Road Tripping to the Best Roadside Waterfalls in PA

A map showing how to find the best roadside waterfalls in Pennsylvania.

Does the thought of taking an epic cross-state road trip to see the best roadside waterfalls in Pennsylvania intrigue you?

Springtime at Holcomb Falls in Bradford County Pennsylvania.
Springtime at the roadside Holcomb Falls in Bradford County.

If so, you’re in the right place!

What follows is an east-west route I came up with that will take you to some of the most beautiful roadside waterfalls across Pennsylvania, while allowing for ample opportunity to improvise along the way.

First Falls on Miners Run in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
First Falls on Miners Run along Rock Run Road in Lycoming County.

While this IS NOT a turn-by-turn guide (that would make for incredibly dry reading), it is a nice framework off of which you can create your own tailor-made road trip.

Hinckston Run Falls near Johnstown PA
The roadside Hinckston Run Falls near Johnstown in Cambria County.

So follow along as I take you on a 483 mile cross-state road trip to 10 of the best roadside waterfalls in Pennsylvania!

Simply click on the blue text link in each waterfall description to see more detailed maps/directions/GPS coordinates, to aid you in planning your own cross-state road trip.

Mineral Springs Falls in the Loyalsock State Forest.
Mineral Springs Falls in the Loyalsock State Forest.

1. Big Run Falls

We’ll start off in Sullivan County at Big Run Falls along Sullivan Falls Road, just a few miles from Ricketts Glen State Park.

The view of Big Run Falls from Sullivan Falls Road.
The view of Big Run Falls from Sullivan Falls Road.

Big Run Falls is easily viewed from the road, or for the more adventurous you can scramble down to stream level along Big Run.

Big Run Falls, just up the hill from Sullivan Falls.
Big Run Falls, just up the hill from Sullivan Falls.

While you’re in the vicinity, you can check out Sullivan Falls as well, although it does require a 100-yard walk from the parking area to an overlook above the falls.

Looking down on Sullivan Falls from the top of the switchback trail.
Looking down on Sullivan Falls from the overlook on a winter day.

2. Mineral Spring Falls

Mineral Spring Falls is next up, just one of the many waterfalls in and around Worlds End State Park.

Mineral Spring Falls in Sullivan County PA
Mineral Spring Falls in Sullivan County, PA.

Mineral Spring Falls is easily viewed from the road, with a smaller waterfall located just a few minutes hike upstream.

Upper Mineral Spring Falls in the Loyalsock State Forest Sullivan County
Upper Mineral Spring Falls in the Loyalsock State Forest, Sullivan County

3. Dry Run Falls

Dry Run Falls is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in the Loyalsock State Forest, and you can literally drive right up to it!

A summer view of Dry Run Falls in Sullivan County, PA.
A summer view of Dry Run Falls in Sullivan County, PA.

This popular picnic spot along Dry Run Road is also a fantastic spot to catch the fall foliage in the Endless Mountains region.

Incredible fall foliage around Dry Run Falls in the Loyalsock State Forest.
Dry Run Falls on an October afternoon.

4. Holcomb Falls

Holcomb Falls along Leroy Mountain Road in Bradford County is one of the tallest roadside waterfalls in PA.

Holcomb Falls along Leroy Mountain Road in Bradford County PA.
Holcomb Falls along Leroy Mountain Road in Bradford County.

Just how close is Holcomb Falls to the road?

This close!

Toyota Tacoma parked in front of Holcomb Falls along Leroy Mountain Road in Bradford County PA
Parked in front of Holcomb Falls along Leroy Mountain Road in Bradford County.

5. Miners Run Falls

Miners Run in Lycoming County is one of the prettiest waterfall streams in all of PA.

A downstream view of the first waterfall on Miners Run in the Loyalsock State Forest.
A downstream view of the first waterfall on Miners Run in the Loyalsock State Forest.

While many of the upstream waterfalls along Miners Run require a challenging off-trail hike, the First Falls on Miners Run are visible from Rock Run Road.

First Falls on Miners Run in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
First Falls on Miners Run in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

6. Wykoff Run Falls

Located in the heart of Pennsylvania Elk Country, Wykoff Run Falls is a charming roadside attraction, as well as a popular fishing hole.

A fisherman at Wykoff Run Falls in Cameron County
Wykoff Run Falls along Wykoff Run Road.

