Hiking Ricketts Glen PA State Park                   0
Hidden away in the dense forest of North Central PA is one of our State's best kept secrets - Ricketts Glen State Park.  Where else can you take an afternoon excursion and on a little more than a four mile hike, come across, to your delight, twenty one waterfalls?  Add to this a sprawling mountain lake with the attendant activities, and you will want to stay awhile. 











My son and I arrived at the Park late (5:30 pm) on Monday, June 5th, 2006, however a key was found for our cabin and we settled in.  I got up early the next morning to scout things out and met a ranger who informed me that a female black bear with her two cubs as well as a big male had been encountered prowling the camp sites.  Interesting.  I also learned that good fishing was to be had in the lake.

Hiking was what we had come for and the seven mile extended falls trail - actually eight miles from our cabin - was first on our list (the shorter route of about four miles will give the day hiker a view of eighteen waterfalls).  The air was brisk and the vegetation was lush with new growth. 

                 
  
 
Though we had visited once before the previous fall, now  Kitchen Creek was tumbling down the Glen Leigh fork in greater volume, powering over falls after falls.  We worked our way along at an easy pace, taking in every angle of every falls.  Crossing sturdy bridges, we passed eight waterfalls on the way down this gorge.

   
  

                   

Where the two creeks meet, we crossed a long bridge and took the trail to the left, soon coming to three more dramatic falls. 

                   

From where the rivers converge -"Waters Meet"- the path down to Route 118 and then back up to the same point is about three miles of easy walking.  In a few places, flat stones have been carefully laid out on the trail (see below).
  

                  


                           

On the sign (above) our location is indicated.

We then began working our way along the Ganoga Glen Trail, up and around ten more waterfalls.  Here is where we encountered rock stair steps with the steepest incline, and where Ganoga Falls is located, with a drop of ninety four feet.  We climbed around the river's edge, catching some spray and slipping on wet rocks,  just to get the best position for a picture.  It was wonderful.
 

             


             


             


                     

To bring us full circle and back to our cabin, we took the easy Highland Trail (about two miles) and arrived tired but satisfied. 

After a mid-afternoon lunch we took off again for a little more roaming in the woods.  We had heard about the two mile, Grand View trail, up to the fire tower, and so, off we went.  Who can beat a grand view?  The first third of the trail was an old road leading up to the tower.  The way down was wooded with varying undergrowth.  Some Mountain Azalea was blooming, but the laurel and rhododendron were only beginning to bud out.
     

             
 
No grand view was found but the hike was worth the effort.  This made for about ten miles of hiking for the day and we were ready to cook up some hearty vittles.

On our way back to camp what would we find on the road but big Blacky.  When he saw us he lumbered into the woods.  We went a little farther and started to walk along the beach when we heard men shouting and the racing of engines.  They must have gotten a visit from a black bear.

After supper we gathered up some logs because our stay wouldn't have been complete without a camp fire.  After dark a fat raccoon scampered by as the fire was dying, and so we ended the day.

For Wednesday we had two short hikes planned.  First we did the Old Beaver Dam/Ganoga View Trail, an outing of four miles where we spotted a pair of Great Horned Owls (below).  They soon took themselves to a more secluded spot.
 
           
 
Our next hike would be the shortest and our last before heading home.  Mike and I discovered our favorite falls of all just off of Route 118 - Adams Falls.  Here the water tumbles and drops multiple times down a magnificent grotto.  We went on to hike the one mile Evergreen Trail with it's old growth forest.

                                    

On our way home our conversation turned again and again to God's magnificent handiwork on our planet, and we talked about the falls trail.  We also started making plans how to talk mom into coming with us next time.  I think she will.


"Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them...The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."                                                  From Psalm 111


         

"The Lord is my shepherd...He guides in paths of righteousness...and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."                                                                                From Psalm 23

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                   The extended falls trail:

                  

                                   
Pa Department of Conservation & Natural Resources official website

  
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■  Here is the most popular hike in the Mid-Atlantic region:  Old Rag, Virginia
  
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  Visits:    Hiking Ricketts Glenn, Pennsylvania State Park, with Elton Hannaman
  Photographs © 2006, Elton D. Hannaman
  Contact: ehannaman@pa.net
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