Ricketts Glen State Park Campground

First off, if you are going to visit all the falls, bring shoes that you can walk in and that are smart for wet and moist surfaces.  Flip flops will not work for this.  We had tennis shoes on and that wasn't our best choice, however we don't own hiking boots....might be something we get in time, especially if we go back here.  The many falls are breathtaking!  We had a very nice site....no electric, clean bathhouses, very quiet.  This one was far for us, but we had a very enjoyable time there with our friends!

Two things:  (1) You're in for quite a climb getting up to the campground; and (2) there is no cell service, at least for AT&T.  It was also difficult to find, as Google Maps directed us to a parking lot at a trail head that was a good distance away from the campground.

But we loved the campground.   We had a quick overnight touch-and-go, and really wish we could have stayed awhile.  Will definitely stop in when passing this way again.

Tent camping in the large loop area. 

Escaping the Maryland summer heat, the cooler temperatures in Ricketts Glen State Park was perfect. This park offers a variety of activities. Hiking along the Falls Trail being a highlight. The Large Loop is closer and banks along the lake, where there are two separate beach areas perfect for swimming. Kayak rentals, fishing are some of the great water things you can enjoy. 

The campsite was perfectly sized for us - tent campers and close but not too close to the clean restrooms. A water spigot was handy across the road. Behind the restroom building is a dishwashing station. While there are showers there, the hot water was actually...cold.

There is a great small camp store if you need last minute items, and the concession stands at the furthest beach sells firewood and ice cream.

There are cabins available to rent, which looked really comfy. All linens, etc need to be brought along though.

Beautiful waterfalls surrounded by autumn color.

This campground offers full-hookup sites on the small loop section. You may also bring dogs to the small loop section. The Large Loop section is more geared for boondocking smaller trailers and tent campers. No dogs are allowed in that area.

Dogs are allowed on the trail, but are required to be on 6-foot leashes at all times.

The restrooms were clean and convenient. I found the hot water in both the small and large loops to be tepid at best.

Site 135 was perfectly level which made setting up camp easily. The water spigot was hard to operate as it was stiff. So bring along some WD 40 just in case.

The Falls trail is a hard/difficult trail. Although the loop is just 4.1 miles around, there are many stone steps and steep inclines. Bring hiking poles to help with the descent and ascent, along with snacks and water.

Ricketts Glen has beautiful scenery. We were in the big loop. Many of the sites looked close to the road and not very private but we were in site 63 which was pretty private(though we were lucky neighboring site 62 was empty). Had beautiful lake views from multiple directions and short distance to lake. A couple minutes from the bathroom and even closer to nearest water pump. Site 65 looked nice as well- but closer to path to lake so might have more foot traffic going by. 61 and 62 were right next to each other and not so wooded in between. I wouldn't recommend either unless get both (but 63 is larger and more private than either 61 or 62)

The bathrooms were ok. The floors were pretty dirty but other than that were decently clean and were stocked with toilet paper and hand soap (no paper towels, only hand dryers). The showers were really nice: free, hot water- each shower had a door and then an area with bench and hooks and then the shower with a curtain. There wasn't a place to put soap in shower though unless you put it on the floor.

The campground was pretty full when we were there but it wasn't loud and nights were quiet. 

The falls trail was beautiful. We started from route 118 and from there to waters meet wasn't too bad (especially if take moderate upper trail at split) but after that it did get more challenging and the Ganoga Glen section was scary-(we did it going down)- especially Mohawk fall area which was incredibly steep! 

The visitors center is quite nice and the rangers were very nice and helpful there.

We had a wonderful time at Ricketts Glen - it is really a beautiful place.

I  picked a horrible day to stay here: it was at the peak of the wind pollution from the Canadian wild fires. The sky was  filled with eye-burning smoke, it was totally overcast, cold and very  windy.

I STILL HAD A WONDERFUL TIME!

Even though it hadn't rained for awhile, the hiking along the waterfalls trail was wonderful. I also saw several people kayaking at the campsite next to mine (our campsites were directly at the shore)and others were biking.

The park is well maintained and very clean and pretty.

