Ricketts Glen State Park
Ricketts Glen State Park
5
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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- Michael KSan Jose, California1,144 contributionsA must do for waterfall lovers who are physically fitIn a 3.2-mile counter-clockwise Fall Trail loop you see a total of 10 waterfalls as you follow the creek downstream and then 8 more on the way back up the other tributary. There are 3 more waterfalls going further downstream where the two tributaries meet. They did not put up signs for the names of the waterfall except for a few such as the Ganoga Falls at 94' the tallest in the loop. The waterfalls are simply gorgeous. Note that the trail is steep in places and slippery and is not recommended for people with mobility issues. But if you are phsically fit, the Fall Trail loop shoud be in your bucket list.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 21, 2023
- grisby1972Harrisburg, Pennsylvania36 contributionsGreat PlaceGreat area for hiking and fishing. We fish the local trout streams and stay at the local camp ground which provides fishing. Grand kids loved the camp ground. Been there about 3 times so far this year.Visited August 2023Traveled with familyWritten December 9, 2023
- PAboyinFLOcala, Florida1,747 contributionsGreat place for a picnicRicketts Glen has no entrance fees. There are plenty of picnic tables available all around the beach area of Lake Jean. Some of the picnic tables have charcoal grills. The swimming area in the lake is fairly shallow quite a ways out, so smaller children can enjoy themselves safely. There are paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks to rent for use on the lake. There are many marked trails and waterfalls within the park as wellVisited July 2024Traveled with familyWritten July 7, 2024
- Jill HOcean City, Maryland128 contributions3.2 Mile Falls Trail Hike.Absolutely beautiful hike! I would definitely recommend doing the trails falls hike. That being said please know that this hike involves a lot of rock climbing and stairs. The rocks and stairs are wet and are slippery so be careful and wear sturdy shoes - preferably hiking boots. I wore sneakers and wish that I had worn boots. There are muddy sections on the trail. Make sure you pick up a trail map at the visitors center. The loop itself is about 3.2 miles to get to the loop it’s another half mile or so. I would not recommend this trail for young children. The sections with stairs do not have handrails. Not stroller or wheelchair friendly. We parked at the Rose Lake parking lot - There are toilet facilities in the parking lot. No toilet facilities on the trail. Should be in reasonably fit health to do the loop hike. I feel this is a moderate to strenuous hike. Take your time and enjoy the beauty just use caution.Visited July 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten July 12, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
868 reviews
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Margaret L
Branchburg, NJ147 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
Steps down mountain steep & narrow as well as heading back up same. Also steps do not allow for visitors to pass up or down at same time...have to wait. Zero guardrails and if you have height issues it can be scary. Saving grace is you are under cover of trees and cool waterfalls so hot weather isn't too bad. Can't be in a rush...we took shorter route of 5 miles and it took us 7 hours and saw all 21 waterfalls. Recommended for young & physically fit. Waterfalls pretty and each very different.
Written August 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy K
90 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Visited Labor Day for our first time ever hiking the Falls Trail. We learned about it from a Facebook article. So glad we learned the best way to hike the trail is to go to the lake trail head parking area and take a right at the first fork you encounter on the trail. By doing this you will have less uphill effort at the end of the hike trust me you need your energy at the end. This is a difficult hike lots of up and down slippery rocks. The views are breath taking and put Bushkill Falls to shame and its free. There is a bathroom facility at the parking area as well as a map. Will definitely make this a yearly trip and would like to do more in the park. Note you may lose your GPS up there print your directions to be safe.
Written September 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mindy b
18 contributions
Aug 2020
The falls are absolutely breathtaking but the paths, forest, and facilities are very poorly maintained. Only one toilet in the women's bathroom was flushable, one was overflowing. Trash was overflowing. Full of flies and smelled horrid. We went on a Sunday afternoon so it was crowded, but still should have been better cared for than it was.
Written July 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amber F
Williamston, SC37 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
This state park has so many waterfalls. We are from SC, and do a good bit of waterfall hikes on the regular, and this was still outside my comfort zone. We went on a Monday and it was still pretty crowded. Trying to social distance was difficult because it felt like someone was always right behind you, so you couldn’t stop and look at the falls. We had three kids five years old and younger with us, and they were able to hike the waterfall loop just cutting off the last 3 waterfalls, but it was quite difficult, VERY SLIPPERY, and we had to be hyper vigilant since the falls were right next to the path.
Written August 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CCinPA
28 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
We read the reviews prior to going and felt like we had a good understanding of this hike but clearly were taken off-guard. We got to the park at 10:00 am and the Lake Mountain lot was already full. The park website said to park at Beach Lot 2. When you park at Beach Lot 2, you are over a mile from the start of the Falls trial and on the way back to the parking lot, it takes 3 additional miles to get back to the parking lot from the end of falls trail. Whether you go clockwise or counterclockwise, the second half of the trail is all up hill. So what we thought was a 3.2 mile falls trail hike was 7.6 miles- half of which was uphill with multiple steep vertical portions, not subtle uphill. This is an extremely difficult hike. Remember when you are going down the mountain looking at beautiful falls, you have to go back up at some point. Although the waterfalls are beautiful, the walk up was brutal for me. My kids, who are teenagers and year round athletes got up the trail fairly easily with some short breaks. However, I had to stop numerous times throughout the uphill portion of the trail, at times crawling on my hands and knees to get up steep and slippery stone steps. As background, I swim 100 laps three days a week, walk at least 10,000 steps a day, and have no baseline health issues and really struggled physically with the upward part of the trail. Additionally, The trail is very poorly marked and hikers were congregating around the very limited and unclear maps. No cell signal for entire hike. We sent our kids ahead to go to the car and my husband stayed with me to ascend the upward part of the trail. It took us 4.5 hours to walk the trail as adults and the teenagers 3.5 hours with some stops for snacks and water breaks. We did not see a ranger or anyone to ask for help at any point during the hike and you have no cell signal to call for help. I would say if you are an athlete or very well physically conditioned go enjoy the wonderful beautiful scenery. If you are a family with young kids, older adults, or adults who are not in fantastic physical shape, there are less grueling trails that would make for a much more enjoyable afternoon experience.
