Things to See & Do at Ricketts Glen State Park

There’s no hiking trail in Pennsylvania that delivers roaring waterfalls quite like the iconic Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park. The moderately strenuous 7.2 mile loop of Glens Natural Area lets you experience the beauty of over 20 waterfalls rushing through majestic rock glens and forests and is an ideal location for a scenic spring hike.

Note: The Falls Trail is closed during the winter and only properly-equipped ice climbers and hikers are permitted.

The queen of them all is the mighty 94-foot Ganoga Falls – the tallest resounding waterfall within Ricketts Glen’s 13,000 acres of wilderness. However, the Falls Trail’s breathtaking scenery comes with challenges. Steep, rocky and slippery terrain with potentially icy conditions in winter require proper footwear and preparation.

Note: The Falls Trail is closed during the winter and only properly-equipped ice climbers and hikers are permitted.

Just a few minutes into the 1-mile, Evergreen Trail, you’ll find the 36-foot-tall Adams Falls. Continue for a mile on the loop, and you’ll enjoy a serene walk through the stately old-growth forest, which is one of the few remaining stands in the state. Many of the trees are over 300 years old.

Parking for the Evergreen Trail is located off of PA-118, just down the road from the Glens Lot Trailhead.

The 245-acre Lake Jean is open to electric motors only, which makes it a peaceful place to paddle your kayak or canoe. In the summertime, the cool mountain air and refreshing water draw visitors to the park’s sand beach, where you can spend the whole day swimming and sunbathing. When winter sets in, the lake freezes over and becomes an excellent spot for ice fishing.

Valley View Vista is an overlook branching off of the 2.9-mile Old Bulldozer Road Trail. It boasts an expansive 40-mile view where the mountain ridges extend all the way to the horizon. The difficult trail covers about 900 feet of elevation gain. For the shortest route, park at the Glens Lot on PA-118 and head straight up Old Bulldozer.

This moderate, 1.9-mile loop trail reaches the highest point of Red Rock Mountain. The hike features an old fire tower, dense, mossy forests and vibrant fern thickets. Enjoy mountain laurel blossoms in June and wild blueberries in July. In autumn, it’s an excellent spot to experience the fall colors. Parking for this trail is available at the shale pit lot off of PA-487.

Visitors can hunt and fish throughout Ricketts Glen State Park. The 245-acre Lake Jean is a popular spot to fish for panfish and warmwater game fish. Hunting, trapping and training dogs is also permitted throughout most of the park. Common species withing the park include: white-tailed deer, black bear, coyote, bobcat, turkey, rabbit, gray squirrel and pheasant.

Please refer to PA Fish & Boat Commission and PA Game Commission for all rules and regulations regarding fishing and hunting.

Venturing out to Ricketts Glen State Park during the autumn months offers endless views of NEPA’s famous fall foliage. Enjoy the vibrant colors from the many trails and alongside the cascading waterfalls. Bring a kayak or canoe and paddle out onto Lake Jean for amazing panoramic views from the water.

Ricketts Glen State Park features 26 miles of diverse, forested hiking trails. From expert-level loop trails to easy out and back runs, there’s a little something for every level of hiker. Some of the trails even cover huge elevation gains up the mountain. See it all from waterfalls and dense forests to rock formations and historical remnants on a hike at this famous park.

From late-May to mid-September, the 600-foot-wide sand beach is open for sunbathing, swimming and picnicking. This area of the lake also features plenty of picnic areas, a concession stand, restrooms and changing areas and boat rentals.

Note: Swimming is only permitted within the designated area.

Spend the night at Ricketts Glen State Park. Reserve a modern cabin, a deluxe cottage or one of their 120 tent and trailer campsites. Cabins are open all year-round while most of the tent/trailer sites close between December and April. The larger, deluxe cottages are available from mid-April through mid-October.

Bring your binoculars on your next visit to Ricketts Glen State Park for viewing a wide variety of wildlife. The park is home to 23 varieties of warblers and bald eagles. The trails are also teeming with wildlife from black bears to forest critters like chipmunks and snakes. Small streams and wet lands throughout the park also hold healthy populations of amphibians and fish.

Visitors head to Ricketts Glen State Park in the winter for activities like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking and ice fishing. Many of the park’s trails offer perfect conditions for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing while Lake Jean, when frozen, becomes a popular ice fishing location. You can check with the park office about snow and ice conditions prior to visiting.

Note: The Falls Trail is closed during the winter and only properly-equipped ice climbers and hikers are permitted.

Visit Rickettts Glen State Park year-round for a variety of fun and educational events. Whether you’re interested in guided nature walks, kid-friendly activities, astronomy, or yoga, there’s something for every nature enthusiast to enjoy on their upcoming calendar of events.