If you love hiking and waterfalls then this is the place for you!! Absolutely beautiful displays of nature with over 20 waterfalls some as high as 90 feet! Hiking can be difficult so please be prepared and ensure you are cable of climbing several flights of wet, rocky, muddy steps. The campground itself was very clean with spacious sites. We stayed in the Small loop site 18 and it was in the back of the loop so it was quiet. We had a wonderful time at this park and would visit again in a few years when our kids are older. Our 5 year old did this hike (about 3 miles) and didn't complain she was tired until we got to the parking lot!

Sites have great shade and are kept far enough apart in most places that even if your neighboring sites are making some noise, the noise doesn't really carry. Beautiful place. Easy access to lake, beach, falls trail, and surrounding areas. Only problem is knucklehead RVs running generators since there are no electric hookups here.

This trip was a bit impromptu so we assume most of the good sites were picked over. The site we stayed at was the perfect size for two people, not the biggest site in the campground but we had a bit of a buffer between our neighbors so we weren’t on top of other people. We were located at a bit heavily trafficked area because we were near the entrance of the campground and the restrooms. The state park was beautiful and had a lot of things to do. I recommend doing the Falls trail and to get onto Lake Jean. They have a concessions by Lake Jean that doesn’t only sell food and drinks but some ice and bundle of wood. Definitely bring a hammer because it’s near impossible to stake down your tent by hand because the turf is hard. Would definitely come again and do the primitive group camp option if I can. No cell service (Verizon) but if you drive 10 miles north up towards Lopez we were able to get a signal. This was a nice way to end summer!

The campground at Ricketts Glen is really nice. The sites are HUGE and level, it’s easy to maneuver your rig through the campground area, and most of the RV sites have water, sewer, and electric. Not all of the sites have shade. The hookups are well placed, and the sewer is set into a concrete bowl and level with the ground so a slinky type hose support is all you need.

Getting to this campground you have to up and down a LOT of hills, and the last one is a doozy! It is a 2 mile climb on an 18% grade, but take it slow going up and down and you should be fine.

NO cell service whatsoever, even using a booster I only got two bars. But the lack of trees in our area made it a good place to use Starlink.

Come prepared to this campground, as the closest grocery store is about 30 minutes away, but there is a Dollar General near the entrance to the park for incidentals and snacks. There is a nice sandy swimming beach about 5 minutes drive from the campground, boat launches, and a kayak rental. If you like to stargaze, it is pretty amazing here! Very little light pollution and a great view of the sky from the campground! The attached star photos were from my campsite!

The rangers patrol regularly, but being a state park in a pretty remote area I wouldn’t worry too much. Dumpsters and a dump station are conveniently located on the way out, and it’s a big area so it would be easy to dump if needed.

We were there for our 30th wedding anniversary on June 20th and were lucky the Mountain Laurel were in bloom on the Grand View trail. It was an easy 2 mile hike. It was raining so we couldn’t do the falls trail, we must go back. That’s why the easier Grand view trail saved the day. Absolutely gorgeous!!! Everything else about the park was lovely and we had lake views and watched the sun set on the lake each day . It was just a short walk from our site. We are already planning for next year!! Only the small loop is dog friendly. All trails are dog friendly but we won’t take her on the Falls trail as it’s steep and can be slippery and is two long for our little Havanese.

The only grudge I usually have are with the campers who don’t respect the others. Site 33 has access to the water, be prepared for people to walk onto your site. Bathrooms needs updating

Site was pretty nice, but there is very little privacy as the sites are so close to each other. Also no service (Verizon).

This spot, although charming, is in the middle of nowhere. Come prepared with your firewood and supplies ahead of time. Strict rules posted say no drinking on premise? Lots of familes here. OK facilities. It rained overnight during our stay, but not a problem. We woke up the next to to hike the waterfall trail nearby. Worth it, even if you just do a short leg of the hike.

Stayed at site 44, it was a great time! Do the falls trail and do it early. Campsites are a little stacked but that’s okay for how nice it is and how close you are to the trailhead. Bathrooms are nice and well maintained.

Side note: absolutely no service for AT&T

Sites are extremely difficult to get here, with less than half being able to be booked online. No pull through sites and no sites with full hookups. More than half don’t even have electric. Most can only accommodate small rigs.

