The McIntyre Wild Area in Lycoming County is home to more than a dozen incredible waterfalls, scattered amongst a handful of magnificent mountain streams.
Four of the largest of these waterfall streams are located near Ralston and the Rock Run Valley, an area renowned for its natural beauty as well as its mining and logging history.
Each of these four waterfall streams is unique, and I’ll address their individual features and tell you exactly how to find the falls on each one in the paragraphs below.
Simply follow the blue text links in the descriptions of each stream to view a more in-depth description of the waterfalls on that stream, along with maps, GPS coordinates, and suggested hiking routes.
Dutchmans Run Falls
Dutchmans Run has the distinction of being home to the tallest waterfall in the McIntyre Wild Area, as well as the location of several smaller waterfalls and cascades.
I did a thorough write-up on Dutchmans Run, complete with maps, GPS coordinates, photos, and videos which you can view HERE.
Abbott Run Falls
Abbott Run Falls in the McIntyre Wild Area is a series of seldom-seen waterfalls located approximately one mile north of Dutchmans Run.
You can view my extensive write-up on Abbott Run featuring maps, GPS coordinates, and a multitude of photos and video HERE.
Miners Run Falls
Miners Run has the distinction of being home to the largest concentration of waterfalls in the McIntyre Wild Area.
6 waterfalls within a .6 mile stretch, giving you a tremendous bang-for-your-buck 1.2 mile loop hike.
I did a thorough write-up on hiking to the waterfalls along Miners Run, complete with maps, GPS coordinates, photos, and videos, all of which you can view HERE.
If I could only hike one of the four main waterfall streams in the McIntyre Wild Area, Miners Run would be the one.
Hounds Run Falls
Hounds Run has the distinction of being home to the fewest waterfalls of the four hikes described here – 1 main waterfall and 1 small splash dam.
It is also the shortest hike of the three, a 0.7 mile out-and-back trip.
Despite taking you to only 1 main waterfall, the stature and complexity of that single waterfall makes the Hounds Run hike a highly satisfying short excursion.
I did a thorough write-up on Hounds Run, complete with maps, GPS coordinates, photos, and video, all of which you can view HERE.
Final Thoughts
The McIntyre Wild Area is a 7,279 acre hiking mecca.
And while there are plenty of other streams in the immediate vicinity that are home to smaller waterfalls (Doe Run and Hawk Run come to mind), the four I’ve included here are the best bang-for-your-buck waterfall hikes in the McIntyre Wild Area.
Dutchmans Run. Abbott Run. Miners Run. Hounds Run.
Put all four on your PA Bucket List!
Nearby Attractions
Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area offers a stunning 180-degree view of the Lycoming Creek Valley and the town of Ralston more than 900 feet below.
Exploring Jacoby Falls in the Loyalsock State Forest is another great Lycoming County waterfall hike.
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You inspire me … I have new goals to achieve and plan on doing all of them. Thank you! Laurie
Thanks Laurie!
I love waterfalls. They inspire me and I love the adventure of finding new ones. This triple crown is next on my list.. if you can suggest any others please do! I’m from NW PA and always looking for new territory!
Thanks for checking out the post Lisa! I’m trying to add at least one new waterfall write-up a week to the website. Follow the PA Bucketlist page on Facebook to stay in the loop – generally I post them on “Waterfall Wednesday”.
LOVED Dutchman’s Falls! We’ve done many waterfall hikes (thanks to you!) and I think this is my #1 favorite! We were in for a surprise at the Third falls. Thanks to the rainy season there was not ONE 2-tiered falls, but a second falls coming off the mountain to the right and it was probably twice as high as the one in your photo. The 2 falls then met at the base of the Third Falls. My only disappointment was that Hounds Run Falls was quite unimpressive after doing the Dutchman so maybe start at Hounds Run and do the Triple Crown backwards!
Glad you found the write-up useful Doreen!
Where can you stay to see
These places do you have any recommendations?
The closest town of note would be Williamsport, about a half hour to the south. Tons of hotels there.