8 Gorgeous Poconos Waterfalls You Need to See

1. Bushkill Falls

Why settle for one waterfall when you could can visit eight Poconos waterfalls all in one afternoon? Located 22 miles from Tannersville PA, Bushkill Falls is known as "The Niagara of Pennsylvania" thanks to the magnificent size and impressive number of natural waterfalls near Stroudsburg PA inside these privately-owned 300 acres.

Are Bushkill Falls Tickets Required?

There is a ticket cost at Bushkill Falls, and visitors pay a fee to gain access to the property, which first opened in 1904 and is located just outside Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The park is home to exhibits and fun activities for kids and families as well as two miles of sprawling hiking trails. A fifteen-minute walk along the picturesque Green Trail (involving some steps) leads to the 100-foot drop of the Main Falls. For a longer adventure and to see more of the falls, plan a trek along the Yellow, Blue or Red Trails.

2. Lehigh Gorge State Park Waterfalls

Lehigh Gorge State Park is home to two beautiful waterfalls near Jim Thorpe PA that are quick and easy to access along the D&L Trail. Start from the Rockport Access Area and head .3 miles upstream to find Buttermilk Falls, which drops 50 feet over several levels of rocky ledges. Head back to the parking lot and continue another .3 miles downstream to discover tranquil Luke's Falls. Because of the dense summer greenery surrounding it, these Jim Thorpe waterfalls are easier to see in spring and fall.

3. Raymondskill Falls

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Waterfalls include Raymondskill Falls, which tops the list of Pennsylvania waterfall heights. Spanning three impressive drops, the cascades at Raymondskill, when added together, are just a few feet behind Niagara Falls. To visit the falls, follow the steep, .3-mile trail with two viewing areas, one in the middle and one at the top. The trail is just outside of Milford and is close to the Cliff Trail which leads to panoramic views of the Delaware River valley.

4. George W. Childs Park Waterfalls

While the popular Dingmans Falls in DWGNRA is closed for the 2025 season due to a bridge replacement project and trail reconstruction, a different beloved waterfall spot in the park has recently reopened! The nearby George W. Childs Recreation Site features a new accessible section and other improvements and repairs along the 1.4-mile loop trail that winds over three different waterfalls: Factory Falls, Fulmer Falls, and Deer Leap Falls.

5. Shohola Falls

One of the most beautiful waterfalls near Hawley PA, magnificently draped over the stair stepping rocks just below Shohola Lake, the lovely Shohola Falls is located within State Game Lands along Route 6. A .6 mile loop trail leads to the sprawling series of cascades, which offer a different vignette from every angle, so take the time to explore and soak in the serenity. "Shohola" is a Lenni Lenape word meaning "place of peace."

6. Hawk Falls

Head to Hickory Run State Park and follow a winding, .6-mile forest path downhill, across a scenic footbridge and through a tunnel of rhododendron to reach beautiful Hawk Falls, located in Albrightsville PA just six miles away from Lake Harmony PA. The water descends 25 feet as it cascades over the rocks from Hawk Run down to Mud Run. Trail parking is available along Route 534 for this out-and-back route. Be sure to take the time to visit the exhibits in the beautifully-renovated Hickory Run State Park Visitors Center just down the road and explore more of the park's wonders, including Boulder Field, during your visit.

7. Little Falls in Promised Land State Park

Looking for waterfalls near Honesdale PA and waterfalls near Lake Wallenpaupack PA? Discover the Little Falls cascades along a branch of Wallenpaupack Creek on the western side of Promised Land State Park, just 10 miles from Lake Wallenpaupack's southern shores. The loop trail starts near the Lower Lake dam and includes several charming creek waterfalls along the way.

8. Paupack Falls

Want to enjoy a private waterfall near Hawley PA right outside your hotel room window or just beyond your dining table? One-of-a-kind Ledges Hotel is perched at the base of beautiful Paupack Falls. The historic building was originally built in 1890 to house the John S. O’Connor Glass Factory, which was powered by the stunning natural cascade. Today, the waterfall and hotel are a stylish river gorge retreat, offering accommodations as well as fine dining on the deck and indoors at Glass - Wine.Bar. Kitchen.