Ricketts Glen State Park Campground
Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Oct. 17, 2019

Waterfalls!!

The biggest draw to this state park (which no one in Pennsylvania I spoke with seemed to know about) is the 22 waterfalls! We saw 18 of them on a four-mile moderate hike, but if you want to see the additional four, you could make it a seven-mile hike. The trails are very well marked. 

We stayed in the large loop, which is a peninsula on Lake Jean. Many of the sites have lake views. The bathhouse was clean but not adequate for 73 sites. The campground was about ¾ full and there was often a wait in the bathroom. Showers looked reasonable but I did not use them.

There were many tent campers in this loop, which does not allow pets (the other, smaller loop does allow pets). There are no hookups at all in the park. The water had been tested earlier in the season and unsafe levels of manganese were detected. All water spigots were shut off and covered but we were told it was safe to wash our dishes and brush our teeth. However, the water for the dishwashing sink was turned off as well as the water in the restroom at the trailhead. Since we had a reservation, we received a phone call in advance of our stay letting us know about this.

There are trails to the beach, but we woke to rain the next morning, so we did not explore this. 

One trash/recycle area a distance away from the campsites which seems typical for PA state parks. Alcohol is strictly forbidden– we were warned that if a ranger saw any alcohol outside of our vehicle, we would be cited. Quiet hours are 9 pm– 8 am, which is more restrictive than other state parks, however, some did not observe these quiet hours (a guitar-playing singing camper thought he was talented, but I disagree!)

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Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Ricketts Glen State Park Campground by Lee D., October 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Ricketts Glen State Park Campground by Lee D., October 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Ricketts Glen State Park Campground by Lee D., October 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Ricketts Glen State Park Campground by Lee D., October 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Ricketts Glen State Park Campground by Lee D., October 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Ricketts Glen State Park Campground by Lee D., October 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Ricketts Glen State Park Campground by Lee D., October 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Ricketts Glen State Park Campground by Lee D., October 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Ricketts Glen State Park Campground by Lee D., October 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Ricketts Glen State Park Campground by Lee D., October 17, 2019