Ricketts Glen State Park: Waterfalls, Wildwoods, and a Hike Worth Every Step

If you've ever dreamed of hiking through an enchanted forest, the kind where waterfalls tumble around every bend and moss carpets the rocks like something out of Tolkien’s imagination—Ricketts Glen State Park in northeastern Pennsylvania is your place.

When we first moved to Pennsylvania, many friends and acquaintances kept nudging us to go so we finally decided to see what the hype was about. Spoiler: it’s even better than advertised.

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A Trail of Waterfalls

Let’s start with the headline: 22 named waterfalls, all within a few miles of trail. Yes, 22. That’s not a typo. The Falls Trail Loop, which winds through the Glens Natural Area, is the park’s crown jewel, and rightly so.

Each waterfall has its own personality. There’s Ganoga Falls, the tallest at 94 feet, cascading like a silken ribbon down a stair-stepped rock face. Then Watkins Glen, shorter but wilder, crashes through a narrow gorge in a rush of spray and sound. Around every bend, there's another one—some hidden in fern-covered alcoves, others wide and dramatic with natural rock amphitheaters.

We stopped so often to take photos that a couple hour hike became almost a full-day wander. But that’s the beauty of Ricketts Glen, you’re not meant to rush it.

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Hiking the Glens

The Falls Trail is a moderate-to-challenging loop, especially after rain when the rocks are slick (bring good shoes and extra socks when your feet get wet!). There are steep staircases, narrow bridges, and places where you’ll need to watch your footing. But the reward? Every step reveals a new corner of wild Pennsylvania beauty.

If you’re not up for the full 7.2-mile loop, there are shorter segments to explore. Even the 1.0-mile hike to see Adams Falls near the Evergreen Parking Lot is worth the trip.

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More Than Just Waterfalls

While the waterfalls steal the spotlight, Ricketts Glen is a full-on four-season escape. The park is home to over 13,000 acres of forest, lake, and wildlife. In the summer, you can swim or boat on Lake Jean, a serene stretch of water at the top of the park with a sandy beach and picnic areas.

Come fall, the entire area explodes in fiery reds, oranges, and golds, some of the best foliage in the state. Winter? It’s a whole new world. The falls freeze over into shimmering ice formations, and experienced ice hikers and photographers take to the trails (with special permits and gear, of course).

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Wildlife, Camping, and That Wildwood Feeling

This isn’t a manicured park with trimmed lawns and paved paths. It’s rugged and real. You’ll see moss-draped trees, chirping warblers, rushing creeks, and maybe even a black bear if you're lucky (or unlucky, depending on how close you are).

There are cabins and campsites for those who want to stay overnight, and the star-gazing here is unbeatable—no city lights, just the Milky Way stretching across the sky like a painted ceiling.

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Final Thoughts: Wild and Wonderful

Ricketts Glen is the kind of place that makes you feel small in the best way. Since it’s not near any major cities, it’s not touristy. It’s not commercial. It’s just pure nature, flowing with life and layered in time. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just in it for the photos, the park has something for you.

Come for the waterfalls, stay for the soul-cleansing quiet of the forest. And trust us, once you’ve walked beneath the hemlocks and stood beside those thundering falls, you’ll already be planning your return.

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If You Go:

• Location: Ricketts Glen State Park, near Benton, PA (about 2.5 hours from Philadelphia or 3 from NYC)
• Best Time to Visit: Spring for full waterfalls, fall for foliage, winter for ice (with proper equipment)
• Trail Tips: Wear good hiking shoes, bring water/snacks, and take your time—this isn’t a race
• Stay: Options range from rustic camping to cozy cabins; book early in peak seasons
• Don’t Miss: The full Falls Trail if you’re up for it—absolutely unforgettable

The Florida Aquarium, Tampa Bay

I have never been to an aquarium that impressed me, until this one.  I have been to the Dallas aquarium, Camden aquarium and the Montreal aquarium and they were exactly what you would expect from an aquarium.  Lots of fish, some birds, sometimes other random animals that have no relation to anything aquatic, but basically nothing spectacular.  I think it is difficult to make fish exciting for adults.   But this aquarium is an experience, one that will give me a different perspective on sea-life!

The spectacular Florida aquarium is situated near downtown Tampa.  Not too far from the convention center, and actually right near where the vacation cruise liners dock.  There are a lot of things to do in this area, the American Victory ship is docked nearby, as well as other short sight seeing boat tours that you can do.  This is an area with several wholesome family attractions.  I presumed that because these attractions are right near where the cruise liners dock, that they would not put any effort into impressing the clientele, since they have a constant stream of tourists passing through.  But perhaps, that is why I was all the more surprised when it turned out to be so wonderful. This aquarium is a unique experience that I almost, *almost* do not want to write about because then it wouldn't be such a hidden gem.

Florida Aquarium Webpage

A Dolphin Cruise near the aquarium

The first display you will see, are the local wetland wildlife in Florida.  Better then see, just try to stop your kids from touching it!  NO really watch your kids closely:

Graceland Memphis TN

This year I finally had a chance to visit my sister who lives in Tennessee. Of course, you have to go see Graceland if you are anywhere near Memphis, it is REQUIRED! I am not an Elvis expert, but I have always greatly enjoyed his music, this song being one of my favorites as well as my parents wedding song:

Elvis: Can't help falling in love

This is another sweet love song I love

Busch Gardens Tampa Florida

Well it has been awhile since I have posted anything here.  Mainly that is because I haven't been anywhere truly inspiring.  This last two years I was focused on finishing my PhD in physics and having a baby.  Try doing both of those at the same time!  Now that my defense is done and my daughter is at a very enjoyable age (almost 1) it is time to start living it up again and exploring new places!  At least until I find a full time job;).

