but generally when I take my family along it ends up being between 4 and 4.5 hours.

I strongly recommend wearing hiking boots or some other shoes with ankle support (NOT flip-flops or sandals).

Side view of Harrison Wright Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Side view of Harrison Wright Falls.

Take a backpack with snacks and drinks, but please pack your trash out!

And above all – make lots of memories and take lots of pictures!

Hikers at Ganoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Hikers at Ganoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Nearby Attractions

The Mountain Springs – Cherry Run loop is arguably the SECOND best loop hike at Ricketts Glen State Park.

This collage features four diverse scenes from the Mountain Springs - Cherry Run loop in Ricketts Glen State Park during winter. Upper left: a wooden trail sign against a snowy path. Upper right: a lively stream meandering through a snowy forest. Lower left: a series of small, icy cascades framed by rock ledges. Lower right: a peaceful snowy trail flanked by tall evergreens, inviting exploration.

Adams Falls is the easiest-to-reach waterfall at Ricketts Glen, located just off of Route 118 along the Evergreen Trail.

The multiple tiers of Adams Falls at Ricketts Glen.
The multiple tiers of Adams Falls at Ricketts Glen.

Maple Spring Falls is a 15 foot-tall, off-trail waterfall at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Maple Spring Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Maple Spring Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.

The abandoned Lake Leigh Dam at Ricketts Glen State Park is a towering remnant of an ill-fated hydroelectric project that thankfully failed!

Exploring the Abandoned Lake Leigh Dam at Ricketts Glen State Park.
The abandoned Lake Leigh Dam at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Little Shickshinny Falls is located on State Game Lands 260, also in Luzerne County.

Little Shickshinny Falls in August 2023.
Little Shickshinny Falls in August 2023.

Looking for something a little more off the beaten path?

Then check out my write-up on the 28 best waterfalls in neighboring Sullivan County.

The famous rope swing at Sullivan Falls.
Sullivan Falls in Sullivan County.

Also be sure to check out 27 Must-See Waterfalls in the Poconos for an in-depth look at many of eastern Pennsylvania’s finest waterfalls.

Waterfall along Upper Hornsbeck Trail in Pike County Pennsylvania
Waterfall along Upper Hornsbeck Trail in Pike County Pennsylvania

And if you STILL can’t get enough of the waterfalls, check out my Ultimate Pennsylvania Waterfalls Guide, with directions to hundreds of the best waterfalls in PA!

The Ultimate Pennsylvania Waterfall Guide created by Rusty Glessner
The Ultimate Pennsylvania Waterfalls Guide, by Rusty Glessner.

Looking for something COMPLETELY different to do in Luzerne County?

Concrete City, on the outskirts of Nanticoke, is an abandoned early-1900s industrial housing complex.

Exploring Concrete City in Nanticoke Pennsylvania.
Back side of the homes on the eastern edge of Concrete City.

Now owned by the city of Nanticoke, Concrete City is a fascinating example of the longevity as well as shortcomings of early concrete architecture.

4 of the 20 duplexes in Concrete City in Luzerne County.
4 of the 20 duplexes in Concrete City in Luzerne County.

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Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.