Amphitheater Falls in Tioga County, Pennsylvania features an enormous amphitheater of rock (thus the name) surrounding a 45 foot-tall waterfall that plunges down the Campbells Run Gorge near Tiadaghton.
Seemingly inaccessible from all directions, the hike I’m going to describe here is NOT for beginners!
As with most hikes in the PA Grand Canyon, this is strictly hike at your own risk, and best done with a partner or group rather than solo.
How to Find Amphitheater Falls in Tioga County
The trailhead for this hike is the same as trailhead for the Campbells Run Falls hike – the Tiadaghton parking lot of the Pine Creek Rail Trail.
In fact, the hike to Amphitheater Falls takes you past Campbells Run Falls, so I suggest you read that write-up before continuing.
To summarize: from the Tiadaghton parking lot, you’ll hike the rail trail 460 yards to Campbells Run, then hike the right side of the stream 0.4 miles to Campbells Run Falls.
Notice the ladder on the upper right hand side of Campbells Run Falls above?
This is your gut check!
To get upstream to Amphitheater Falls, you need to either scale the ladder, of find another way up and around Campbells Run Falls.
I cannot vouch for the safety of the ladder, or even guarantee that the ladder will be there.
All I can say is that it has been there the times I’ve visited, and I’ve scaled it without incident.
From the top of the ladder, Amphitheater Falls is approximately 250 yards upstream.
Photographing Amphitheater Falls
Amphitheater Falls lends itself well to long-exposure photography.
It’s an excellent spot for “leaf peeping” in October.
Numerous cascades below Amphitheater Falls help add a sense of dynamics to your images.
Adding a fellow hiker to your images is a good way provide a sense of scale to the scene.
Working your way up to the base of the falls, be prepared to deal with copious amounts of spray and mist.
The walls of the “amphitheater” are best captured with a wide-angle lens, and even then you’ll not be able to get their entirety into the frame.
Photographing Amphitheater Falls in the Pine Creek Gorge is an opportunity that is earned, not given.
But it WILL give you a sense of accomplishment like few other waterfall hikes can.
Nearby Attractions
Leonard Harrison State Park offers exceptional views from the eastern rim of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.
It is also home to the famous Turkey Path waterfall trail.
Across the canyon from Leonard Harrison State Park, Colton Point State Park also offers spectacular views and a waterfall trail.
Chimney Hollow Falls, near Colton Point State Park, is one of the tallest waterfalls in the Pine Creek Gorge.
Bohen Run Falls near Blackwell is a rugged 4 mile round-trip hike.
And the Pine Creek Rail Trail near Blackwell offers easy access to waterfalls on Stone Quarry Run and Water Tank Run.
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