Bushkill Falls (Delaware Water Gap)

Bushkill Falls

This is a snippet from a longer blog post I created, about a weekend trip to the Poconos for Matt's birthday. Included is an Airbnb we rec, wineries, places to eat, and 4 hikes. Here is the original blog post.

1st hike: Raymondskills Falls

2nd hike: Hackers Falls

3rd hike: Bushkill Falls

4th hike: Mt Tammany

Black is research done prior to the trip; purple is what we learned from our trip.

Instagram post

Bushkill Falls: (this is about 27 min from the Airbnb; about 23 min from the parking lot of Tammany, & on the way to Hackers Falls and Raymondskill falls) 

Known as the "Niagara of Pennsylvania," Bushkill Falls features a series of eight waterfalls and several hiking trails. The main loop offers an easy hike that takes you to all the major waterfalls.

• I guess it’s a “hike” but its very well maintained. Like there are wooden or stone man-made steps with railings put in everywhere. So instead of a rock scramble, its steps to and from everywhere. Pretty even flat walking path. Small children were doing it.

Location: Bushkill Falls Rd & US-209, Lehman Township, PA 18302

Doesn’t open until 9am!

• We had planned to go here first, but were thrown for a loop when the entrance gait was locked with a sign on it saying it doesn’t open until 9am lol

Price:

• Bushkill Falls is found on private property and a small entrance fee is charged to walk these trails and view the breathtaking scenery. Since this is privately owned, Bushkill Falls does not receive any local, state, or federal money for upkeep.
• I thought a small fee would be $5….when we went it was $20 per person. More than I thought it would be, but still worth it. Awesome place! Just a heads up so you have $$. They take credit cards. 

Waterfalls: 

Bushkill Falls boasts a series of eight stunning waterfalls, each with its unique charm. The main falls, known as the Main Falls, cascade about 100 feet (30 meters) down a rocky cliff, creating a spectacular sight. Visitors can also explore other named waterfalls like Bridesmaid's Falls, Laurel Glen Falls, and Pennell Falls, among others.

Trails: 

• The park offers a network of well-maintained hiking trails that wind through the Pocono Mountains. There are four main hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels:
• "Green Trail (Viewing Platform Trail): This is the shortest and easiest trail, suitable for all ages and abilities. It leads to an observation platform where you can view the Main Falls from a distance. View the Main Falls from the green trail, which takes about 15 minutes to walk. No climbing is involved, however, there are steps."
• "Yellow Trail (The Falls Trail): This moderate trail is the most popular and provides access to all eight waterfalls. It offers a closer and more immersive experience of the falls and the surrounding natural beauty. View the Main Falls, as well as Lower Gorge Falls, Laurel Glen and Upper Canyon, which takes 45 minutes to walk."
• "Blue Trail (The Gorge Trail): This is the longest and most challenging trail, suitable for more experienced hikers. It takes you deeper into the gorge, offering unique perspectives of the waterfalls and rugged terrain. View Pennell Falls from the blue trail, which takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to walk."
• "Red Trail (The Upper Gorge Trail): This trail offers a different vantage point and a quieter experience away from the crowds. It is a good option for those seeking a more peaceful hike. View Bridal Veil Falls from the Red trail. This trail is for the avid hiker in that it spans almost 2 miles, includes all eight falls, and takes over 2 hours to hike."
• Don’t be intimidated by the signs for the red trail when starting. It says something like “only for avid hikers” and “people who like to hike” lol. Yeah people not in the right shoes or can’t go for a long walk, or do steps should defer from this, but it’s really not a hike. More a walk? It’s do-able for the average active healthy person! I would hate for ppl to miss out on this path bc the signage made them fearful.

Ok so! The park lady helped us with this! 

When you go in the entrance and down the path to the “starting point,” go right on the red/yellow/blue trail, towards Pennell Falls. 

Here is our step by step guide for which route to take:

1: entrance to falls

15: Adams Flats

17: Pennell Falls

18: Pennell Falls Trail

19: Peter's Corner

Cont on the red path labeled Bridal Veils Falls Trail, the outer most trail, to number 7

You might think you missed 10, 9, and 8...but don't worry, you hit all of these on that outermost Bridal Veil Falls Trail. And the best part? It's DOWNHILL!

7: View of lower gorge and explore around the yellow trail a little bit before hitting up 

5: Bridge over lower gorge falls

4: Bottom of Main Falls

12: Top of Main Falls

11: Delaware Valley Lookout

the lookout

the lookout

the lookout

The reason you want to do this route, is to avoid going up LOTS of stairs. At the end, on the yellow trail, steps are inevitable. But you'll see coming back on the red trail, you will go DOWNHILL, while ppl struggle going up A LOT of stairs. It was the best tip she gave us. 

Next up: Mt Tammany