Ricketts Glen

Ricketts Glen State Park encompasses 13,050 acres in the Endless Mountains region of northeastern Pennsylvania, renowned for its stunning series of 22 named waterfalls along the Falls Trail system in the Glens Natural Area. Registered as a National Natural Landmark, the park protects one of the most scenic gorge systems in the eastern United States, where Kitchen Creek and its branches cascade through ancient hemlock-hardwood forest, dropping a total of nearly 1,000 feet through a series of cataracts ranging from 11 to 94 feet in height. The tallest, Ganoga Falls at 94 feet, is the highest named waterfall in Pennsylvania.

The park's extensive forest and diverse habitats support a rich wildlife community. Black bears, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and fishers inhabit the deep forests. Timber rattlesnakes are found on rocky slopes. Over 180 bird species have been documented, with old-growth forest specialists like the black-throated green warbler, Blackburnian warbler, and red-breasted nuthatch breeding in the hemlocks. Eastern brook trout, Pennsylvania's only native trout, inhabit Kitchen Creek and tributaries. Wood frogs, spotted salamanders, and eastern newts populate the forest floor. Bald eagles nest near Lake Jean.

The Glens Natural Area preserves some of the finest old-growth forest remaining in Pennsylvania. Eastern hemlock, white pine, and various oaks form a towering canopy, with some trees estimated at over 500 years old and measuring over 100 feet tall. Rhododendron and mountain laurel create dense understory thickets along the glen trails. American beech, sugar maple, and yellow birch contribute to the hardwood canopy. The moist glen environment supports lush communities of ferns, mosses, and liverworts on the rock faces surrounding the waterfalls. Hemlock woolly adelgid threatens the hemlock forests.

The park sits atop the Allegheny Plateau at North Mountain, where Kitchen Creek has carved deep gorges through layers of resistant sandstone and softer shale. The waterfalls form where the creek encounters harder rock layers that resist erosion, creating ledges over which the water cascades. The bedrock is Devonian and Carboniferous age sandstone, siltstone, and conglomerate, deposited approximately 350 to 400 million years ago. The deeply incised gorge was carved primarily during and after the last Ice Age, when massive volumes of glacial meltwater accelerated erosion. Glacial deposits mantle the upland surfaces around the glens.

The park's upland elevation of approximately 2,400 feet creates a cool, moist climate more reminiscent of northern New England than typical Pennsylvania. Summer temperatures reach the 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit, while winters are cold with heavy snowfall. Annual precipitation exceeds 50 inches, supporting the park's lush forests and perennial waterfalls. Frost can occur from September through May. The gorges maintain cool, moist microclimates even in summer, supporting plant communities more typical of areas much farther north. Ice formations on the waterfalls create spectacular scenery in winter.

The region was inhabited by the Susquehannock and other indigenous peoples who used the mountains for hunting and gathering. European-American settlement came relatively late to this remote mountain area. Colonel Robert Bruce Ricketts, a Civil War veteran and lumber baron, acquired the property in the late 1800s. Unlike many timber barons, Ricketts selectively logged his holdings rather than clear-cutting, preserving significant old-growth forest. The Ricketts family's stewardship of the land, driven partly by their appreciation of its beauty, contributed to the forest's survival.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acquired the Ricketts Glen property in 1942 and established the state park. The Civilian Conservation Corps had proposed development of the area in the 1930s, and some early trail work was completed. The park was considered for national park status, but World War II intervened and it became a state park instead. The Glens Natural Area was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1969, recognizing the significance of its old-growth forest, geological features, and waterfall system. The Falls Trail, the park's signature feature, has been maintained and improved over the decades.

The Falls Trail is a 7.2-mile loop that passes all 22 named waterfalls, descending into the glen along Kitchen Creek and its branches before climbing back to the plateau. Ganoga Falls (94 feet), Erie Falls, Mohawk Falls, and Cayuga Falls are among the most impressive. The trail is considered moderate to strenuous, with steep, rocky, and sometimes slippery sections. Lake Jean provides swimming, boating, and fishing. The Highland Trail offers a longer backcountry hiking option. Winter ice climbing on the frozen waterfalls attracts experienced climbers. Cross-country skiing and ice fishing provide additional winter activities.

The park operates several campground areas with a total of 120 sites, including sites with electric hookups. Ten modern cabins are available for rent year-round. Lake Jean has a beach, boat rental, and swimming area. A picnic area and park office serve day visitors. The park is located in Luzerne, Sullivan, and Columbia counties, accessible via Routes 118 and 487. The nearest cities are Wilkes-Barre (35 miles) and Scranton (60 miles). No entrance fee is charged. The Falls Trail requires appropriate footwear due to wet, rocky conditions.

The hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive Asian insect, poses the gravest threat to the park's old-growth hemlock forests. Treatment programs using biological controls and limited chemical applications aim to slow the adelgid's spread, but the pest has already caused significant hemlock mortality in some areas. Loss of the hemlock canopy would fundamentally alter the microclimate of the glens and affect the waterfall ecosystem. The park manages visitor safety on the Falls Trail, where wet and icy conditions contribute to frequent injuries and occasional fatalities. Erosion management on the heavily trafficked trail is ongoing. The park participates in regional efforts to monitor and manage invasive species across the Endless Mountains.