Exploring Sand Run Falls in Tioga County

Rusty Glessner at Sand Run Falls along the Mid State Trail

If you’re looking for directions to Sand Run Falls near the PA Grand Canyon, you’re in the right place!

Sand Run Falls near Arnot in Tioga County PA
Sand Run Falls near Arnot in Tioga County, PA.

Sand Run Falls is a magnificent 25 foot tall waterfall located along the Mid State Trail in Tioga County, Pennsylvania.

Fisherman at Sand Run Falls near the Mid State Trail
Fisherman at the falls.

And while most books, websites, and hiking apps (think All Trails) advise you to to get to Sand Run Falls via a 6-7 mile loop hike, I’m going to show you a much shorter, simpler route!

How to find Sand Run Falls in Tioga County PA
Map to Sand Run Falls in Tioga County, PA.

Along the way I’ll also point out 3 other nearby waterfalls that are often overlooked, but absolutely worth seeing.

Waterfall on unnamed tributary of Babb Creek in Tioga County
Waterfall on unnamed tributary of Babb Creek in Tioga County.

How to Find Sand Run Falls in the Tioga State Forest

From the intersection of Arnot Road and Landrus Road on the outskirts of Arnot, travel 3.4 miles west on Landrus Road.

Intersection of Arnot Road and Landres Road in Tioga County PA
Intersection of Arnot Road and Landrus Road in Tioga County.

Please note – this is a dirt state forest road and doubles as a snowmobile trail in the winter.

Landrus Road near intersection with Arnot Road in Tioga County PA
Landrus Road near intersection with Arnot Road in Tioga County PA

If navigating by GPS, the parking area for this hike is located at coordinates 41.65315, -77.19309; the trailhead is marked by a tree that is “unofficially” blazed with orange and blue paint.

Sand Run Trailhead at Landrus Road.
Trailhead along Landrus Road.

The parking area along Landrus Road is large enough to accommodate 4-5 vehicles.

Sand Run Falls Trail parking area along Landrus Road in Tioga County PA
Trail parking area along Landrus Road.

Hiking to the Falls

From the trailhead at Landrus Road, follow the obvious trail downhill approximately 200 yards to this shallow wet crossing of Lick Creek (the creek that you’ve been driving parallel to on Landrus Road).

Wet crossing of Lick Creek along the Sand Run Falls Trail
Wet crossing of Lick Creek along the trail.

Cross Lick Creek and you’ll now find yourself hiking parallel to Babb Creek, along an obvious and well-worn trail.

Parts of the trail look like you are literally hiking on coal, a fitting tribute to the area’s coal mining heritage.

Sand Run Falls Trail from Landrus Road
Trail from Landrus Road to San Run Falls.

Continue to follow the trail for 0.46 miles, crossing (or circumventing) the occasional boggy area.

Boggy area along Sand Run Trail
Boggy area along trail.

Roughly 1/2 a mile after crossing Lick Creek, you will arrive at the top of an unnamed but very photogenic little waterfall.

An obvious footpath breaks off from the main trail to take you to the bottom of this waterfall.

The GPS coordinates for this unnamed waterfall are 41.66085, -77.19396.

Unnamed tributary of Babb Creek near Sand Run Falls
Unnamed tributary of Babb Creek.

Standing at the base of this waterfall, you will literally have one foot in Babb Creek.

Unnamed waterfall in the Tioga State Forest near the Mid State Trail
Unnamed waterfall in the Tioga State Forest near the Mid State Trail.

From the base of this waterfall, you can either continue up the right side of Babb Creek towards Sand Run Falls, or you can scamper back up to the top of this one and continue along the unnamed trail, which will intersect with the Mid State Trail in just a few yards.

Waterfalls around Sand Run Falls in Tioga County PA
Waterfalls around Sand Run Falls in Tioga County PA

If you elect to hike up the side of Babb Creek, it’s a mere 75 yards until Sand Run Falls comes into view.

If you instead choose to follow the Mid State Trail, you arrive at the top of Sand Run Falls in approximately 200 yards.

The GPS coordinates for Sand Run Falls are 41.66209, -77.19345.

Fisherman at Sand Run Falls in Tioga County
Fisherman at the falls.

Nearby moss-covered, gnarled tree roots make for an interesting foreground subject.

