Ricketts Glen State Park: 1 Day Itinerary

Ricketts Glen State Park, located in northeastern Pennsylvania, is a hiker’s paradise. With 26 miles of trails, the park offers a diverse range of hiking experiences, from gentle walks to challenging treks. The main attraction of the park is its stunning collection of 22 waterfalls, making it a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and waterfall chasers alike. The park also offers views of deep gorges, old-growth forest, and lovely lakes that provide a captivating backdrop for any hiker. Whether you’re an experienced trekker or a casual stroller, Ricketts Glen State Park needs to be added to everyone’s bucket list. Below you will find our 1-day itinerary that will highlight some of the park’s best features!

Entrance Fee:

FREE

Lodging:

Ricketts Glen State Park offers a diverse range of lodging options to suit every visitor’s needs. The park has everything from cozy cabins and cottages equipped with modern amenities to camping spots for both RVs and tents. The campground, situated along the picturesque shores of Lake Jean, boasts 120 sites, many of which offer full hookups. Personally, we had an amazing stay at the campground and would highly recommend it! Reservations for all lodging within the park can be made at Ricketts Glen Lodging.

For lodging options outside the park, there are several private campgrounds and Airbnbs/Vrbos in the immediate area. Bloomsburg, PA, is the closest option for more extensive hotel options, approximately 20 miles from the park.

Dining:

There are picnic areas within the park, but no food is available for purchase. Benton, PA, will have the closest food options outside the park. It is 3 miles from the park entrance.

Must Know Before You Go:

This park has so much water. The trails are often muddy and slick, so proper footwear is recommended.
Lake Jean has a lovely beach and two boat launches. You may bring your own boat or rent one from the concession area. If you are bringing your own boat, you will need registration or a launch permit. You can obtain a launch permit from the park office.
Black bears live inside the park. Please review bear safety before heading out and check out the park’s wildlife page for more information: Ricketts Glen Wildlife.
PA 487 between the town of Red Rock and the the turn off for the campground is very steep. If you are towing a heavy unit, I would recommend coming in via PA 487 from Dushore. We did NOT do this and it was pretty dicey even with our lightweight travel trailer.

Cell Service:

There is no service in the campground or on the trails.

1 Day Itinerary

Falls Trail-

Distance: 4.6 miles roundtrip (this will vary greatly depending on how much exploring you do at each of the falls😊)

Trail Route: Loop

Trail Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 900+ ft

Trail Access: Lake Rose Parking Area. If this lot is full, there are two other parking lots (the Beach and the PA 118 parking areas- these lots will add 2+ miles onto your hike).

There are several ways to hike this trail. We found this to be the easiest and least strenuous route😊

I recommend hiking this trail counterclockwise, starting with Mohawk Falls (37 ft) first. After Mohawk Falls (37 ft), you will pass Oneida Falls (13 ft), Cayuga Falls (11 ft), Ganoga Falls (94 ft!), Seneca Falls (12 ft), Delaware Falls (37 ft), Mohican Falls (39 ft), Conestoga Falls (17 ft), Tuscarora Falls (47 ft), and finally Erie Falls (47 ft).

Just past Erie Falls is a large wooden footbridge (~1.3 miles from the parking lot). Head past the footbridge and veer right to see three more stunning waterfalls- Harrison Wright Falls (27ft), Sheldon Reynolds Falls (36 ft), and Murray Reynolds Falls (16 ft).

Once you’ve seen Murray Reynolds Falls, backtrack to the footbridge (~1 mile to Murray Reynolds and back). This time, cross over the bridge and head towards Wyandot Falls to complete the last section of waterfalls (~ 1 mile). After Wyandot Falls (15 ft), you will pass B. Reynolds Falls (40 ft), R. B. Reynolds Falls (36 ft), Ozone Falls (60 ft), Huron Falls (41 ft), Shawnee Falls (30 ft), F. L. Ricketts Falls (38 ft), and finally- you made it to all 21!- Onondaga Falls (15 ft).

Just after Onondaga Falls, take a left on the Highland Trail (~1.3 miles to the Lake Rose parking lot). This flat, easy path passes mostly forest and a cool, rocky area called the Midway Crevasse before finally landing you back at the parking lot.

Evergreen Trail/Adams Falls-

Distance: 1.0 mile roundtrip

Trail Route: Loop

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: ~100ft ft

Trail Access: Evergreen Parking Lot via PA 118

This trail offers many scenic views with minimal hiking effort. It quickly takes you to the top of the 36-foot Adams Falls. After that, follow the trail down the stone stairs and across the wooden footbridge. Once you cross the bridge, head left for more stunning views of the lower portion of Adams Falls and some unique rock formations. Then, return to the main trail to continue the forest loop before returning to the Evergreen Parking Area.

Lake Jean Beach-

If you still have some time left in your day, I recommend checking out the lovely beach area at Lake Jean. Depending on the weather or your personal preference, you can either head in for a swim or take out a kayak or canoe. The lake at sunset is also incredible😊

And that’s a wrap on Ricketts Glen State Park!

I hope you have an incredible adventure😊

Looking for another Pennsylvania adventure? Check out our Ohiopyle State Park Itinerary!