Ricketts Glen State Park, located in northeastern Pennsylvania, is a natural wonderland renowned for its stunning collection of waterfalls. This 13,050-acre park boasts 22 named waterfalls, ranging in height from 11 to 94 feet, cascading through a series of rocky glens. The park's diverse landscape also includes old-growth forests, abundant wildlife, and opportunities for various outdoor activities.
Environment: The park's most distinctive feature is its network of deep gorges, known as "the Glens," carved by glaciers and streams over thousands of years. These glens are home to the park's 22 waterfalls, each with its unique character and charm. The surrounding forests consist of a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, providing habitat for a variety of animals, including deer, black bears, and numerous bird species.
Services and Facilities: Ricketts Glen State Park offers a range of services and facilities to enhance visitor experience:
Activities and Features: Ricketts Glen State Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a wide range of activities and features:
Tourist Attraction Promotion Information:
Ricketts Glen State Park is a true natural gem, offering a unique and unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. Whether you're seeking adventure on the trails, relaxation by the lake, or simply a peaceful escape into nature, Ricketts Glen State Park has something to offer everyone.
Onsite services
Picnics
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Hiking
Barbecue grill
Picnic tables
Public restroom
Good for kids
Kid-friendly hikes
Playground
Dogs allowed
Accidentally took the falls trail not knowing the severity. First let me say it was a beautiful trail. Many beautiful falls. I assumed the highland trail would let me see a few beautiful falls for the easy trail that it promoted. After talking to a few people about the short cut through, it was surely not the short call or easy to say the least but we went with it. This is a very dangerous hike for expert hikers. Lots of rock climbing, up and down. Make sure your well prepared with snacks and water, hiking sticks and proper shoes (which i was not) we made it through but it took almost 5 hours. Not for the faint heart as there is a lot of rocky slippery spots that's easy to fall if not careful. Well worth the beauty but would not attempt this again. Good luck! Please note the short cut is still atleast 4.5 miles of expert hiking.
Beautiful park but not the glen trail is definitely not for the faint of heart. Parts of the trail can get very steep, but the views are worth it! This place is amazing during every season! Just make sure you're set up with the right gear. Winter is gorgeous, and there are guided tours you can take that are definitely worth checking into. Aside from hiking, there are plenty of other things to do in the park with a huge lake. There's boating, fishing, and swimming.
A must see for waterfalls and photography. Hike the loop clockwise. Wear good hiking boots, walking sticks also helped a lot. We visited on a late fall weekend. The trail was not too crowded, but there were a few small busloads / groups along the way.
Great hike. First time here I went to the visitors office and asked where to park and start at. Parked at the Lake Rose trailhead and that takes you to the main trails with the falls. Once you start out it branches off to the left or right. I went counter clockwise to the left, Highland trail. Starts out nice and you go around all the falls but going this way was tough on the way back to the parking lot as it is all uphill and a lot of steps, very steep. Keep that in mind if you do go this way. Other than that. Very nice hike and overall not too difficult.
This place is beyond beautiful. Falls Trail is a hike that in the summer showcases pinnacle nature but in the winter it hits a whole new level of beauty. Fall trail is closed for the winter unless you bring the proper gear and have some experience with ice. Do not mess around as it is costly to be retrieved should something go wrong.