Description: This is one of those “Must do hikes” if you ever find yourself close to this park and you have your boots with you. Although the circuit is only about 3.6 miles in length it descends and then climbs approximately 600 feet using stone and wooden steps in that short distance. The rewards: there are up to 20 of them … beautiful waterfalls ranging in height from the 11 foot diminutive Cayuga to the 94 foot tall giant – Ganoga. Wear sturdy boots, bring water and your camera and please take your time. If your dog is not good on lead leave it at home. You will need your balance for this one.

Once in the park cross the dam and follow the signs to the right to the trailhead.

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Trail Notes: From the large wooden map and kiosk head down the spur trail to the junction with the Highland Trail to the left and the Falls Trail to the right. Take the Highland Trail. In 0.81 miles pass the R.L. Ricketts Shortcut Trail on the right. Turn right onto the Falls Trail and descend through Glen Leigh. Several photos of the falls are shown below. We won’t attempt to name them. Take extra care as you use the stone and wooden steps. At 0.94 miles cross the confluence of the two streams on a bridge at Waters Meet. If you want to make sure you see all of the falls head down stream a short distance to visit Harrison Wright, Sheldon Reynolds and Murray Reynolds Falls. Return to the Waters Meet and continue up Ganoga Glen. The steepest climb occurs after visiting the namesake falls. In 1.25 miles from Waters Meet arrive back at the parking lot spur. Turn left and follow it back to your vehicle.

Printable/Downloadable Map

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Printable/Downloadable Directions and Trail Notes

Critique This Outing

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Outing Critiques

Name: Chris Hike: Ricketts Glen Falls Hike
Date: 7/8/2011 Rating: 5

Critique: My wife and I hiked the 3.6 mile loop on a beautiful day in July. Little if any humidity, and high temps in the low 80s with hardly a cloud in the sky (what more could you ask for?). Twenty years ago my wife and I went out on our first date and I was looking for a place we could get way for the weekend. For a weekend getaway Ricketts Glen will not be a disappointment it was just stunning. We arrived at the trailhead at 9:00 am to find only three other cars in the parking lot. The only real drawback to this hike is it didn't stay that way, by the time we left it was full and there were lots of people on the trail. I recommend going early (by 11:00 am there were people everywhere), for the first hour and a half it was like we had the park to ourselves. No camping on this trip we stayed at www.sweetvalleycottages.com and for $210.00 for the weekend we found the cabin and grounds to be charming to say the least. No TV, no phone, no radio just a simple rustic cabin; again what more could we ask for. We ate dinner at the Trails End Restaurant Friday evening as well as breakfast Saturday morning and enjoyed both. Hopefully some day we will be able to make a trip back to the area during fall, as I'm sure it won't disappoint then either.

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Name: Kevin Hike: Ricketts Glen Falls Trail Loop
Date: 6/24/10 Rating: 5

Critique: My son and I hiked the full 7.2 mile Falls Trail Loop in June 2010. We started at the parking lot on Rt. 118 and proceeded up Red Rock Mt. A little bit of a boring walk to the first waterfall but that is what we get for not taking the easier 3.2 mile loop. We figured if we were going to do it we had to do it all.

Once we hit the first fall the walk was worth it. The water level was not as high as I had seen in some pics, due to lack of recent rain, but beautiful just the same.

We took a right at Waters Meet so we would be able to see Ganoga Falls from the front. This is the biggest falls in the park. There are some pretty steep stone steps so be prepared to climb. When we reached the top of Gonaga Glen we were ready for the easy stretch on the Highland Trail section of the hike.

Our decent down Glen Leigh was just as beautiful as our assent up Gonaga Glen. The power of water to carve never ceases to amaze me.

By the time we reached the car, a little over 4 hrs after we started, we were tired and hungry. We headed straight for the Trails End Restaurant a few miles down Rt. 118. Nothing fancy here but good food at good prices to feed the hungry hiker.

I highly recommend trekking poles for this hike and don't forget your camera.

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