Sand Run Falls along the Mid State Trail
Downstream view of the falls.

The long, elaborate drops on Sand Run Falls make it ideal for long exposure photography, which I’m partial to.

Sand Run Falls in Tioga County PA
Long exposure photo of the falls.

And the campsite near the base of Sand Run Falls has to be one of the best in all of Tioga County.

Campsite near Sand Run Falls in the Tioga State Forest
Campsite near the falls in the Tioga State Forest.

A rope handrail next to the campsite helps you get to the top of Sand Run Falls and the Mid State Trail, and from there you can follow the Mid State Trail a little further to explore a few additional waterfalls.

Rope handrails from MId State Trail to bottom of Sand Run Falls
Rope handrails from Mid State Trail to bottom of Sand Run Falls.

Babb Creek Falls

Babb Creek Falls is 220 yards upstream from where Sand Run Falls enters Babb Creek.

Waterfalls around Sand Run Falls in Tioga County PA
Map to nearby waterfalls

And while you could just hike up the right side of Babb Creek, the Mid State Trail will keep your feet drier and brings you out at the same place.

The GPS coordinates for Babb Creek Falls are 41.66304, -77.19529.

Babb Creek Falls in Tioga State Forest
Babb Creek Falls in Tioga State Forest

On a recent visit, I watched the same orange-clad fisherman I photographed at Sand Run Falls pull 2 nice trout out of the pool below Babb Creek Falls in a matter of minutes.

Fisherman at Babb Creek Falls in Tioga State Forest
Fisherman at Babb Creek Falls in Tioga State Forest

And while I wouldn’t call it a waterfall, there’s another nice waterslide just upstream from Babb Creek Falls.

Cascade on Babb Creek in Tioga County PA
Waterslide on Babb Creek in Tioga County.

Rattlesnake Run Falls

One more waterfall that deserves your attention while in the area is Rattlesnake Run Falls.

Rattlesnake Run Falls
Rattlesnake Run Falls in Tioga County, PA.

Rattlesnake Run Falls can be easily accessed by crossing Babb Creek just above Babb Creek Falls and hiking upstream on Rattlesnake Run for 100 yards (refer to the map shown earlier if you’re not clear on this).

The GPS coordinates for Rattlesnake Run Falls are 41.66351, -77.19637.

The Return Hike

The return hike to the parking area on Landrus Road is a simple matter of following the Mid State Trail back towards and then across the top of Sand Run Falls.

The top of Sand Run Falls in Tioga County.
The top of Sand Run Falls in Tioga County.

200 yards past Sand Run Falls, you’ll continue straight on the unmarked trail back to Landrus Road, rather than following the Mid State Trail as it veers left towards Arnot Road.

Intersection of Sand Run Trail and Mid State Trail
Intersection of Sand Run Trail and Mid State Trail

The entire loop hike to and from Sand Run Falls via the trail from Landrus Road is approximately 1.5 miles, considerably shorter than the 6-7 mile loop hike more commonly suggested and written about.

Sand Run Falls near Arnot Pennsylvania
Sand Run Falls near Arnot, Pennsylvania.

When you add in the 3 nearby waterfalls, that makes this particular hike to Sand Run Falls one of the best bang-for-your-buck waterfall hikes in Tioga County!


Nearby Attractions

Looking for more nearby waterfalls?

Nickle Run Falls is located 3 miles south of Sand Run Falls, along a spur of the Mid State Trail.

Nickle Run Falls in the Tioga State Forest.
Nickle Run Falls in the Tioga State Forest.

Exploring the Big Falls Swimming Hole in Tioga County is your guide to one of the most famous swimming holes in all of Pennsylvania!

Exploring Big Falls on Stony Fork | PA's Most Famous Swimming Hole
Scenes from the Big Falls and Stony Fork in Tioga County.

Also, sure to check out my guide to 37 Must-See Waterfalls in Tioga County!

Bear Run Falls in the Pine Creek Gorge area of Pennsylvania
Bear Run Falls in the Pine Creek Gorge area of Pennsylvania

The Best Trails, Vistas, and Waterfalls in the PA Grand Canyon is another great resource for finding the best natural attractions in the region.

Looking out over Pine Creek from Colton Point State Park
Looking out over the Pine Creek Gorge from Colton Point State Park.

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Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.