State parks are wonderful diversions any time of the year, allowing us to get out to enjoy fresh air, beautiful scenery, and a variety of recreation choices. Ricketts Glen State Park is at the top of my list of Pennsylvania state parks to recommend. It’s a beautiful destination in northeastern Pennsylvania (west of Wilkes Barre), making it a popular year-round destination for Pennsylvanians and those living in nearby New York and New Jersey.
The park has over 13,000 acres that stretch into three counties. Like other state parks, this one has something for everyone: a lovely lake for swimming, boating, or fishing; a beach with sand volleyball and picnic areas; miles of woodland trails; and campgrounds. A bonus while hiking in the Glens Natural Area are the 21 waterfalls to discover. Although it might be a bit of a drive for some, this place is absolutely beautiful and well-maintained — often rated one of the prettiest state parks in Pennsylvania.
If hiking is your thing, Ricketts Glen has 14 well-maintained trails — some of which pass the waterfalls. Actually, you have lots of hiking choices in the park including:
- fairly even terrain through woodlands,
- along the sandy beach at Lake Jean,
- past a few waterfalls before turning back to a mostly woodland hike – a mix of challenging and easy terrain, and
- around all (21) or most of the waterfalls on rocky and sometimes steep terrain.
Use the park map (later in this post) to choose the perfect trail for you and your interests.
Our Hiking Experience
I don’t normally comment much on our hikes as they’re usually rather standard (and quite enjoyable) wherever they happen to be. But Ricketts Glen deserves a special mention. The big draw of Ricketts Glen for me was the chance to hike along the waterfalls — our route (marked on the map below) took us by 17 in all.
I persuaded my husband, Pop, to join me on a cool summer morning. We left our home early because Ricketts Glen is a bit of a drive for us, and we wanted to park in the Lake Rose parking lot, which we knew filled up early. (You can park in another lot, but this one is closer to the waterfalls.) Some folks walk to a few falls (especially 94-foot high Ganoga — not far from the parking lot) and turn around to hike along more even terrain, but we chose to do a big loop around most of the falls, which was an excellent decision for us.
Our Route
We began at the Lake Rose Trailhead and hiked downhill along Falls Trail past 10 waterfalls (ranging in height from 11-94 feet). Then, at Waters Meet (where you have a choice of continuing southeast to a few more falls or heading north past 8 more waterfalls to make a loop), we decided to continue on the loop. Until we got to Waters Meet, we were descending, and then the terrain levels out a little before ascending to the peak on the other side.
When we passed F.L. Ricketts waterfall, we took the shortcut to get on Highland Trail to head northwest back to Lake Rose Trailhead. All in all, our hike was a little more than 6.5 miles, but at a leisurely pace, it was entirely doable and enjoyable. Overall, this trail is rated the most difficult in the park, and I’d have to agree. The entire Falls Trail is 7.2 miles (had we not turned north at Waters Meet) if you want to add on a few more falls outside this loop.
A Challenging Trek
As much as we enjoyed it, there were some challenging spots (descending steep rock steps and ascending others later). It turned out to be a longer route than we first thought. All in all, it took us 2.5 hours to hike, with stops along the way to wonder at the natural beauty surrounding us.
Throughout our whole time hiking, we heard the sounds of water — either crashing over rocks above or trickling along pebbly creeks. I liked viewing all the ways the water found a downhill route. There’s water cascading over rocky ledges to form the waterfalls themselves on one side of the trail (that can be a bit narrow in spots). On the other side of the trail is a rock embankment from which the rock was cut to create the trail. Along that embankment, there’s sometimes water seeping through tiny crevices onto the trail itself. (Good shoes with gripping soles are important when hiking here!)
Lunch at the Beach
After our hike, we drove to Lake Jean (inside the park) to enjoy our picnic lunch from home. There are plenty of picnic tables where you can sit to savor your hard-earned repast. All the while, you can watch others playing in the lake and kids digging sand castles as others are kayaking or paddle boarding by on the lake.
Accessibility
There are trails and picnic areas that are handicapped accessible. Check the map (later in this post) to easily find places that are accessible to all.
Admission
There is no admission to enjoy the park.
What You’ll Find at Ricketts Glen
- 21 waterfalls from 11 to 94 feet high
- 26 miles of hiking trails (from .5 miles to 7.2 miles) with a variety of difficulty levels
- horseback riding trails
- Lake Jean for swimming and boating
- boat rentals (rowboats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, paddleboards) are available during the summer; located near the beach
- boat launch areas
- snack bar (near the beach)
- tent and trailer campsites
- cabins for rent (year-round)
- fishing on Lake Jean in all seasons and ice fishing in the winter
- trails for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing when snow cover permits
- over 10,000 acres of hunting land
- variety of wildlife, including 23 types of birds, black bears, deer, pheasant, coyotes, and wild turkeys
Location
Park Map
Tips for Your Visit
- Arrive early in the morning to beat the crowds. Fewer people on the trails mean you’ll have a quieter experience. And with an early start, it’ll seem like you’re the only ones hiking on your section of the trail.
