Best Hiking Trails in Ricketts Glen State Park, PA

There are 26 miles of hiking trails at Ricketts Glen State Park in Northeast PA on Red Rock Mountain. The park spans 13,050 acres in Luzerne, Sullivan and Columbia counties. You will find many beautiful natural waterfalls and amazing scenery at over ten hiking trails this PA Park has to offer. There is no fee to hike the Ricketts Glen trails that range from flat to extremely steep hills.

Ricketts Glen - Hiking Tips

You should check Ricketts Glen advisories before hiking. Caution should be taken since the trails are slippery when wet. If you are hiking PA alone it is important to let someone know where you will be and when you will return.

People have been known to get lost on these hiking trails in PA, so be smart and make sure you take a map, compass and flashlight. Go prepared with water, good hiking shoes, and snacks that are well sealed to avoid attracting black bears that roam the wilderness in Northeast PA. This area of PA is generally colder than most because of the high elevation so prepare for any type of weather even in summer. Do not forget your camera!

Ticks are common in PA so make sure everyone checks each other for ticks. If anyone has a tick in them, save it if you are about to extract it and go to your doctor or emergency room so you can be treated to avoid Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Fever.

Ricketts Glen - Hiking Trails PA

Challenging hiking trails at Ricketts Glen

If you want to see awesome waterfalls, Falls Trail is the best PA hiking trail. There are 21 waterfalls along this hiking trail. It is a challenging 7 miles if you hike the upper and lower sections with steep, rocky and often slippery terrain. The majority of falls can be found on the slightly less challenging 3.2 mile loop.

Ganoga View Trail is a 2.8 mile hike that meets Falls Trail where you will see the enormous and beautiful 94 foot Ganoga falls. Old Bulldozer Road Trail has a very nice scenic area and easy to moderate 2.9 mile hike except for a very steep section near the bottom of the trail.

Moderate hiking trails at Ricketts Glen

Cherry Run Trail is a 4.6 mile hike without any waterfalls but nice cherry trees, access to Lake Leigh dam and old logging railroads. Grand View Trail is a 1.9 mile PA hiking trail. Reach the highest point on Red Rock Mountain with an elevation of 2,449 feet for a lovely scenic overview.

Highland Trail is a great geological hike that is 1.2 miles and intersects the top of Falls Trail. Cross the Midway Crevasse and study the effects of glacial movements of the past million years. Mountain Springs Trail is a 4 mile scenic hike that leads to Mountain Springs Lake area. Old Beaver Dam Road Trail is 1.2 mile hike accessible from the Lake Rose parking lot.

Easy hiking trails at Ricketts Glen

Adams Trail is a lovely hike with nature steps and beautiful waterfalls not far from the Evergreen Parking Lot off PA 118. Beach Trail is only.8 miles. Many campers use this trail to get to Lake Jean where you can swim and visit the concession stand.

Evergreen Trail is a nice 1 mile hike. You will see old growth timber including hemlocks that were around in the days of Columbus. The Bear Walk Trail is a 1 mile hiking trail that runs from the cabin area entrance to Lake Rose.

Ricketts Glen State Park - Memorable Hiking Experience

My children and I hiked at Ricketts Glen when they were 5 and 6. We took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up having to backtrack our way out. I took turns carrying them on the hike out - they were exhausted and so was I. What was supposed to be a nice jaunt through the woods ended up being hours of walking. Way to go Mom!

Hopefully, the Park has fixed some of the old signs so you do not lose your way like we did. I always recommend back tracking if you think you are lost and not to push your limits like I tend to do.

Enjoy Ricketts Glen State Park hiking trails in PA by being safe and smart!

Source: Ricketts Glen State Park , PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources