Ricketts Glen
- Height
- 94 ft
- Hike
- 7.2 mi round trip
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Allowed
Ricketts Glen drops about 94 ft in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Reaching it is a 7.2 mi hike round trip.
Closures and warnings
Falls Trail is rocky, steep, and often wet or slippery with nearly 1,000 feet of elevation change; wear sturdy boots and stay on the trail. As of September 30, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 94 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | 22 named waterfalls on the Falls Trail System; 94-foot Ganoga Falls is the tallest of the Glens Natural Area cascades. |
Access
| Hike | 7.2 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Road | Paved |
| Road note | Falls Trail System trailheads along PA Route 118 and near Lake Jean; 3.2-mile loop covers most waterfalls via Highland Trail and Glen Leigh / Ganoga Glen. |
| Parking | Evergreen, Lake Rose, and Lake Jean area parking for Falls Trail access (Lot 2 busiest in peak season). |
| When it fills | Evergreen and Lake Jean lots fill on summer weekends. |
| Fee | Free day use (no state park entrance fee); camping and cabin fees apply separately. |
| Hours | Park open daily sunrise to sunset; day-use areas close at dusk. |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Seasonal closure | Falls Trail System closed in winter except for properly equipped ice climbers and ice hikers. |
| Managed by | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Ricketts Glen State Park) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Modern restrooms and picnic tables at Evergreen Falls Trail trailhead; Adams Falls a short walk from Evergreen parking. |
Rules
| Dogs | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Ricketts Glen open?
Falls Trail is rocky, steep, and often wet or slippery with nearly 1,000 feet of elevation change; wear sturdy boots and stay on the trail. As of September 30, 2026. Seasonal closure: Falls Trail System closed in winter except for properly equipped ice climbers and ice hikers. Hours: Park open daily sunrise to sunset; day-use areas close at dusk.
How tall is Ricketts Glen?
Ricketts Glen drops about 94 ft.
How long is the hike to Ricketts Glen?
It's a 7.2 mi hike round trip. The road in is paved. Falls Trail System trailheads along PA Route 118 and near Lake Jean; 3.2-mile loop covers most waterfalls via Highland Trail and Glen Leigh / Ganoga Glen. Parking: Evergreen, Lake Rose, and Lake Jean area parking for Falls Trail access (Lot 2 busiest in peak season). Evergreen and Lake Jean lots fill on summer weekends.
Do you need a reservation for Ricketts Glen?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Ricketts Glen?
Yes. Free day use (no state park entrance fee); camping and cabin fees apply separately.
When is Ricketts Glen flowing?
22 named waterfalls on the Falls Trail System; 94-foot Ganoga Falls is the tallest of the Glens Natural Area cascades.
What facilities are at Ricketts Glen?
Restrooms and picnic sites. Modern restrooms and picnic tables at Evergreen Falls Trail trailhead; Adams Falls a short walk from Evergreen parking.
Nearby
Nearby
Public land
Ricketts Glen is inside Ricketts Glen State Park .
Sources
4
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ricketts-glen-state-park/hiking (accessed September 30, 2026; backs manager / waterfall.heightFt / waterfall.flowNote / access.hikeDistanceMi / access.seasonalClosure / hazardNote, access.hikeDistanceBasis / 3.2-mile loop option)
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ricketts-glen-state-park (accessed September 30, 2026; backs access.hours / access.fee / access.parking / access.roadNote)
- https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/PDFProvider.ashx?action=PDFStream&chksum=&docID=3244692&docName=RICK_GuideText&nativeExt=docx&revision=1 (accessed September 30, 2026; backs rules.dogs)
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ricketts-glen-state-park/sightseeing (accessed September 30, 2026; backs waterfall.heightFt Ganoga / 22 waterfalls sightseeing context)
More: Pennsylvania waterfalls