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Ricketts Glenn Fall Trail


Highlights:

Fantastic Falls, great hike in the woods, some tricky areas
Near:Benton, PA
Scenery:
Distance:7 miles round trip
Elevation Gain:1000 ft
Hike Time:3.5 hours
Difficulty:Strenuous
Trail Condition:OK, but a few difficult spots
HikeType:Loop


Summary: This is a beautiful hike through my favorite state park. At one time Ricketts Glenn was going to be a National Park but plans fell through when WW II started. The trail will go by about 22 named waterfalls that are as high as 94 ft. It is a steep walk at times and sometimes footing can be treacherous due to wet rocks. Be extremely careful hiking in the winter, the state park is continually rescuing people who get hurt on the ice. You will see the waterfalls along with old growth timber and diverse wildlife. Camping is available at the top part of the park by Lake Jean.
Trailhead: It is best to hike this trail from Rt 188. Take 118 west from Dallas for about 16 miles. You will see signs saying you are entering Ricketts Glenn State Park. There are paved parking lots on both sides of the highway and the trail starts on the north side. There is one Beautiful waterfall just to the south of Rt 118. It is a very short walk from the south parking lot. (Lat:41.30028 Lon:-76.27376)
Trail Guides for Ricketts Glenn Fall Trail:
Hiking the Endless Mountains: Exploring the Wilderness of Northeast Pennsylvania
by Jeff Mitchell  (Stackpole Books)

Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer,
User Groups: Hikers, Dogs,
Ranger Contact: Ricketts Glen State Park 570-477-5675 rickettsglensp@state.pa.us
Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Paul Saneholtz, who has posted  33 other hikes on this site
Trail Reviews  Page 2 of 4   Submit your own review
Reviewed by Debbie on 10/6/2006
falls trail was wonderful, be sure to bring your camera! don't waste your time hiking up old bulldozer rd.(difficult)I only made it to Valley View & was disappointed to find no view.

Reviewed by Tracy on 8/9/2006
According tho the DCNR website, the Falls Trail has been opened since July 28th.

Reviewed by tammi on 7/12/2006
this time i took my friend and her sister for their 1st time and we found out the trails were closed, talk about disappointed cause they were looking forward to this,so we just walked the mineral springs and cherry run..not as exciting. i have yet to make it to the fire tower for another picture view

Reviewed by Kevin on 7/5/2006
Do to the recent flooding, this trail is closed. I heard on the news today that it could be weeks, or months to reopening. I think some of the bridge crossing were wiped out. Call first before going.

Reviewed by Kevin on 6/25/2006
I consider this my "home course " hike. Have hiked this in all 4 seasons, usually 2-3 times a month. Have yet to ve the same hike twice. Summer, now can get a bit crowded, also on Fall Foilage weekends. DCNR keeps this trail in great shape, constantly making improvements.

Reviewed by Laurie on 5/29/2006
Just returned from there. SO Beautiful! Loop difficult to complete in one day for some. Park one car at the bottom and drive another to the top, hike down. Coming down from lake jean use low gears, or brakes get hot! Wear soft boots with good tread. Hiking up a bit tiring to legs for average person, just take your time, watch steps, stop, rest, take photos! Not recommended under 8 Especially if your child may horse around and get hurt. NO BABY in a pack! Danger if u fall! Crowded on the holiday. Dog friendly. Saw a Dachshund made the trip down.LOL Local cheap campgrounds have character. In my top 3 places 2 hike in U.S.!

Reviewed by tammi on 4/8/2006
i got to take my 16 yr old along w/my hubby and 2 friends on april 1st again. this time we got to walk up the 2nd side of the falls trail,with the 94 ft fall on it, it was amazing. no words or pictures can tell just how beautiful this place is. i especially like going to the top of the 94 ft fall to get our pictures taken..this has become a favorite place of mine to walk. i am planning to take my parents also. this place is just too awesome for anyone to miss..

Reviewed by tammi on 3/24/2006
first time i was there for my birthday last year and was breathtaking.2 weeks ago i took my husband and 2 friends for the first time and they loved it. we are planning to come again next week to bring our daughter..lets just say i found my new favorite place to go, the 2 & 1/2 drive is well worth it & the everyone loves the pictures..now we are going to see the rest of the falls trail as only made it down 1 side. i can't wait...noone should miss this


Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site.
Keys: Pennsylvania Hiking, Pennsylvania Trails, Pennsylvania Hikes, Columbia County Hiking, Columbia County Trails, Columbia County Hikes

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