What it lacks in height, Wykoff Run Falls makes up for in scenic surroundings, and you might just come face-to-face with an elk nearby!

Sun rays beaming down on Wykoff Run Falls in the Quehanna Wild Area
Sun rays beaming down on Wykoff Run Falls in the Quehanna Wild Area.

7. Hinckston Run Falls

Hinckston Run Falls is a man-made waterfall formed by the outflow of the Hinckston Run Reservoir near Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Hinckston Run Falls near Johnstown Pennsylvania
Hinckston Run Falls near Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Fittingly located along Waterfall Drive in Cambria County, Hinckston Run Falls is readily visible from your vehicle.

Hinckston Run Falls in Cambria County Pennsylvania
Hinckston Run Falls in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

8. Ohiopyle Falls

Sometimes referred to as the “Niagara Falls of Western Pennsylvania”, Ohiopyle Falls is located near the center of Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County.

Ohiopyle Falls as viewed from in front of the Laurel Highlands Visitors Center.
Ohiopyle Falls as viewed from in front of the Laurel Highlands Visitors Center.

With parking spots literally right next to several viewing areas, Ohiopyle Falls on the Youghiogheny River may be the largest roadside waterfall in Pennsylvania.

A winter view of Ohiopyle Falls from the Observation Deck.
A winter view of Ohiopyle Falls from the roadside observation deck.

9. East Park Falls

East Park Falls is located in the heart of Connellsville in Fayette County.

East Park Falls Connellsville PA Fayette County
East Park Falls Connellsville, PA.

Readily visible from your vehicle, a short trail leads up the left side of Connell Run should you want to get a closer look at East Park Falls.

Upper East Park Falls in Connellsville Pennsylvania
Upper East Park Falls in Connellsville, Pennsylvania.

10. Big Run Falls

We’ll end things like we started them – at Big Run Falls!

Big Run Falls in Lawrence County Pennsylvania.
Big Run Falls in Lawrence County.

This Big Run Falls happens to be in Lawrence County, while the Big Run Falls we started at was located a few hundred miles east in Sullivan County.

Big Run Falls at Cascade Park in New Castle Pennsylvania
Big Run Falls at Cascade Park in New Castle, Lawrence County.

But just like the Big Run Falls in Sullivan County, the one in Lawrence County is readily visible from the road.

Big Run Falls at Cascade Park in New Castle Pennsylvania.
Big Run Falls at Cascade Park in New Castle, Lawrence County.

In fact, there is a roadside picnic table with a great view of Big Run Falls in Lawrence County.

Picnic table at the roadside overlook near Big Run Falls in New Castle.
Picnic table at the roadside overlook near Big Run Falls in New Castle.

Final Thoughts

Maybe you aren’t as steady on your feet as you used to be, or maybe you just don’t like to hike.

Whatever the reason, these 10 roadside waterfalls would make for an epic road trip across the Keystone State!

October at Dry Run Falls in Sullivan County, PA.
October at Dry Run Falls in Sullivan County, PA.

If you want to broaden your search to include even more roadside and almost-roadside waterfalls, then be sure to check out 34 Must-See Roadside Waterfalls in PA.

Table Falls flowing high and clear on a September morning.
Table Falls flowing high and clear on a September morning in the Quehanna Wild Area.

Looking for the tallest waterfalls in Pennsylvania?

Ganoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania.
Ganoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park.

Then be sure to check out Road Tripping to the Tallest Waterfalls in PA, with directions to 10 of the tallest waterfalls across Pennsylvania.

A guide to taking a cross-state road trip to visit the tallest waterfalls in Pennsylvania.
A road map to some of the tallest waterfalls in Pennsylvania.

Looking for what I consider to be the 20 quintessential PA waterfalls?

Cucumber Falls on a summer morning.
Cucumber Falls on a summer morning.

Then be sure to check out 20 Must-See Pennsylvania Waterfalls!

Shohola Falls on State Game Lands 180 in Pike County Pennsylvania
Shohola Falls on State Game Lands 180 in Pike County, Pennsylvania.

And if you’re positively obsessed with waterfalls, you’ll find directions to literally hundreds more, broken down by regions of PA, in my Ultimate Pennsylvania Waterfalls Guide!

The Ultimate Pennsylvania Waterfall Guide created by Rusty Glessner
The Ultimate Pennsylvania Waterfalls Guide by Rusty Glessner.

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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.