Ricketts Glen State Park

State: Pennsylvania. Type: state park spanning Columbia, Luzerne and Sullivan counties. Established by legislation signed by Governor Arthur James in 1941; Commonwealth purchased 1,261 acres from the Ricketts heirs on December 31, 1942, with recreational facilities opening in 1944. Encompasses 13,193 acres today. Home to 24 named waterfalls across three glens. The Glens Natural Area was designated a National Natural Landmark on October 12, 1969.

Ricketts Glen State Park spans 13,193 acres across Columbia, Luzerne and Sullivan counties in northeastern Pennsylvania, near the town of Benton. It is best known for its waterfalls: 24 named falls distributed across three glens, Glen Leigh, Ganoga Glen and Ricketts Glen, carved by Kitchen Creek as it drops roughly 1,000 feet down the Allegheny Front. Ganoga Falls, at 94 feet, is the tallest of the group. The park is named for R. Bruce Ricketts, a Civil War veteran and local landowner who built the original hotel and waterfall trails here in the 1870s and 1880s. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased the core acreage from the Ricketts heirs at the end of 1942 after the park was established by law in 1941, and recreational facilities opened in 1944. The Glens Natural Area, which includes the waterfalls and roughly 2,000 acres of old-growth forest with trees over 500 years old, was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1969, and the park is also recognized as an Important Bird Area, with 75 recorded species, and an Important Mammal Area.

The park's office address is 695 State Route 487, Benton, PA 17814, located roughly 30 miles north of Bloomsburg along PA Route 487, spanning parts of Columbia, Luzerne and Sullivan counties in northeastern Pennsylvania.

This part of northeastern Pennsylvania has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Because the Falls Trail System involves steep, often wet and rocky terrain near waterfalls, conditions can be slippery in any season, and icy conditions in winter make the falls trails considerably more hazardous.

The park runs interpretive programs from March through November, though it operates year-round. Spring typically brings the highest water volume in the waterfalls following snowmelt, while fall offers foliage color alongside the falls; summer is the most popular season for hiking and camping given milder, drier trail conditions.

The park is named for R. Bruce Ricketts, a Civil War veteran and local landowner who built a hotel and the original network of trails to the area's waterfalls in the 1870s and 1880s. Pennsylvania Governor Arthur James signed legislation establishing the park in 1941, and the Commonwealth completed its purchase of 1,261 acres from the Ricketts heirs on December 31, 1942. Recreational facilities at the new park opened to the public in 1944. The park has since grown to 13,193 acres. On October 12, 1969, the Glens Natural Area, encompassing the waterfalls and surrounding old-growth forest, was designated a National Natural Landmark in recognition of its ecological and scenic significance, including roughly 2,000 acres of forest containing trees more than 500 years old.

The main draw is hiking the Falls Trail System through the park's three glens to see the 24 named waterfalls, including the 94-foot Ganoga Falls. Other activities include boating, fishing, horseback riding, hunting (in season), picnicking, swimming, and wildlife and bird watching, given the park's Important Bird Area and Important Mammal Area designations. Winter recreation is also available, and the park offers accessible recreation options.

The three glens, Glen Leigh (eight falls), Ganoga Glen (ten falls, including the 94-foot Ganoga Falls) and Ricketts Glen (six falls), form the park's centerpiece Falls Trail System. The roughly 2,000 acres of old-growth forest within the Glens Natural Area, containing trees over 500 years old, is a nationally recognized natural landmark in its own right.

The park is located about 30 miles north of Bloomsburg on PA Route 487; drivers with heavy trailers are advised to avoid a steep section of PA 487 near Red Rock and instead approach via PA 487 south from Dushore, per the park's official guidance. There is no direct rail or transit access; a personal vehicle is effectively required.

The park is open daily, sunrise to sunset, with day-use areas closing at dusk, per its official DCNR page. Interpretive programs run March through November, though the park itself operates year-round.

No specific day-use entry fee is listed on the official park page; overnight accommodations require reservations, bookable by calling 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., or through the DCNR reservation system.

The full Falls Trail loop through all three glens typically takes the better part of a day for most hikers; a shorter visit to see one or two of the more accessible falls can be done in a couple of hours. Many visitors camp overnight to combine hiking with fishing, boating or other park activities.

The park offers overnight accommodations on-site, reservable through the state park system, and additional lodging is available in the nearby town of Benton and the wider Columbia/Luzerne/Sullivan county area, a rural region of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Given the park's rural setting, dining options are limited near the park itself; nearby towns such as Benton and Bloomsburg (about 30 miles south) offer a small-town selection of casual restaurants and diners.

Bloomsburg, roughly 30 miles south, is the nearest larger town with additional shopping and dining. The wider Endless Mountains and Poconos region of northeastern Pennsylvania offers further outdoor recreation for visitors extending their stay.

There is no direct rail or significant public transit to the park; visitors rely on personal vehicles via PA Route 487, with the nearest larger town access point being Benton.

The Falls Trail System involves steep, rocky and sometimes wet terrain near the waterfalls, so sturdy footwear and caution near cliff edges and stream crossings are important; trails can be especially hazardous when icy. For emergencies, dial 911; the nearest hospital is Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital, reachable at 570-387-2100. Crisis support is available by calling or texting 988.

Sturdy hiking boots with good traction are essential for the Falls Trail's steep, often wet sections; trekking poles can help on the steeper stretches. Rain gear, layered clothing and plenty of water are also worth packing, along with a trail map, since the falls trail network branches across three glens.

Because the Falls Trail System is long and involves significant elevation change, starting early in the day gives more flexibility to complete the full loop. Spring hikers can expect higher water volume in the falls following snowmelt, while those seeking fall foliage should plan around peak color in the surrounding forest. Heavy trailers or large RVs should follow the park's recommended approach via PA 487 from Dushore rather than the steeper section near Red Rock.

Dial 911 for any emergency. The park office can be reached at 570-477-5675 or by email at rickettsglensp@pa.gov; camping and facility reservations go through 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757).

Ricketts Glen State Park (PA DCNR) - https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ricketts-glen-state-park.html

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.