Busch Gardens Tampa Florida

The trip to Busch Gardens was a wondrous day.  We managed to get a special deal where we got very discounted tickets and off we went with baby in tow.  I remember going to a Busch Gardens years ago in the North East area of the states.  It was crowded, too hot, had lots of long lines and over priced food which made you feel queasy after consumption.  This park, resembled nothing like I had expected.  First, it has a zoo.  Not just any zoo, it is an African themed-park with only the most interesting and rarest of animals which are worth seeing.  They have restaurants, some of which are air conditioned!  They have a kids park area with small water pools and rope climbing rides.  They have stores with items that are not all unreasonably priced!  But best of all it was not over crowded!

For this blog entry, I am going to focus on the zoo part of the park (which is the part that our family enjoyed the most that day). The first animals we saw were the gorillas.  Wow.  Most zoos will charge you extra to see a special Gorilla exhibit.  I know The Bronx zoo does.  Not here at Busch Gardens, this is all included, so feast your eyes as much as you like on the Gorillas within their huge containment area:

Camp Taccoa, Georgia (Currahee!)

As a student of the United States Army Airborne School, located in Fort Benning, Georgia, it was almost an unspoken rule to make the trip out to Camp Taccoa. This was the original site for the Army jump training during the early 1940's which was made famous by Stephen Ambrose's book, "The Band of Brothers" which later become an HBO miniseries. The story begins in 1942 where Echo Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, arrives in Camp Toccoa for their basic airborne training and follows the unit through various campaigns throughout the European conflict until the end of WWII.

The remnants of Camp Toccoa are just a few signs and a memorial commemorating the combat jumps of the 506th, 501st, 511th, and 517th Infantry Regiments in the shape of a parachute. There are initiatives in place to rebuild the site to commemorate the Camp.

The location was a little difficult to find; the memorial located just off the intersection of West Currahee Street and Ayersville Road. When I went, there was no real place to park; I ended up driving into Ayersville Road and parked on the south side of the street, on the opposite side of the street from where the memorial is located.

Here are some of the signs I was mentioning, plus a good indication that you are at the correct location.

COL Robert Sink Memorial Trail is named after the former 506th Infantry Regiment Commander. The trail follows the 6 mile run to the top Currahee.

The memorial is located at the original entrance to Camp Toccoa. The black marble stone structure is at the base of the parachute which can be seen in the picture below. 

6 miles in 45 minutes, the standard for the aspiring paratroopers in the 1940's, does not seem that challenging for a relatively healthy young adult; but this was by far the worst run I have ever done. If I were to let my ego speak, I would blame the humidity of the Georgia weather in the month of January which I was not accustomed too, since I came down from the north east where the temperature was about 30 degrees colder and the air much drier.

The top of the hill is not very well marked and I thought I had reached the top when I came to a graffiti covered rock-face. The picture below is the view looking down on the trail from the top of that rock formation. Don't stop, but keep running for another 200 or so meters.

Once you get to the actual top of Currahee, you will find a saucer plate sized plaque in the ground which is the official reference maker.

 It is really not that noticeable as it is flat on the ground, in-between numerous telecommunications buildings.

Minus the mishap of finding the top of Currahee and spending a few minutes reflecting upon the history of this site, I did the round-trip run in about 43 minutes.

As you can tell, I wasn't feeling that great once I got back to the start of the trail.

In the time that I had completed the "3 miles up and 3 miles down," someone had left a red rose at the base of the statues commemorating the sacrifices of the paratroopers that came before me. Currahee! Airborne!

Currahee Military Museum

Nestled in the heart of Toccoa, Georgia, the Currahee Military Museum quietly commands attention, not with flash or grandeur, but with stories, grit, and an undeniable sense of honor. This isn’t just a museum. It’s a living tribute to the brave souls who trained at Camp Toccoa during World War II, many of whom would go on to jump into the annals of history with the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, better known today thanks to “Band of Brothers.” 

From the moment I stepped through the doors of the old train station that now houses the museum, I was struck by a kind of reverent stillness. The exhibits don’t shout. They speak softly but powerfully—through weathered boots, handwritten letters, and black-and-white photographs that somehow hold more emotion than a moving picture ever could.

One of the most moving parts of the museum is the original Stable Toccoa—a horse stable that was shipped all the way from Aldbourne, England, where American paratroopers were stationed before D-Day. Walking into the stable is like stepping through time. You can almost hear the murmurs of young soldiers, the clatter of gear, the anticipation thick in the air.

Of course, no visit here is complete without taking a few moments to reflect beneath the massive mural honoring the 501st, 506th, 511th, and 517th Parachute Infantry Regiments. Each name, each patch, each artifact is part of a broader mosaic of sacrifice. It's just one of countless painting, artifact or personal possession of numerous members of these Airborne regiments. 

What struck me most, though, was how deeply rooted the community still is in the memory of these soldiers. Locals share stories of their fathers and grandfathers, and the museum’s volunteers speak not just with knowledge, but with love. This is personal to them. And by the time you leave, it feels personal to you, too.

I finished my visit with a short drive out to Currahee Mountain—yes, that Currahee. The training mantra of the paratroopers—“Three miles up, three miles down”—echoes in your head as you look up at its slope. I did run it, just like they did, which gave me a sense of paying my respects to them - that blog can be found on the posting called Camp Toccoa, Georgia (Currahee!). 

So if you ever find yourself in North Georgia, take the time. Visit Toccoa. Walk through the Currahee Military Museum. Stand inside history, feel its weight and its honor. This little museum, tucked into a quiet southern town, holds more courage per square foot than most places on Earth.

Currahee. We Stand Alone, Together.