- Cell service can be spotty. We didn’t have any cell service when we were hiking which meant that we couldn’t access a trail map online. Print out a trail map before you leave home or take a picture of it posted on a board (located at a trailhead) before you begin your trek.
- There are several parking lots. If you arrive early enough, you’ll find parking in the Lake Rose Trailhead lot which has easy and short access to the falls. Since that lot fills up quickly on weekends, you may also park in Beach Lot #2 Trailhead parking which is about one mile from the first waterfall. The third option is parking on PA 118 which is about 1.5 miles from the first waterfall on the Falls Trail.
- The Falls Trail is challenging. Expect tree roots along the trail (not bad) and steep steps of rock that are sometimes slippery from water dripping from the rocks along the side of the trail. There are no handrails, but I did rely on nearby trees to steady myself from time to time descending steep areas. Having said all that, we did pass several families with young kids. Just be forewarned that the hike can be strenuous at times.
- Trails are open from dawn to dusk.
- Bring sunscreen for the beach (in the summer) and bug spray if hiking. And remember that ticks may be present, as well.
- Wear comfortable hiking/walking shoes. Some parts of the trail can be quite slippery because the rocks are wet in spots, so make sure your shoes have good traction on them.
- Bring a mask to use when passing others along the trails.
- Bring your own water and food. I suggest you bring more water than you think you need — just in case. Also, since Ricketts Glen is not close to eating spots (restaurants or fast food places), pack a lunch to take along.
- There are picnic tables in the beach area – in sun or shade, take your pick.
- If you need a restroom, there are some throughout the park, including at the trailheads, the beach, and the visitor center.
- Do NOT feed or otherwise disturb the wildlife.
- Leashed dogs are allowed on the trails, but no dogs are allowed on the beach.
History of Ricketts Glen
Before European settlers discovered this area, it was inhabited by Iroquois. There had been others here in the early 19th century: a turnpike was built that had stagecoach service, and some squatters built a sawmill and harvested trees for furniture making. Years later, two brothers, Elijah and Clemuel Ricketts purchased land here beginning in the mid-19th century and built a lodge. At the time, they were not aware that waterfalls graced the property.
The Park Gets a Name
The son of one of the brothers, R. Bruce Ricketts, is this park’s namesake. Serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, Ricketts helped defeat a Confederate attack on July 2, 1863. Leaving the army as a colonel, Ricketts returned to northeast Pennsylvania and began buying land from his father.
A State Park is Born
R. Bruce Ricketts and his brother, Frank, built a hotel that, with the nearby falls and lake, made this a popular destination for about 30 years. R. Bruce Ricketts hired a crew in the late 19th century to carve out the trails that are enjoyed today along the waterfalls. He named the waterfalls after family, friends, and Native American names. Over time, R. Bruce and some investors ran a lumber business. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased parcels of land in this area over time, improved it, and Ricketts Glen became a state park in the 1940s.
Nearby Attractions
Consider visiting other great places in Pennsylvania:
- Big Pocono State Park, Poconos
- Bushkill Falls, Poconos
- Colonial PA Plantation, outside Philadelphia
- Covered Bridge Driving Tour of Bucks County
- Covered Bridge Driving Tour of the Lehigh Valley
- Gettysburg Visitor Guide
- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Lehigh Valley area
- Hickory Run State Park, Poconos
- Housenick Park, Lehigh Valley
- Jacobsburg State Park, Poconos area
- John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, outside Philadelphia
- Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia
- National Museum of Industrial History, Lehigh Valley
- Philadelphia: Fairmount Park’s Unique Colonial Mansions & Their Stories
- Philadelphia Self-Guided Walking Tour
- Best Things to Do in Philadelphia
- Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania Guide
- Promised Land State Park, Poconos
- Ridley Creek State Park, outside Philadelphia
- Tyler State Park, Bucks County
- Valley Forge National Historical Park, outside Philadelphia
- Washington Crossing Historic Park, Bucks County
Final Thoughts
My husband and I highly recommend Ricketts Glen State Park for a day trip (or even an overnight or two while camping). The roads, grounds, and trails are well maintained, and the trails are well marked. All in all, this is a great place to spend a day. It was certainly worth the drive for us.
I can only imagine how nice it would be to camp here and wake up in the morning with plenty of options: swim, kayak, paddleboard, fish, sit on the beach, read a book, and/or hike. A Pennsylvania gem! My rating: 👍🏻👍🏻
For more hiking fun with great views, consider Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 65 miles from Ricketts Glen. It’s a great hiking spot in the summer, of course, but the mountain is especially popular in spring and fall when birds (hawks, eagles, osprey, etc.) are migrating. If you time your visit right, you can hike, look up, and count the birds flying by as they migrate to their new seasonal homes. Another excellent hiking spot is Jacobsburg State Park, which has some historical sites, too.
Comments?
Please share your experiences and/or suggestions for other great places to visit in the area. Your ideas could be helpful to other travelers. Thanks! 🙂
