The Best Waterfalls in the Poconos Road Trip

The Best Waterfalls in the Poconos Road Trip

Who’s up for an epic 209 mile round-trip road trip to see the best waterfalls in the Poconos?!

Raymondskill Falls in Pennsylvania
Upper and middle tiers of Raymondskill Falls in Pike County, PA.

If this sounds like something you’ve always wanted to do, I’ve plotted out the perfect road trip for you.

A road map to the best waterfalls in the Poconos region of eastern Pennsylvania.
A road trip to see the best waterfalls in the Poconos.

You can download the route map here.


Simply follow along and click on the blue text links to view more detailed descriptions of each waterfall mentioned.

Hawk Falls Pennsylvania Hickory Run State Park
Hawk Falls at Hickory Run State Park in the Poconos.

This road trip departs from and returns to Scranton, and I’m going to describe the trip going in a clockwise direction, but you could just as easily go the opposite way and have just as much fun!

Tobyhanna Falls in the PA Pocono Mountains
Tobyhanna Falls in the Poconos.

1. Nay Aug Falls in Scranton

Our first stop is Nay Aug Falls in Scranton, a rarity in Pennsylvania, in that it is located in and owned by a city.

Nay Aug Falls on Roaring Brook in Lackawanna County
Nay Aug Falls on Roaring Brook in Scranton, PA.

From the parking area at Nay Aug Park, simply follow the Davis Trail for approximately 0.25 miles to the Nay Aug Falls Overlook.

A map of Nay Aug Park showing how to find Nay Aug Falls
A map of Nay Aug Park showing how to find Nay Aug Falls

2. Shohola Falls

Our second stop is Shohola Falls, located just off of Route 6 in Pike County.

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

Shohola Falls are located less than 200 yards from a parking area on State Game Lands 180.

Map to Shohola Falls in Pike County, PA.

3. Raymondskill Falls

Stop #3 is Raymondskill Falls, the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania (178 feet)!

Raymondskill Falls in Pike County PA
Upper and middle tiers of Raymondskill Falls in Pike County, PA.

Raymondskill Falls is so tall, you can’t view all three tiers from one vantage point.

The bottom tier of Raymondskill Falls in PIke County.
The bottom tier of Raymondskill Falls in Pike County.

4. Dingmans Falls

Next up is Dingmans Falls, billed as the second tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania (130 feet).

Dingmans Falls in the Delaware Water Gap
Dingmans Falls in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania.

80 foot-tall Silverthread Falls is located along the same boardwalk as Dingmans Falls, so this is a true 2-for-1 stop along your road trip!

Silverthread Falls in the Delaware Water Gap.
Silverthread Falls in the Delaware Water Gap.

5. Upper Hornbecks Creek

Stop #5 is Upper Hornbecks Creek near the Pocono Environmental Education Center.

Unnamed waterfall along Hornsbeck Creek in Pike County Pennsylvania.
Unnamed waterfall along Hornbecks Creek in Pike County Pennsylvania.

Upper Hornbecks Creek is home to an array of small, unnamed waterfalls, each with a character all its own.

A springtime scene from Hornsbeck Creek in the Delaware Water Gap.
A springtime scene from Hornbecks Creek in the Poconos.

6. Tobyhanna Falls

Exploring Tobyhanna Falls in Monroe County requires an easy 0.4 mile hike (one way) along the Tobyhanna Creek in the Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area.

Tobyhanna Falls in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania
Tobyhanna Falls in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

Tobyhanna Falls is certainly not one of the tallest waterfalls you’ll see in the Poconos, but it makes for a quick, relaxing hike along a fairly level trail.

Tobyhanna Falls trail map.
Tobyhanna Falls trail map.

7. Hawk Falls

Stop #7 is Hawk Falls at Hickory Run State Park, one of the prettiest waterfalls in this region.

Springtime view of Hawk Falls at Hickory Run State Park
Springtime view of Hawk Falls at Hickory Run State Park.

Hawk Falls is also one of the most popular waterfalls in the Poconos, so if you’re doing this road trip on a summer weekend, prepare for lots of company!

Top view of Hawk Falls at Hickory Run State Park
Top view of Hawk Falls at Hickory Run State Park

8. Little Shickshinny Falls

The last stop on this road trip is Little Shickshinny Falls, a beautiful 25-foot tall waterfall located on State Game Lands 260 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Little Shickshinny Falls in Luzerne County.
Little Shickshinny Falls in Luzerne County.

The hike to Little Shickshinny Falls is short – approximately 300 yards along an old forest road.

The Little Shickshinny Falls Trail.
The Little Shickshinny Falls Trail.

From Little Shickshinny Falls, it’s an easy drive back to Scranton, home of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company!

Dunder Mifflin Paper Company is a fictitious business in Scranton at the heart of the hit TV show "The Office".
Dunder Mifflin Paper Company is a fictitious business in Scranton, backdrop for the hit TV show “The Office”.

If you want to explore even more waterfalls in the Poconos, be sure to check out 27 Must See Waterfalls in the Poconos for additional maps, photos, and directions.

Approaching the first waterfall on Fall Brook at Salt Springs State Park.
Approaching the first waterfall on Fall Brook at Salt Springs State Park.

Does the thought of taking a 540 mile cross-state road trip to see the tallest waterfalls in Pennsylvania intrigue you?

A map showing how to find the the tallest waterfalls in Pennsylvania.

Then you’ll enjoy this east-west route I mapped out with that will take you to some of the tallest waterfalls in each region of Pennsylvania, while allowing for ample opportunity to improvise along the way.

Summer at Angel Falls in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.
Summer at Angel Falls in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.

Or maybe the thought of taking a scenic cross-state road trip to see the best roadside waterfalls in Pennsylvania is more up your alley?

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

Then you’ll never have to get out of the car to enjoy this 483 mile east-west route I came up with that will take you to some of the most beautiful roadside waterfalls across Pennsylvania.

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.

The Best Waterfalls Near Pittsburgh Road Trip is a scenic 358 mile round-trip road trip around western Pennsylvania.

A roadmap to the best waterfalls near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

If you’ve always wanted to explore the “west coast of PA”, this is the perfect road trip for you!

An autumn view of Cucumber Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.
Cucumber Falls at Ohiopyle State Park in western PA.

How about a road trip to see the best abandoned places in PA.

a road map to 9 of the best abandoned places in Pennsylvania.

I’ve mapped out a 587 mile route that takes you to nine of Pennsylvania’s most intriguing abandoned places.

Sideling Hill Tunnel on the Abandoned PA Turnpike in September 2020.
Sideling Hill Tunnel on the Abandoned PA Turnpike.

10 Great PA Backroads Adventures not only lead to interesting destinations, but also take you down scenic roads that are themselves sights to be savored.

Faupel Road in Bedford County Pennsylvania.
Faupel Road in Bedford County

15 Must-See Attractions Along Interstate 80 may just surprise you with how many great things there are to see along this 311 mile stretch of concrete and asphalt.

Rosecrans Falls in Clinton County Pennsylvania on a foggy summer morning.
Rosecrans Falls in Clinton County, minutes from Interstate 80.

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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.