It’s never a bad time for hiking, whether we’re blinking and stretching from our winter hibernation or melting our way through the summer months. It’s just a proven fact: the great outdoors will beckon. If you’re looking to indulge in some of the best waterfalls in Pennsylvania, keep in mind that spring is the best time to view waterfalls. The melting ice and snow causes their beauty to reach peak impressiveness.
Here’s a great road trip to take in Eastern Pennsylvania that will showcase some of the most beautiful waterfalls our state has to offer. The loop will take about 6 hours to drive, though if you have less time to spare, you can always cut a few points out of the route. Our itinerary begins at Glen Onoko Falls and travels in a loop northwest to Ricketts Glen. Here is the Google Maps link for you to follow, or adjust at your leisure. Read on to find out more about each location along this waterfall road trip in Pennsylvania.
Google Maps
- Glen Onoko Falls
Alexa Graham - Flickr EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to the dangerous nature of this trail and area, this hike has been closed by the state. Please obey this closure and check out the other sites on the road trip instead. We’re starting our trip at one of the more difficult locations to hike: Glen Onoko Falls, located near Weatherly. The path is gorgeous, but steep, so be careful! You’ll see multiple waterfalls as you ascend the mountain. You’ll be hiking a 4.1 mile loop that’s open from March until November; so if you do this road trip and include this stop, we recommend waiting for spring or summer.
- Ganoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park
Colin Gallagher/ Flickr Ricketts Glen State Park is one of the best parks to visit in the entire state, thanks to its beautiful trails and many gorgeous waterfalls. There are 22 waterfalls here, including the gorgeous Ganoga Falls (pictured above). Ganoga Falls is the tallest waterfall at Ricketts Glen, coming in at 94 feet tall.
- Bowman Hollow Falls
Mike Servedio / Instgram Bowman Hollow Falls is a hidden waterfalls in the town of Forkston. You can see the waterfall from above, or you can hike to the bottom; if you decide to hike the descent, be careful, as the trek can be a bit precarious.
- Osterhout Falls
Raymond Chippa/ Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau/ Facebook Osterhout Falls is visible from the road, if you’re traveling east-bound! Your biggest challenge will be finding a spot to park, and to safely view the falls. It may be best to let your passengers simply admire this fall as you drive past.
- Nay Aug Falls
BuLLNJ5 - TripAdvisor Nay Aug Falls is a beautiful, quick stop on our trip. The trail from your car to the fall and back is only half a mile long, and do-able for hikers of all experience levels. Nay Aug Park has other amenities, such as playgrounds and covered bridges, so it might be a great place to take a break for a picnic lunch or to let your kids play.
- Bushkill Falls
Ravi Shah/ Flickr Chances are that you’ve heard of Bushkill Falls, which are lovingly referred to as the Niagara of Pennsylvania. It is the only location on our itinerary that will require you to pay an entrance fee; but the eight magnificent falls that you’ll see are totally worth it. The trail is super easy too, thanks to the wooden boardwalks and steps built for visitors. The park opens on April 4, so this is one to put on the calendar.
- Slateford Creek Waterfalls
Nicholas A. Tonellli / Flickr Slateford Creek is located only a few miles from Stroudsburg, and is home to numerous waterfalls. This particular location is one of the best kept secrets of the Delware Water Gap and totally worth a visit. You’ll find three waterfalls along this hike; one of them is easier to access, while the other two require a more treacherous hike.
Tag someone below who would love this adventure along a waterfall road trip in Pennsylvania– and of course, this barely scratches the surface of the best waterfalls in Pennsylvania. Any others that you would suggest?
Google Maps
Alexa Graham - Flickr
EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to the dangerous nature of this trail and area, this hike has been closed by the state. Please obey this closure and check out the other sites on the road trip instead. We’re starting our trip at one of the more difficult locations to hike: Glen Onoko Falls, located near Weatherly. The path is gorgeous, but steep, so be careful! You’ll see multiple waterfalls as you ascend the mountain. You’ll be hiking a 4.1 mile loop that’s open from March until November; so if you do this road trip and include this stop, we recommend waiting for spring or summer.
