We could see the top of the main drop and tell it was a big one, but needed to go down for a good view.
So we headed down the wooden boardwalks for views of the middle drop. It was quite impressive and we spent a while enjoying the view.
Right past here is the lower drop, but there weren’t very good views of it, so we hiked around to see the lower drop.
It was partially obscured by trees, but still a powerful falls and worth a closer look. Next to the lower section was a thin horsetail falls cascading down. I imagine this little falls wouldn’t exist in dry conditions. From here, we hiked back to the parking area, but wanted to get another waterfall before we took off. We crossed the street and turned left to get on the yellow-blazed Hackers Trail and followed it for about a mile to Hackers Falls. Shortly before we reached the waterfall, we could hear water crashing and followed a path to the creek, but this was just a long slide, not the waterfall. So we continued just a short ways and could soon see the waterfall from the trail.
With the foliage down, it was easy to see from a distance. We got off the trail and scrambled out on the rocks for a view of this waterfall.
Although not particularly big, it was a very scenic waterfall and worth the short hike from Raymondskill. About half way back, we got on the yellow-and-white-blazed Logger Path to make a loop back to the parking area. We turned right on Cliff Trail and made a short stop at the Tri-State Overlook.
A break in the trees provided nice views of the Delaware River below, and based on the name, I assume we could see into Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. After a brief stop, we followed the trail back to the parking area. We had planned on stopping at Dingmans Falls next, but the road was closed. Winter in Pennsylvania means a lot is closed. We had really wanted to visit Ricketts Glen, but that had closed a few weeks before. Although privately-owned, nearby Bushkill Falls was still open, so that was our next destination. After arriving, we paid admission to the falls...at $12.50 per person, it was a little expensive. But we really wanted to get this waterfall, and there are actually quite a few in a short walk around the property. A big winter storm was in the forecast, so we were fortunate to make it before they closed for the season. Talking to the lady who sold us our tickets, she suspected that this would be the last day the falls were open. And with few other visitors, we mostly had the area to ourselves. We hiked along the Red Trail, the longest trail in the park. At only two miles, it wouldn't be much of a challenge, but we would hit all the waterfalls. Starting out we turned right, following the trail upstream along Little Bushkill Creek. Shortly, we reached the first waterfall - Pennell Falls, a small cascading waterfall.
We crossed the bridge over the creek below the falls and continued through the woods to the next intersection. Continuing straight, we stayed on the Red Trail, crossing Pond Run Creek and then heading downstream along a series of steps and wooden overlooks. There are three waterfalls right in a row here.
First was Upper Bridesmaid’s Falls, a two-tiered waterfall partially tucked away in the gorge. Bridal Veil Falls, the largest of the three, is a nice cascading waterfall, 28 feet high.
And right below that is Lower Bridesmaid’s Falls, probably the smallest of the three, but very pretty with a freefall followed by a cascade.
After stopping for some pictures at each we continued on the trail and crossed back over the creek at the confluence of Little Bushkill and Pond Run Creeks.
We hiked up the gorge passing Lower Gorge Falls and then made it to the base of the main Falls.
Bushkill Falls is a nearly 100-foot cascading waterfall and was quite impressive.
We got some pictures from the bridge over the base of the falls and then climbed up to get some from the top.
We finished up our hike through the Upper Canyon above the main falls and then headed back to the car. It was past lunch time and we only had a few more hours of daylight left, so we wanted to make it count. So we headed to George W. Childs Park, once a Pennsylvania State Park, but now a recreation area in the water gap. We parked here and had a picnic lunch, then headed out for a hike. There are three waterfalls along Dingmans creek in this area. From the parking area, we hiked down the trail and passed the top of Factory Falls, though we couldn’t see much from here.
Then, we came out near the top of Fulmer Falls. I climbed out on a rock outcrop close to the top of the falls, though we couldn’t see the whole thing.
We found a bridge to cross to the other side of the creek, but the only place to see all of Fulmer Falls was along the trail through a break in the trees.
Scrambling down to the base would be rather tricky and we didn’t have a lot of time, so I didn’t try anything crazy.
We did head upstream a bit for a better view of Factory Falls, which was a pretty cool waterfall.
Then we continued downstream to see Deer Leap Falls, the last one in the area. At this one, the water flows through a narrow chute, crashing down on a rock at the base.
This was the last waterfall in the area, but I had a plan for one more. We were on Dingmans Creek just a mile or so upstream of Dingmans Falls. The road to the falls was closed, but perhaps we could just follow the creek downstream. We crossed the creek once again on the bridge below Deer Leap Falls and found a faint path following the creek downstream. We got on this and hiked about a half-mile to cross Milford Road and then continued downstream. After the road crossing, the path was very easy to follow and in about another mile, we came out at the top of Dingmans Falls. At about 130 feet high, this is a tall waterfall. And that meant a lot of stairs to go down to reach the base. But the waterfall was spectacular, my favorite of our trip.
And apparently we weren’t the only who got creative in finding a way in as we saw one other couple at the falls. We climbed down to the base and got some pictures then continued on just a short ways to Silverthread Falls. This waterfall is about 80 feet high and very thin, plunging down in two tiers through a narrow crack in the shale.
After we got some pictures, we started making our way back. Climbing the stairs to the top of Dingmans Falls was the most difficult part and once back on the unofficial trail, the going was pretty easy. We made it back to the car and then started making the drive back to Doylestown.
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