Hidden Gems of PA - Raymondskill Falls

Located in the Delaware Water Gap area of Pennsylvania, Raymondskill Falls is titled as the tallest waterfall of the state. It is a series of three cascading waterfalls and when seen together, is believed to be only few feet shorter than Niagara Falls.

It is located on Raymondskill Creek in Milford and is easily accessible.
The Raymondskill Falls Loop Trail is just 0.4 mile and is rated easy.
The parking area and trails are maintained by the National Park Service, which ensures that they are generally in great condition.

The official trails take you to the top and middle tier of the Raymondskill Falls.
There are two viewing platforms available for you to take pictures and soak in the beauty of the falls.
But if you want to get to the lowest tier, you can take the faint trails that appear to be seen on the other side of the fence that head down to bottom.

The way is a bit steep and slippery to the lowest tier waterfall. As it is not maintained, people should take extra caution while getting down through it. But if you manage to get down, you will be treated with some breathtaking views of the lowest tier waterfall. Also it is quite peaceful and dreamy down there, so highly recommended.

If you want, you can also get to the river stream. The trail curves steeply downhill, until reaching creek level. The sound of flowing water is quite serene.

Address: Raymondskill Falls,Raymondskill Road, Milford, PA 18337

Parking: The parking is free, though there are only few spots available.

Admission: There is no admission fee for the waterfall.

Amenities: There are restrooms available.

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Watkins Glen State Park: A Nature’s Paradise

 

One of the must visit state parks in the vicinity of New York state is Watkins Glen State Park. It has the reputation of leaving the visitors spellbound by its beauty and this is absolutely true. The day I visited the park, was a bit cloudy and rainy. The weather added to the beauty of the park and the waterfalls which were present all the way along the trail, made me fell in love with them. Within two miles, the glen's stream descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs, generating 19 waterfalls along its course. 

The experience at Watkins Glen State Park is truly unforgettable. Winding path and steps will lead you over to stone bridges and beautiful waterfalls, leaving you in the lap of the Mother Nature.

Watkins Glen state park is the most famous of the Finger Lake state parks, located at South of Seneca Lake, in the village of Watkins Glen.

Read our guide to find out the best time to visit the Watkins Glen State park and enjoy the beautiful trails there.

There are three trails here, which are listed below:

George trail:

The Gorge Trail is what defines the park. People come here year after year and seasons after season to visit this trail, and this is one of the most photogenic spots in the New York State.

The George trail offers stunning views of the waterfalls and caves. The trail is open from mid-May until late October. Its closed from the beginning of November but depending on the weather, it can be a little earlier or later.

You can start at either the bottom, or the top of the gorge, and there are shuttles available to take you back to your start point, but I would recommend to start at the main entrance Franklin Street in Watkins Glen.

The highest waterfall at Watkins Glen is cascade central which is 60 feet high. The most photographed waterfall in the park is the Rainbow fall where you can walk underneath the fall.

The Gorge Trail hugs the gorge much more closely, allowing for better view of the river, waterfalls, cascading pools, and rock formations within the gorge.

Indian trail:

The Indian Trail follows the river at somewhat of a distance, so that it is more a gradual ramp. We recommend the Indian Trail as a way to get back to the entrance rather than taking the Gorge Trail in reverse.

South Rim trail:

This trail is 4.5 mile one way. It runs along the south rim of the glen. It is a nice hike to do but you won’t be able to see the gorge from it.

Tickets and Fees

There is no entrance fee for the park but there is a parking fee of $8 per car.

Food

There is snack bar offering ice cream and beer at the top and bottom of the trails. You can have beer only in certain areas. Best option is to carry your own food along with you which you can have along the way.

Connectivity

There are three entrances (Main, South and North) to the park, each with its own parking lot, restrooms and additional facilities. We recommend to start with the main entrance, traversing the gorge trail all the way up to the Jacob’s ladder and then using the Indian trail as your way back down. You can also use shuttle service which runs between all the three entrances, if available at a nominal fee of $5.

Stay

You can stay at their camp grounds and enjoy the hike as early as possible.

Explorerlens gyan:

1.) Try to avoid peak holiday season like summers weekends when it can become highly crowded and you will not be able to enjoy the view properly.

2.) Use a good hiking and non-slippery shoes for the hike since the path can be watery.

3.) Start your hike in the morning as early as possible to avoid crowd and get the complete views with peace.

4.) All the three parking lots have flat fee and hence you can use any one of them. But do remember your entrance to get back to it. If you exit out at the wrong entrance and shuttle service is not working, it may become difficult to get back to your car.

Here are some of the pics from out visit to the State Park :)

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Places to visit in New Jersey - Paterson Great Falls

The Great Falls of the Passaic River is a prominent waterfall, 77 feet high, on the Passaic River in the city of Paterson in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States.
It is one of the biggest and greatest waterfalls in New Jersey.

The Great Falls of the Passaic River, the surrounding historic buildings and raceways are the foundation for stories of Alexander Hamilton, the Industrial Revolution, the labor movement and the important contributions of immigrants to the making of America.

Tickets & Fees
This place is free to public.

Connectivity
Easily accessible and has a decent parking space.

Food
There are food junctions nearby so there are ample of food options available.

Now time for some gyan from Explorer Lens
1. If you are expecting it to be a mini Niagara Falls or even somewhere near to it, then you would be disappointed, so please keep your expectations a bit low.
2. It would take hardly one hour to see the complete fall so plan your trip accordingly.

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Places to visit in New Jersey - Hacklebarney State Park

Hacklebarney State Park is a state park of the U.S. state of New Jersey, located between Long Valley and Chester in Morris County. With freshwater Black River as its centerpiece, this 892 acres of glacial valley is a favorite tourist destination.

Steep slopes, swiftly flowing river water, beautiful trails, huge rocks and a variety of flora and fauna makes it popular among anglers, hikers, photographers and picnickers.

Three rare and endangered plant species exist within the park: American ginseng, leatherwood and Virginia pennywort. Over a hundred bird species and wildlife such as black bear, woodchuck, deer and fox live in the park.

Hacklebarney State Park has a total of 5 miles of hiking trails, the most amazing one on the gorges carved by the Black River and two tributaries that feed it, the Rinehart and Trout Brooks.
The hiking trails vary in difficulty; the trails along the Black River are narrow and rocky, while the majority of the trails are gravel.

Tickets & Fees
This place is free to public.

Connectivity
Easily accessible and has a big parking lot.

Food
There are no cafes or food junctions nearby so it is good option to bring your own food and enjoy it in the lap of nature as Hacklebarney State Park has picturesque picnic spot.
While making your way back on the trail along the black river, there is a big picnic spot where picnic tables and charcoal grills are placed.
Also there is a cute bridge and beautiful small waterfalls in the vicinity of the spot, making the overall ambience quite stunning.

Now time for some gyan from Explorer Lens
1. One of the best places to visit during the fall as during the winter it is difficult to transverse your way in the scattered snow, along the route.
2. A great site for fishing so do get your rods.
3. A great picnic and family spot so do come in groups and it will be a great outing together.
4. The trails along the black river are rocky, so get your tracking stuff considering it a low level difficultly trail.

 

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