First Falls
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 33 ft (10 m)
- Location
- Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
- Access status
- Partial guide: last stretch follows the stream without a marked trail
- The walk
- About 1.4 miles one way, per PA Bucket List
- Ground & access
- Flat, open rail grade, then rough unmarked ground beside the stream. Old mining debris lies along the route.
The First Falls is the lowest and largest of the numbered waterfalls on Dutchmans Run in the McIntyre Wild Area of Loyalsock State Forest, about 30 feet tall. From the back of the DCNR lot in Ralston, walk the flat former railroad grade north with Lycoming Creek on your left; the grade is state forest land, though it passes behind a private home. Pass under power lines at about 0.5 mile and a stone foundation at about 1.1 miles, and follow the grade to Dutchmans Run. Walk upstream on the left bank (facing downstream) about 150 yards and over a rise to the falls. This partial guide relies on one visitor account; the last stretch follows the stream without a marked trail.
Plan your visit
DCNR parking lot in Ralston, the old Northern Central Railroad grade north, then upstream along Dutchmans Run to the First Falls
PA Bucket List puts the first falls on Dutchmans Run at 1.4 miles into the hike from the Ralston parking lot. Return the same way.
Flat, open rail grade, then rough unmarked ground beside the stream. Old mining debris lies along the route.
Where to start
DCNR parking lot on Thompson Street at the eastern edge of Ralston, just across the bridge over Lycoming Creek; PA Bucket List gives 41.507155, -76.951134.
Timing & water
No seasonal closure is stated. The falls form a wall of ice in deep winter.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned.
Visitor informationVisit sources
- PA Bucket List: Exploring Dutchmans Run Falls in McIntyre Wild Area
- PA Bucket List: Exploring Abbott Run Falls in the McIntyre Wild Area
- PA Bucket List: Exploring Abbott Run Falls in the McIntyre Wild Area
- PA Bucket List: Exploring Dutchmans Run Falls in McIntyre Wild Area
- PA Bucket List: Exploring Dutchmans Run Falls in McIntyre Wild Area
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Second FallsPartial guide: off-trail scramble above the First Falls8 ft (2.3 m) · Lycoming County, PA0.1 miNE
- Third FallsPartial guide: off-trail scramble in a narrow gorge21 ft (6.3 m) · Lycoming County, PA0.2 miNE
- Upper Middle Branch FallsPartial guide: short creekside approach with no described trail12 ft (3.6 m) · Sullivan County, PA9.5 miE
- Lower Middle Branch FallsPartial guide: a short streamside walk with no named or marked trail described20 ft (6 m) · Sullivan County, PA9.5 miE
Jacoby FallsBlazed state forest trail from Wallis Run RoadLycoming County, PA9.6 miS- East Branch FallsPartial guide: unmarked pull-off and footpath on state forest land25 ft (7.5 m) · Sullivan County, PA10 miE
- Triple FallsPartial guide: about a quarter mile of the approach is off trail25 ft (7.5 m) · Sullivan County, PA11 miE
- Emerald FallsPartial guide: route includes an unmarked off-trail section15 ft (4.5 m) · Sullivan County, PA12 miE
- Mill Creek FallsShort blazed trail from a forest road pull-off13 ft (4 m) · Sullivan County, PA13 miE