Ricketts Glen is a 13,193 acre State Park and National Natural Landmark, located in Lucerne County, Pennsylvania. A magnificent place filled with lush greenery and 22 graceful waterfalls seemingly everywhere you turn. We were planning on hiking this trail for a while now, since we’ve been exploring North Eastern Pennsylvania particularly often lately. If you’re from outside the area, this hiking area will show you exactly why US Easterners are so dedicated to their terrain!

We arrived at about 9:30am. There were very little cars in the spacious parking lot. As always, I recommend arriving early to the more populous nature destinations. That way, your experience can be more personal and serene.

Walking out into the crisp September air and the bright morning sun told me that we picked the a great day for this hike!

The left picture is a general map of the trail, the right picture is our specific foot path.

We decided to hike the Highland Trail (Green dotted trail) first and foremost, then get the waterfall views (blue dots) towards the later park of the hike. This led us in a clockwise direction. This was a spur of the moment decision, before we knew many hikers prefer going counterclockwise. We will go over the positives and negatives of each later in this post.

The Highland Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park offers a serene escape into the heart of the ancient forest, where towering trees stretch high into the sky, their leaves filtering the sunlight into a soft, green glow. As we set foot on the trail, the world outside seemed to fade away, replaced by the quiet rustle of leaves and the occasional call of a distant bird.

The path, well-worn and gentle, meandered through the woods, its surface cushioned by years of fallen pine needles and rich earth.

As we walked, the forest grew denser. Massive boulders, remnants of glacial activity, dotted the landscape, some cloaked in a thick layer of moss, others bare and imposing. The flora present was slightly different than what we were used to, even just being two hours away.

Soon we came up to the end of the Highlands Trail, embracing our journey to see our first waterfall, Onondaga Falls, the first of many.

Shortly after, we found our way to F.L. Ricketts Falls at 38 ft.

There were medium-sized bridges stretched over the flowing river, beautifully laid stone paths, and places to stop to really take in your surroundings. This felt like a woodlands paradise, and still, we had not broken a major sweat yet.

It is common that during our hikes and adventures, a yoga pose or two is attempted in order to make things more challenging. Therefore when we arrived to the Shawnee Falls, I found a rock platform to execute a forearm balance!

As you scroll through, you can see the rest of the waterfalls we had hit on the Glen Leigh side of the trail.

After these waterfalls, we had reached the section where the waters converge and it is now time for us to start making our way uphill. This was the first part of the entire hike that started to become more demanding. The amount of concentration needed to focus on the trail made it harder for us to document, but we still managed to capture the main parts!

We were now heading closer to Ganoga Falls, the biggest waterfall of the trail standing at 94 feet tall! It was around 11:30pm, so the path started to get more congested with travelers as well.

The stairs carved into the hillside towered over us like a giant. With each step we climbed carefully and steadily, paved the way for a rewarding experience as we reached Ganoga Falls.

Hiking the path clockwise provided us an easy downhill stride for most of our time at Ricketts Glen State Park. The Ganoga Glen side however, was difficult, with our heart rates increasing greatly. Overall, we would recommend others to hike the path clockwise. As we passed other hikers on the Glen Leigh side, they seemed to have a really tough time hiking the trail counterclockwise.

The journey through Ricketts Glen, with its symphony of waterfalls and ancient forests, was more than just a hike—it was a passage through nature's artistry. Each step, whether over rocky stairs or along moss-covered paths, brought me closer to the raw beauty of the wilderness. The memories of the towering falls and tranquil glens will linger long after the trail dust has settled, a reminder of the untouched majesty that still thrives in the heart of Pennsylvania.

Falls Trail - Ricketts Glen State Park

Alpine Street Trail