Save
You must be signed in to save park lists.
Your Park Lists
add New List
Add Photo
You must be signed in to add photos.
state route ranger badge
Pennsylvania
111

Pennsylvania State Parks

responsive menu icon
USA Parks
Pennsylvania
Northeast Region
Ricketts Glen State Park
start slideshow
Ricketts Glen State Park Gorge Falls © Marty Straub
Ricketts Glen State Park © Jeff Davis
Ricketts Glen State Park © Jeff Davis
Ricketts Glen State Park © Jeff Davis
Ricketts Glen State Park © Jeff Davis
Ricketts Glen State Park Adams Falls © michael T. Pyle
Adams Falls Ricketts Glen
Ricketts Glen State Park Waters Meet © michael T. Pyle
Waters Meet
Ricketts Glen State Park Adams Falls © michael T. Pyle
Adams Falls
Ricketts Glen State Park © Bobbie Alexander
Ricketts Glen State Park © Bobbie Alexander
Ricketts Glen State Park © Bobbie Alexander
Ricketts Glen State Park Golden Autumn Foliage © Bobbie Alexander
Beautiful autumn color.
Ricketts Glen State Park © Bobbie Alexander
Ricketts Glen State Park Fall Hiking © Bobbie Alexander
Hikers enjoy a colorful trail along the creek.
Ricketts Glen State Park Waterfall Photo Op © Bobbie Alexander
Photographers taking advantage of a scenic waterfall.
Ricketts Glen State Park © Bobbie Alexander
Ricketts Glen State Park Photo Op © Bobbie Alexander
Ricketts Glen State Park © Bobbie Alexander
Crisp fall day
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Bobbie Alexander
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2010
Ricketts Glen State Park Fall Kayaking © Bobbie Alexander
A great day to shoot photos on a crisp fall kayak outing.
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2010
Ricketts Glen State Park Forest Scene © Alan M Spevak
Fern fronds near trail
Ricketts Glen State Park Bridge n Steps © Marty Straub
Ricketts Glen State Park Ganoga Falls-lower part © Alan M Spevak
c2007 Alan M.Spevak
Ricketts Glen State Park Admiring Ganoga Falls © Bobbie Alexander
Standing in awe of Ganoga Falls
Ricketts Glen State Park Below the Gorge © Marty Straub
Ricketts Glen State Park Climbing Fun © Bobbie Alexander
Ricketts Glen State Park Cascading Light © Daryl DAngelo
Ricketts Glen State Park Butterfly and flowers © Douglas Kaup
Ricketts Glen State Park Cool Pool © Douglas Kaup
The water level was down during the summer, but there was still plenty to shoot.
Ricketts Glen State Park © Jeff Davis
Ricketts Glen State Park F.L. Ricketts Falls © Jaganadha R Sastry Karra
This waterfall is 38 feet tall
Ricketts Glen State Park Delaware Falls © Jaganadha R Sastry Karra
This is 37 feet tall
Ricketts Glen State Park B.Reynolds Falls © Jaganadha R Sastry Karra
This falls is 40 feet tall
Ricketts Glen State Park Ganoga Falls © Jaganadha R Sastry Karra
This is the highlight in this park. Its 90 feet tall
Ricketts Glen State Park Huron Falls © Jaganadha R Sastry Karra
This fall is 41 feet tall
Ricketts Glen State Park Erie Falls © Jaganadha R Sastry Karra
This falls is 47 feet tall
Ricketts Glen State Park Cayuga Falls © Jaganadha R Sastry Karra
This is 11 feet tall
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2008
Ricketts Glen State Park © Andy Falenski
8-18-2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Andy Falenski
8-18-2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Andy Falenski
8-18-2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Andy Falenski
8-18-2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Andy Falenski
8-18-2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2008
Ricketts Glen State Park © Andy Falenski
8-18-2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2008
Ricketts Glen State Park © Andy Falenski
8-18-2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Andy Falenski
8-18-2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Andy Falenski
8-18-2010
Ricketts Glen State Park Hanging Ice © Angela Schmidt
Taken At Ricketts Glen 02/08
Ricketts Glen State Park © William Supko
Ricketts Glen State Park © William Supko
Ricketts Glen State Park © William Supko
Ricketts Glen State Park © William Supko
Ricketts Glen State Park © Bobbie Alexander
Ricketts Glen State Park Moss falls © Douglas Kaup
One of the first few falls down the trail
Ricketts Glen State Park Big rock © Douglas Kaup
Ricketts Glen State Park Ganoga Falls © Bobbie Alexander
Colorful view of Ganoga Falls
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2008
Ricketts Glen State Park © Bobbie Alexander
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2010
Ricketts Glen State Park Walking Stick © Marty Straub
Isnt it nice when you find a walking stick at the start of your path, left by someone who once returned with it As if to say, Take this. It has served me well. Enjoy your journey.
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2010
Ricketts Glen State Park © Donna Davis
2010
Ricketts Glen State Park While you sleep. © Jeffrey Berkes
We were up until 4am along the side of the lake and watching meteor after meteor fall from the sky. A River Otter also came splashing along enjoying the view of the heavens.
Ricketts Glen State Park Fall at Ricketts Glen 7 © Ed Heaton
A great place to spend the weekend...
Ricketts Glen State Park Falls © Douglas Kaup
Ricketts Glen State Park © Carl Lefort
Search
Availability
Calendars
Availability Search
RICKETTS GLEN STATE PARK
RICKETTS GLEN STATE PARK
695 State Route 487
Benton, Pennsylvania   17814