Written July 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
joell51868
New Jersey68 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
beautiful waterfalls. Full day hike if you plan on seeing all 22 waterfalls. Not the easiest hike, be prepared for alot of steps. We chose the difficult option on the one trail. We parked on Rt 118 so our hike started uphill which was great because by the end of the 7 miles we were tired and it was nice to go downhill on the way out.
Go early. We arrived around 10 and left around 3. By mid afternoon it had gotten pretty crowded.
Go early. We arrived around 10 and left around 3. By mid afternoon it had gotten pretty crowded.
Written June 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
adrianmonk123
Scranton, PA4 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
We came to hike the Falls Trail. It was a wonderful hike, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who isn’t young or in very good shape.
Don’t be scared off by the cantankerous rangers. The Falls Trail is beautiful even when the water is low.
If you want to do a shorter hike, it takes about 2 hours to go down to Waters Meet and back to the parking lot at Lake Rose Trailhead.
Don’t be scared off by the cantankerous rangers. The Falls Trail is beautiful even when the water is low.
If you want to do a shorter hike, it takes about 2 hours to go down to Waters Meet and back to the parking lot at Lake Rose Trailhead.
Written July 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Companion630368
State College, PA9 contributions
Oct 2021
We hiked the Falls Trail - seven miles plus, about half up and half downhill. There are 21 falls, and they are all breathtaking. I was additionally charmed by how beautifully the walks and stairs were designed to blend in aesthetically with the landscape.
We were glad to have our hiking books and hiking poles, as parts of the trail are quite steep and rough. Make sure your knees are ready for the trip: it is almost ALL up and down, as you might expect from a hike that goes along a string of waterfalls. (No up and down --> no waterfalls.)
We were glad to have our hiking books and hiking poles, as parts of the trail are quite steep and rough. Make sure your knees are ready for the trip: it is almost ALL up and down, as you might expect from a hike that goes along a string of waterfalls. (No up and down --> no waterfalls.)
Written October 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justin P
Raleigh, NC4,561 contributions
Sep 2021
We visited Ricketts Glen for a hike with our dog on the Falls Trail. It's very crowded, but we arrived right at 8 and had no trouble parking at Lake Rose. The Falls Trail is a 5-6 mile loop with 21 named waterfalls - each of them beautiful with their own personality. You literally can't walk 5 minutes without passing another falls. Absolutely amazing hike if you enjoy waterfalls, but very popular so try to arrive early. The first 8 or so we pretty much had to ourselves, but got progressively more crowded as the morning went on. The trail is moderately challenging and appropriate hiking shoes are required. There is also another waterfall - Adams Falls that is just a short hike from the Evergreen Parking area. In addition to the park, the adjacent Game Lands No. 13 has a bunch of waterfalls and is much less crowded.
Written November 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine I
Paulsboro, NJ52 contributions
May 2020 • Couples
This is the most beautiful park with 22 waterfalls - however it’s not a stroll in the woods it’s a real hike. 7.5 miles and 5 hours later I was amazed by what I had seen. HOWEVER if you are not in shape this is not for you the steep rocks are uneven and some are quite a high step up I had to get a lot of help from my husband to maneuver some areas. Breathtaking falls are plentiful - what goes up must come down and the trip down was just as beautiful and also just as hard. Must wear good shoes and dress comfortable. It’s not a walk in the park it’s a HIKE.
Written May 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
By what time does the parking lot at the Lake Rose Trailhead fill up on a Sat morning? Thanks!
Written July 14, 2022
I think that varies. There is also a parking lot by Adams Falls.
Written July 15, 2022
I’ll be vacationing in mid-October with my main focus being Rickets Glen waterfalls. I love beautiful hikes along rivers and scenic drives. Need input!
Written March 28, 2022
What is a nice hike to do with my dog that isn't the full falls loop but still see some waterfalls? In reading reviews, I am a little concerned the full falls loop may be too much for my 10 year pup given the narrow stone walkways. I'd like to still do a nice hike though and see a few water falls. Any recommendations is appreciated!
Written February 21, 2022
Well, the entire trail is a loop, but you can always go out as far as you're comfortable, then turn back. There is also a place near the top where you can cut across the loop. I'd recommend getting the trail map from the park, with elevations, and decide what will work for you as and your pup.
Written February 21, 2022
We're planning a trip Sep 7-9, 2021. Does anyone know of we will still be able rent canoes since this is right after Labor Day?
Also, wondering if anyone knows generally how much rentals are. Thanks!
Written August 11, 2021
When I was in Ricketts Glen on 7/30/21, the Concession renting kayaks and canoes was open and operating. The FOOD Concession was closed. I suggest telephoning the Park Office to confirm that the Concession will be open from 9/7-9/2021.
Written August 13, 2021
Where would we be able to buy firewood locally? Any recommendations welcome. Planning on coming May of 2021
Written April 1, 2021
Where’s the picnic tables located? Is it accessible?
Written July 31, 2020
There are picnic tables at mutilple locations. A lot of the tables are at the lake, which is accessible. To see a full list of picnic areas, you can download a map online from the state park.
Written July 31, 2020
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