Breakneck Falls
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 16 ft (5 m)
- Location
- Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
- Access status
- Official state park trail to the base of the falls
- The walk
- About one-third mile each way from the Eckert Bridge trailhead (PA Bucket List); DCNR lists the trail as 1.5 miles out and back
- Ground & access
- Flat creekside trail, then a wet stream crossing and a steep climb through large boulders. DCNR rates it more difficult. Rocks in the gorge are slippery.
Breakneck Falls is a 25-foot multi-tiered falls on Cheeseman Run, a tributary of Slippery Rock Creek, in McConnells Mill State Park. The yellow-blazed Breakneck Falls Trail follows the east bank of Slippery Rock Creek downstream, makes a short wet crossing of Cheeseman Run with no bridge, then climbs through large boulders along Cheeseman Run to the base of the falls, where the trail ends. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Breakneck Falls Trail from the Eckert Bridge and Breakneck Bridge area, along the east bank of Slippery Rock Creek and up Cheeseman Run to the base of Breakneck Falls
PA Bucket List gives roughly one-third of a mile (about 462 yards) with 116 feet of gain from the trailhead next to Eckert Bridge. DCNR lists the Breakneck Falls Trail as 1.5 miles, out and back, beginning at Breakneck Bridge. The two sources describe different starting points.
Flat creekside trail, then a wet stream crossing and a steep climb through large boulders. DCNR rates it more difficult. Rocks in the gorge are slippery.
Where to start
Three small lots serve the trail: beside Eckert Bridge (2 to 3 vehicles, closest to the trailhead), beside Breakneck Bridge (8 to 10 vehicles, walk down the hill), and a larger lot on Cheeseman Road with a longer walk.
Timing & water
Cheeseman Run is a small stream, and PA Bucket List says the falls are best viewed after a hard rain.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Kildoo FallsOfficial state park trail and parking area documentedLawrence County, PA1.0 miNE
- Alpha FallsPark trail and stairs, then a short unmarked spur to the baseLawrence County, PA1.7 miN
- Hells Hollow FallsEasy official trail from the Hells Hollow parking lotLawrence County, PA2.8 miW
Homewood FallsShort trail with stairs from the natural area parking lot30 ft (9 m) · Beaver County, PA12 miSW- Springfield FallsGame lands roadside falls with parking documented20 ft (6 m) · Mercer County, PA14 miN
- Snake Run10 ft (3 m) · Beaver County, PA17 miS
- Quakertown FallsCounty park trail, bridge and accessible viewing platforms49 ft (15 m) · Lawrence County, PA18 miW
- Upper Sheepskin Hollow Falls15 ft (4.6 m) · Columbiana County, OH22 miSW
- Lower Sheepskin Hollow FallsPartial guide: no trail or parking area; route uses an old rail bed of unstated ownership and a creek walk15 ft (4.6 m) · Columbiana County, OH23 miSW