Hawk Falls at Hickory Run State Park is a relatively easy half-mile waterfall hike off of Route 534 in Carbon County.
The GPS coordinates for the Hawk Falls parking area are 41.01073, -75.63397.
Hiking to Hawk Falls
From the parking area, follow the yellow-blazed trail which runs parallel to Hawk Run, crossing over the stream via a bridge just above the falls.
As you near the top of Hawk Falls you’ll see an offshoot trail to your right.
That offshoot trail takes you a dozen yards or so to the vantage point pictured below.
Getting Below Hawk Falls
To get the best views of Hawk Falls, you’ll want to hop back on the main trail and follow it downstream.
When the trail reaches Mud Run, bear right and follow the trail towards Hawk Run as it hooks back up in a “J” fashion, towards the base of the Hawk Falls.
Hawk Falls is in the neighborhood of 25 feet tall, especially if you count the lower tier in your calculation.
Hawk Run and Hawk Falls are named after the Hawk family that once farmed the land near the parking area.
The trail from Route 534 to the base of the falls is part of what was once a wagon trail.
In October, Hawk Falls is a great place to photograph “leaf swirls”.
The return hike is a simple matter of backtracking the half-mile from the base of the falls to your vehicle.
Other Waterfalls at Hickory Run State Park
There are two other man-made water features worth checking out at Hickory Run State Park.
Both of these man-made waterfalls can be accessed from a parking area along Route 534, north of the Hawk Falls parking area.
The first of those water features is Chapel Falls on Hickory Run.
The second water feature is the man-made Stametz Dam, along the Shades of Death Trail.
Despite the ominous-sounding name, the Shades of Death Trail is actually one of the most enjoyable hikes at Hickory Run State Park.
Man-made or not, the spillway on Stametz Dam is an impressive sight as you approach from downstream.
This 15 foot tall water feature is an extremely popular spot at Hickory Run State Park, so plan on having company if you visit on a weekend or during the summer months.
Nearby Attractions
Exploring Hickory Run State Park in Carbon County gives you an in-depth look at the best things to see and do at this 15,990-acre recreational area.
From massive Ice Age-era boulder fields to spectacular scenic vistas, there is SO MUCH to see at Hickory Run State Park!
Tobyhanna Falls is just a few miles east of Hawk Falls, in neighboring Monroe County.
Little Shickshinny Falls is a beautiful 25-foot tall waterfall located on State Game Lands 260 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Riding the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway is a great way to see the Lehigh Gorge and historic Jim Thorpe, PA.
Further east in the Delaware Water Gap, Raymondskill Falls is billed as the “tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania“.
Further north in Scranton, Nay Aug Falls is an easy to get to waterfall within a city park.
Be sure to check out 27 Must-See Waterfalls in the Poconos for an in-depth look at many of eastern Pennsylvania’s finest waterfalls.
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