Colin Gallagher/ Flickr
Ricketts Glen State Park is one of the best parks to visit in the entire state, thanks to its beautiful trails and many gorgeous waterfalls. There are 22 waterfalls here, including the gorgeous Ganoga Falls (pictured above). Ganoga Falls is the tallest waterfall at Ricketts Glen, coming in at 94 feet tall.
Mike Servedio / Instgram
Bowman Hollow Falls is a hidden waterfalls in the town of Forkston. You can see the waterfall from above, or you can hike to the bottom; if you decide to hike the descent, be careful, as the trek can be a bit precarious.
Raymond Chippa/ Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau/ Facebook
Osterhout Falls is visible from the road, if you’re traveling east-bound! Your biggest challenge will be finding a spot to park, and to safely view the falls. It may be best to let your passengers simply admire this fall as you drive past.
BuLLNJ5 - TripAdvisor
Nay Aug Falls is a beautiful, quick stop on our trip. The trail from your car to the fall and back is only half a mile long, and do-able for hikers of all experience levels. Nay Aug Park has other amenities, such as playgrounds and covered bridges, so it might be a great place to take a break for a picnic lunch or to let your kids play.
Ravi Shah/ Flickr
Chances are that you’ve heard of Bushkill Falls, which are lovingly referred to as the Niagara of Pennsylvania. It is the only location on our itinerary that will require you to pay an entrance fee; but the eight magnificent falls that you’ll see are totally worth it. The trail is super easy too, thanks to the wooden boardwalks and steps built for visitors. The park opens on April 4, so this is one to put on the calendar.
Nicholas A. Tonellli / Flickr
Slateford Creek is located only a few miles from Stroudsburg, and is home to numerous waterfalls. This particular location is one of the best kept secrets of the Delware Water Gap and totally worth a visit. You’ll find three waterfalls along this hike; one of them is easier to access, while the other two require a more treacherous hike.
And if you’d like to chase waterfalls this winter, check out these incredible frozen waterfalls in Pennsylvania.
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Address: Glen Onoko Loop, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, USAAddress: Ricketts Glen Falls Trail, Benton, PA, USAAddress: Bowman Hollow, Forkston Township, PA 18657, USAAddress: Osterhout Rd, Tunkhannock, PA, USAAddress: Nay Aug Falls, Scranton, PA 18510, USAAddress: Bushkill Falls, Lehman Township, PA 18324, USAAddress: National Park Dr, Bangor, PA 18013, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Waterfalls In Pennsylvania December 21, 2019 Meghan Kraft What are the best waterfall hikes in Pennsylvania? The state of Pennsylvania is truly a natural wonder to behold. The state is rife with lush forests and beautiful water features, from craggy waterfalls to rushing rivers and gurgling creekbeds. If you’re looking for some of the best waterfall hikes in Pennsylvania, however, there are quite a few to choose from. Meadow Run Trail can be found in Ohiopyle State Park, and its accessible from a three-mile loop trail that takes you both to Cucumber Falls and Ohiopyle Falls. There are multiple viewing areas, and you can even take a chilly slide down Meadow Run Natural Waterslides gushing natural run. What is the largest waterfall in Pennsylvania? The highest waterfall in Pennsylvania just so happens to be the three-tiered Raymondskill Falls. It can be accessed and viewed from the Raymondskill Creek Trail, and if each of those three tiers were added together, then Raymondskill Falls would be a spare few feet shorter than the famed Niagara Falls. Swimming is not permitted in the area for safety reasons, so make sure you aren’t taking a dip within 50 feet of the falls themselves. Are there any other scenic hikes in Pennsylvania? It’s hard to choose a scant few of the best hiking trails in Pennsylvania! There are so many of them, and each has a peak season. Some are best traversed in the heat of the summertime, others are most beautiful beneath a layer of snow. There are hundreds of state parks, rural hilltops and lush forests that lend themselves to a walk in the woods. Wolf Rocks Loop Trail is a 9.9 mile hike that’s found in the Forbes State Forest, and it’s a great spot with stunning views and a series of stream valleys at its base. Keep in mind, there are quite a few rocky points along the trail, and it’s recommended for more experienced hikers. Glen Onoko Falls is known as one of the most dangerous hikes in the state, but also one of the most beautiful. It’s a challenging trek that provides one of the most stunning views, making it worth an advanced hiker’s while.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Waterfalls In Pennsylvania
