This Epic 7-Mile Waterfall Trail in Ricketts Glen State Park is Worth the Sweat

Choosing a waterfall hike usually means that three things will be true on your trip. One, the views and subsequent pictures will be amazing. Two, you’re likely to get wet (or at least a bit damp with the hanging mist left in the air by the force of the falls). Three, waterfall hikes mean crowds, and multiple waterfalls usually mean heavy crowding to the point of wanting to avoid visiting at all. And yet, for the Ricketts Glen Fall Loop trail in Pennsylvania, only the first two of these things ring true, and it makes the experience even more memorable. 

Although this hike in Ricketts Glen State Park is extremely well-regarded (often considered to be one of the best waterfall hikes the country has to offer), the Fall Loop isn’t as crowded as one would think. Yes, there are over twenty waterfalls to visit, one being 94 feet in length and the highest waterfall in the park (Ganoga Falls), but this specific trail can be extremely difficult. As with many hikes, the difficulty level can depend on weather conditions, but even in dry weather, there are multiple areas where the trail will be slick and hard to navigate because of the constant moisture in the air due to the waterfalls, or in places where thin streams of water crawl down separately from the falls.

Overall, the loop hike is 6.9 miles and takes anywhere from three to four hours to complete. As mentioned, it’s a hard hike with considerable changes in elevation and a few dangerous areas where one can feel as if they’re practically climbing rather than hiking. Near the beginning of the hike, you’re able to enjoy the walk peacefully, with a well-maintained trail circling through the old-growth forest and signs to indicate the names of the waterfalls you come upon.

However, the higher you go, the narrower, steeper, and trickier the trail becomes. These areas are also far less maintained due to the more dangerous trek to reach them (something that can be downright impossible in some weather, especially winter). And yet, braving the trek means that you’ll experience a truly unique hike, get a great workout in, and view waterfalls that others can’t even imagine encountering. 

Ricketts Glen State Park as a whole is always popular, especially with campers, hikers, and those who use Lake Jean for a wide variety of water sports. But, it’s not only humans that find this area irresistible, with many different animals (black bears, deer, porcupines, beavers, river otters, coyotes, and many bird species, among others) calling it home. With over thirteen thousand acres to its name, this state park is the largest old-growth forest in Pennsylvania.

Much of this is due to the fact that although R. Bruce Rickets (the man who bought the land) was involved in the logging industry, the formation of the land that would become the state park wasn't ideal for logging. Plus, it became very clear that the waterfalls would become a huge draw for tourism, so Ricketts and his family opened the land for visitors (for a fee, of course). Eventually, the land was purchased and became a state park, but it also became a designated Important Bird Area as well as an Important Mammal Area, where rare species are protected, and some locally extinct species are reintroduced to the area. 

As a result, although this hike has the obvious big payoff of stunning waterfalls to see, it also has a potential payoff of seeing some rare mammal and bird species along the way! These factors, plus the distinct lack of large crowds and uniquely arduous (but in a fun way) trail, make the Ricketts Glen Falls Loop an absolute must-visit Pennsylvania hiking trail.

Ready to start planning your next trip? Try Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.