Facilities need a major upgrade, and hikes are very crowded on the weekends.

I only stayed for a night, but had a wonderful visit! The campsites were great, somewhat close to others but that was fine. Bathrooms were okay and dumpsters were a bit far, but you can drive to them rather quickly. Note that alcohol is not permitted and quiet hours start at 9pm. We also did not have cell service- among our group we had TMobile and Verizon.

The park itself is beautiful and the Falls Trail is an absolute must. I'm definitely planning on visiting again, as one night was not enough!

The campground has spacious sites, and is very busy with lots of families coming and going in our two day stay. People were very respectful of quiet hours at night, and in the morning it was loud with playing children as people woke up. Our site was near to the bathrooms, which are decent and similar to a gym bathroom - main critique is that the showers were hard to use and always a little wet.

There are a lot of trails within walking distance of the campground; we did the short Highlands Trail which was easy, and stopped by one of the waterfalls on the Falls Trail. I think the Falls Trail is pretty long and steep, so be prepared for a long time out. We finally stopped by the beach which was lovely and had bathrooms + showers.

Good hiking and swimming, would come again.

Beautiful scenery and awesome hike through the Glens and waterfalls. Disappointed in the bathhouse- showers sprayed directly in the face and no hot water. FYI- no cell reception. Fire wood and ice not sold at campground. Ok to buy wood at gas stations in Red Rock before you make your way up the mountain.

Stayed in a tent site. Wooded areas. Private and quiet. Great, challenging hiking trails with over 1000 feet elevation change. Beautiful views!! Lake is well maintained though no lifeguard was present. Bathrooms were cleaner during the morning hours as this state park gets VERY busy.

Great place To camp and hike. Camp site was in great shape people were friendly and the hike was amazing

No hook ups and bathrooms can get dirty. Sites are fairly private. Lake is great for kayaks and the falls hiking trail is amazing.

Excellent views and the ability to explore and experience the waterfalls areas. Beach and lake activities are available as well.

Spent 3 nights at Ricketts Glen with my partner.

We took Falls Trail on a Monday morning around 9:30am and there were a few people on the trail already. By the time we finished the trail around noon, the entire parking lot was full. Definitely recommend an early start!

The beach is a one mile walk from the Big Loop, but very doable in flip flops. Nice and clean with rentals available.

Grandview trail was our last trail of the trip. A quick two miler that’s well marked and a fun quick hike.

Note to any campers: the turf at the campsite is HARD. If you’re trying to put stakes in the ground to secure your tent, you’ll need heavy duty stakes. We bent a few of our metal stakes and had to buy a rubber mallet to get anywhere (and still struggled).

Red Rock Corner Store is at the “base” of the park is a nice go-to for ice, soda, or last minute camp needs.

No cell service for me or my partner at the site (T-Mobile and Verizon), which we loved, but isn’t for everyone.

The waterfalls are absolutely stunning. When I went the beach wasn't open so that was a bummer but the campground was really nice. Plenty of outdoorsy things to do. I'd say it's great for families. They also have pet sites.

I started off being Impressed that they called me saying there will be a don't drink the water notice going on a week before we were scheduled to visit, but they were going to have a large container with drinkable water by the main gate.  Then when we got there we loved the view of the lake from our campsite. The bathrooms were clean and well kept. The hiking trails were nice and rugged and all of the trails fit the landscapes, plus it was awesome to be able to walk right next to the many waterfalls and not have any railing (fair warning to people with vertigo)

Waterfalls, waterfalls, waterfalls!!! Incredible trails and a really nice campground with large sites and lots of trees to make it even more private. Worth planning ahead to get a spot.

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!)

Been camping here twice and both times were a lot of fun. It is a wonderful spot, which means it does get crowded but besides that, it's a place I will continue to come back to.

Surrounded by Lake Jean at the top of Red Rock Mtn, this clean campground offers spacious pads for tents or campers. Lots to do and see nearby: hiking, swimming, horseback riding, and catch & release fishing are all available. Open year round so snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing are also options. I can't wait to go back again!