December 21, 2019
Meghan Kraft
What are the best waterfall hikes in Pennsylvania? The state of Pennsylvania is truly a natural wonder to behold. The state is rife with lush forests and beautiful water features, from craggy waterfalls to rushing rivers and gurgling creekbeds. If you’re looking for some of the best waterfall hikes in Pennsylvania, however, there are quite a few to choose from. Meadow Run Trail can be found in Ohiopyle State Park, and its accessible from a three-mile loop trail that takes you both to Cucumber Falls and Ohiopyle Falls. There are multiple viewing areas, and you can even take a chilly slide down Meadow Run Natural Waterslides gushing natural run. What is the largest waterfall in Pennsylvania? The highest waterfall in Pennsylvania just so happens to be the three-tiered Raymondskill Falls. It can be accessed and viewed from the Raymondskill Creek Trail, and if each of those three tiers were added together, then Raymondskill Falls would be a spare few feet shorter than the famed Niagara Falls. Swimming is not permitted in the area for safety reasons, so make sure you aren’t taking a dip within 50 feet of the falls themselves. Are there any other scenic hikes in Pennsylvania? It’s hard to choose a scant few of the best hiking trails in Pennsylvania! There are so many of them, and each has a peak season. Some are best traversed in the heat of the summertime, others are most beautiful beneath a layer of snow. There are hundreds of state parks, rural hilltops and lush forests that lend themselves to a walk in the woods. Wolf Rocks Loop Trail is a 9.9 mile hike that’s found in the Forbes State Forest, and it’s a great spot with stunning views and a series of stream valleys at its base. Keep in mind, there are quite a few rocky points along the trail, and it’s recommended for more experienced hikers. Glen Onoko Falls is known as one of the most dangerous hikes in the state, but also one of the most beautiful. It’s a challenging trek that provides one of the most stunning views, making it worth an advanced hiker’s while.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The state of Pennsylvania is truly a natural wonder to behold. The state is rife with lush forests and beautiful water features, from craggy waterfalls to rushing rivers and gurgling creekbeds. If you’re looking for some of the best waterfall hikes in Pennsylvania, however, there are quite a few to choose from. Meadow Run Trail can be found in Ohiopyle State Park, and its accessible from a three-mile loop trail that takes you both to Cucumber Falls and Ohiopyle Falls. There are multiple viewing areas, and you can even take a chilly slide down Meadow Run Natural Waterslides gushing natural run.
What is the largest waterfall in Pennsylvania?
The highest waterfall in Pennsylvania just so happens to be the three-tiered Raymondskill Falls. It can be accessed and viewed from the Raymondskill Creek Trail, and if each of those three tiers were added together, then Raymondskill Falls would be a spare few feet shorter than the famed Niagara Falls. Swimming is not permitted in the area for safety reasons, so make sure you aren’t taking a dip within 50 feet of the falls themselves.
Are there any other scenic hikes in Pennsylvania?
It’s hard to choose a scant few of the best hiking trails in Pennsylvania! There are so many of them, and each has a peak season. Some are best traversed in the heat of the summertime, others are most beautiful beneath a layer of snow. There are hundreds of state parks, rural hilltops and lush forests that lend themselves to a walk in the woods. Wolf Rocks Loop Trail is a 9.9 mile hike that’s found in the Forbes State Forest, and it’s a great spot with stunning views and a series of stream valleys at its base. Keep in mind, there are quite a few rocky points along the trail, and it’s recommended for more experienced hikers. Glen Onoko Falls is known as one of the most dangerous hikes in the state, but also one of the most beautiful. It’s a challenging trek that provides one of the most stunning views, making it worth an advanced hiker’s while.
