Trip Report: Ricketts Glen, World’s End, and More!

Erie Falls in the Ganoga Glen portion of Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania — Erie Falls in the Ganoga Glen portion of Ricketts Glen State Park

This past weekend, I did another “short and sweet” semi-local trip! We saw so many waterfalls thanks to the recent three days of rain, some mountain views, lots of cool boulders and rocks, and peaceful old-growth forests. On top of it, we camped out (hammock for me!) in a very quiet campground surrounded by hemlock and firs and generally just enjoyed being outside in the beautiful weather.

Delaware Falls in Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania — Delaware Falls in Ricketts Glen

We set up our camp with a hammock and my grandfather’s old tent (which still works great!) in an old CCC camp. (They had predicted rain overnight, thus the blue tarps over everything).

Campsite at the CCC Camp, Loyalsock State Forest, Pennsylvania — Campsite at the CCC Camp

All that was left of the CCC camp were some gateposts and an old chimney (which, one night, had at least four huge spiders in it).

The old chimney at the CCC Camp in Loyalsock State Forest, Pennsylvania — The old chimney at the CCC Camp

Ricketts Glen has been on my bucket list for at least ten years – and despite the fact that it’s not really all that far from home, I still hadn’t managed to get there. Given the rain before our visit, I figured it was a great day to hike the Falls Trail. I couldn’t have been more right. The 25+ falls were worth the wait to see!

Ozone Falls in Leigh Glen of Rickett's Glen State Park, Pennsylvania — Ozone Falls in Glen Leigh of Rickett’s Glen

While we were there, we also hiked the Evergreen Trail to see one last waterfall (Adams Falls).

Adams Falls, Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania — Adams Falls

The next day, we got up and drove nearly to Ricketts Glen again to park in a hunter’s parking area on State Game Lands 57. From here, we walked along a lovely little river…

Bowman Creek, State Game Lands 57, Pennsylvania — Bowman Creek

…and then up the tumbling Bean Creek with fern meadows and cool rocks…

Boulders along Bean Creek on State Game Lands 57, Pennsylvania — Boulders along Bean Creek

…to Coyote Rocks. I found coyote fur up there! (Or at least genus Canis hair!)

Views over Ricketts Glen State Park from Coyote Rocks, State Game Lands 57, Pennsylvania — Views over Ricketts Glen State Park from Coyote Rocks

We had a little bit of time left in the afternoon, so we drove over to the tourist “town” of Jamison City to hike up a hunter’s road to find three waterfalls: Big Falls…

Big Falls on Heberly Run, State Game Lands 13, Pennsylvania — Big Falls on Heberly Run

…Twin Falls…

…and Lewis Falls.

Lewis Falls on Heberly Run, State Game Lands 13, Pennsylvania — Lewis Falls

Done with waterfalls for the moment, we drove to World’s End State Park. I’ve heard of the park for some years but hadn’t ever given it much thought. However, the Loyalsock Canyon Vista was very nice.

Views from the Loyalsock Canyon Vista, World's End State Park, Pennsylvania — Views from the Loyalsock Canyon Vista

So was the Rock Garden.

A canyon in the Rock Garden, World's End State Park, Pennsylvania — A canyon in the Rock Garden

From there, we hiked the Canyon Vista Trail. It’s a maze of ups and downs and changing scenery, from forest to Loyalsock Creek to vistas to very cool rocks and boulders.

Rocks along the upper part of the Canyon Vista Trail, World's End State Park, Pennsylvania — Rocks along the upper part of the Canyon Vista Trail

While we were doing the trail, we took the spur on the highly-acclaimed Cold Run Trail. I’m not sure it quite lived up to the hype, but it was a fun trail with lots of waterfalls (thanks to the recent rain) and some very nice boulders and rocks.

A waterfall on Cold Run, World's End State Park, Pennsylvania — A waterfall on Cold Run

We were pretty tired after that, but I decided to take a quick jaunt up the Double Run Nature Trail. Usually the very words “nature trail” make my eyes glaze over, but this one is truly something special. There were so many gorgeous waterfalls!

Cottonwood Falls is the premier waterfall on Double Run, World's End State Park, Pennsylvania — Cottonwood Falls is the premier waterfall on Double Run

In fact, there were so many waterfalls that I “dragged” my hiking companion up and hiked the trail a second time so she could see the waterfalls too! (She had stayed back in the car, being even more tired than I was after all of those hills on the Canyon Vista Trail).

An unnamed waterfall on Double Run, World's End State Park, Pennsylvania — An unnamed waterfall on Double Run

We had planned on doing one last hike the next morning, but rain moved in while we were eating breakfast (thankfully after tearing down our camp). So we went home – and given that it rained the entire way home, I’d say it was a good call!

Cayuga Falls in Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania — Cayuga Falls in Ricketts Glen

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