Waterfalls near Philadelphia are a relaxing place to explore and escape the big city. When Philadelphia starts to feel claustrophobic in the crowded, dense Northeast, it’s not too hard to find breathtaking nature just a short distance away from the busy city streets. The following parks and trails in Philadelphia (and around it!) will take you through gorgeous scenery and bring you right to stunning waterfalls. If you got here by looking up something like waterfalls near me, you’re in luck: check these incredible Philly-area cascades out ASAP!

1. Pennypack Park
Pennypack Park, Pennypack Trail, Philadelphia, PA 19136, USA
Flickr / jiwasz
Pennypack Park is a favorite of families who love the easy strolls and fishermen who love to drop a line in the creek. This hike features a view of one of the best waterfalls in Philadelphia along the way, and it is a great spot for pictures and to sit down for a picnic. It will only take you about 20 minutes to get here from Center City.
2. Wissahickon Valley Park
Wissahickon Valley Park, Valley Green Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19128, USA
Flickr / CJD
Less than 30 minutes away is the jaw-dropping Wissahickon Valley Park. Covered bridges, scenic overlooks, and gorgeous trails will bring you through this park to one of the best waterfalls in Philadelphia.
3. Scudders Falls
Washington Crossing, PA 18977, USA
Greg Buzz/Google
Scudders Falls, located in Washington Crossing, is just about 35 minutes from the city. The quaint and historic town is the perfect backdrop for these mild waterfalls near Philadelphia.

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4. Ridley Creek State Park
Ridley Creek State Park, 1023 Sycamore Mills Rd, Media, PA 19063, USA
Flickr / Michael W. Murphy
Ridley Creek State Park in Media is just about 40 minutes away from the city. The park is one of the best in the area, and the pretty dam waterfall makes a great photo backdrop. Visit here in the fall for a truly unforgettable experience.
5. Glen Onoko Falls
Glen Onoko, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, USA
Flickr / Ben Yanis
Glen Onoko Falls in Jim Thorpe is a bit longer of a drive away - it will take you about an hour and 45 minutes to get there. The trail here can be tricky, so wear hiking boots if you want to stay secure on the best sections of the trail. The falls you'll see here are the most impressive waterfalls near Philadelphia for sure.
6. Bushkill and Buttermilk Falls
Bushkill Falls, Lehman Township, PA 18324, USA
Buttermilk Falls, Mountain Rd, Layton, NJ 07851, USA
Flickr / William Doyle
If you're really down for a road trip, heading up to Northeast PA and Northwest NJ will take you to Bushkill Falls and Buttermilk Falls. They are not within the same park, but they are less than half an hour away from each other and are both so impressive that it's a great idea to hike one in the morning, stop for lunch, and stroll the other in the afternoon. The hikes are fairly easy to do in one day. The drive will take you just over two hours.

If you’re looking for more hikes near Philadelphia to add to your bucket list, read about the epic hiking spots around Philadelphia that are completely out of this world!

What are your favorite Philly-area hiking trails? Do any of them have waterfalls? Tell us about them in the comments!

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More to Explore

Waterfalls Near Me

Tori Jane | June 22, 2022

What are some of the best waterfall hikes in Philadelphia? 

The list of waterfall hikes in Philadelphia is short.

  • Devil's Falls

 

Okay, maybe there aren’t a lot of literal waterfalls within Philadelphia, but there certainly are plenty around and near Philly to talk about! Some of the best waterfall hikes near Philadelphia will truly blow you away, like the legendary hike to Devil’s Falls, which might be the only waterfall we can think of that’s in Philly. It’s a small waterfall, but it is beautiful – though no swimming is permitted in the beautiful pool the falls cascade into. Just an hour and 50 minutes away from the city is the famed Red Dot Trail, which features jaw-dropping views of the Delaware Water Gap, as well as Mount Minsi.  

What are some wonderful hiking trails with waterfalls in Pennsylvania?  

Waterfalls in Pennsylvania:

  • Rainbow Falls
  • Hawk Falls
  • Raymondskill Falls
  • Ganoga Falls
  • Cucumber Falls
  • Hell's Hollow Falls
  • Dingmans Falls

 

There are plenty of amazing waterfall hikes in Pennsylvania – especially when you needn’t narrow it down to just cascades within two hours of Philadelphia. With more than 200 named hiking trails with waterfalls in Pennsylvania, where do you begin? How about with the most popular waterfall hiking trail in Pennsylvania, the stunning Ricketts Glen Falls Loop? This one is challenging, yes, but it’s ever so worth it being considered one of the best waterfall hikes in the eastern United States. Other notable waterfall trails in Pennsylvania include the short-and-sweet Hawk Falls Trail at Hickory Run State Park, the Shades of Death Trail, also at Hickory Run, and the Cave Falls and Jim Thorpe Overlook at Lehigh Gorge State Park.  

Which waterfalls in Pennsylvania are the largest?  

Largest waterfalls in Pennsylvania:

  • Ramondskill Falls - 178 feet
  • Dingmans Falls - 130 feet
  • Ganoga Falls - 94 feet

 

With more than 180 amazing waterfalls all over the state of Pennsylvania, you’ve got a lot of items to add to your waterfall-chasing bucket list! The tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania is Raymondskill Falls, which has three amazing tiers to it and measures up at an impressive 178 feet when you add them all together. It’s only a few feet shy of matching the overall drop of Niagara Falls! The next-tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania is Dingmans Falls, coming in at 130 feet tall, and Ganoga Falls, which measures up at 94 feet tall. By the way, Ganoga Falls is located within Ricketts Glen State Park, and accessed via the Fall Trail – which has 20 more waterfalls on top of the one mentioned here!  

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