Phone: 570-477-5675
Toll Free: 888-727-2757
Reservations: 888-727-2757
Email: park email button icon
Ricketts Glen harbors Glens Natural Area, a National Natural Landmark. Take the Falls Trail and explore the Glens, which boasts a series of wild, free-flowing waterfalls, each cascading through rock-strewn clefts in this ancient hillside. The 94-foot Ganoga Falls is the highest of 22 named waterfalls. Old growth timber and diverse wildlife add to the scenic area. Ricketts Glen State Park is one of the most scenic areas in Pennsylvania. This large park is comprised of 13,050 acres in Luzerne, Sullivan and Columbia counties.
History of the Area
At the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Robert Bruce Ricketts enlisted as a private in the U. S. Army. Fighting for the Army of the Potomac, Ricketts led Battery F during the Battle of Gettysburg. Ricketts swiftly moved up in the ranks and when the war ended, was discharged a colonel.

Colonel Ricketts at one time owned outright or controlled over 80,000 acres of land in this area. His heirs, through the Central Penn Lumber Company, sold 48,000 acres to the Pennsylvania Game Commission from 1920-24. This left them with over 12,000 acres surrounding the Ganoga Lake, Lake Jean and Glens area.

Although the area was approved as a national park site in the 1930s, World War II brought an end to this plan for development and in 1942 the heirs sold 1,261 acres, the Falls and Glens area, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a state park. Additional purchases from Colonel Ricketts? son, William Ricketts, in 1943 and 1949, resulted in a park nucleus of approximately 10,000 acres of former Ricketts holdings. Additional purchases from other individuals have brought the park to its present size.

Recreational facilities first opened in 1944. In 1950, the former Department of Forests and Waters replaced Lake Jean Dam with a larger, earthern dam, which combined Lake Jean with Mud Pond, creating the current 245-acre lake. Other facility improvements and constructions have been done over the years, like the beach house, restrooms and cabins.
Cabins
Ten modern rental cabins are available year-round. Cabins are furnished and have a living area, kitchen/dining area, toilet/shower room and two or three bedrooms. Cabin F is ADA accessible. Linens and dishes are not provided.
Camping
Camping: modern sites

There are 120 tent and trailer campsites, some available year-round. The campground features hot showers, flush toilets, shaded sites, gravel parking spurs and a sanitary dump station. Six campsites are ADA accessible.

Organized Group Tenting:

Qualified adult and youth groups may use this 150-person capacity area that is equipped with picnic tables, water and flush toilets. The area is open from the third Monday in April to the third Monday in October. Advance reservations are recommended.
Swimming
The 600-foot beach is open from late-May to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset. Swim at your own risk. A food and refreshment concession, boat rental and picnic facilities are nearby.
Boating
Boating: electric motors only

The 245-acre Lake Jean has dry mooring and one boat launch. A boat rental concession operates during the summer season and offers rowboats, paddleboats, kayaks and canoes.

Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.


Location
Ricketts Glen State Park is located near Berwick, Dallas and Mountain Top

Picnicking
Picnic facilities are located in the Lake Jean area and in the lower area off of PA 118. A limited number of charcoal grills are located in the areas. Feel free to bring your own (hot charcoal disposals are in each area).
Nature Programs
Natural wetlands, old growth forests and majestic geological formations, which helped, produce our 21 beautiful waterfalls, make Ricketts Glen an excellent choice for outdoor studies. From March to November, the environmental education specialist conducts hands-on activities, guided walks and presentations on the natural and historical resources for school groups, scouts, civic organizations and the general public. Call in advance to set up a program that will enhance your classroom or group studies. Campers and visitors may check the bulletin boards and at the park office for listings of weekend programs and nature hikes.

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
January 13 One of the best parks in Pa!! by Glenn Smith
park review stars; one to five The falls trail provides awesome views , great pictures and a great birding area in May, June
November 17 beautiful waterfalls!!! by Bama Girl
park review stars; one to five 7 mile round trip. my first trip to pa, love the smell of the fall leaves, The water falls was so beautiful.
April 9 Spring thaw by Shannon
park review stars; one to five I took a drive yesterday took me just under an hour to get there from Granville Summit. I arrived to find things still thawing, and the lake still very much covered in ice. Was a beautiful sight!
write a review read more reviews
Share On

Area Campgrounds
Whispering Pines Camping Estates
1557 North Bendertown Road
Stillwater, PA
570-925-6810
Area Fishing Related Businesses
Bait Buddies
671 Prichards Rd
Hunlock Creek, PA
(570) 256-7780
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
The park is 30 miles north of Bloomsburg on PA 487. The section of PA 487 from the town of Red Rock to the Lake Jean area of the park is a very steep road. Heavy trailer units should avoid this hill and enter the park by taking PA 487 south from Dushore.

state route ranger badge
Pennsylvania
111

Pennsylvania State Parks

X