Hawk Falls
Carbon County, Pennsylvania
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Carbon County, Pennsylvania
- Access status
- Official state park trail and roadside trailhead parking documented
- The walk
- About half a mile from the parking area to the top of the falls, per Uncovering PA
- Ground & access
- Mostly downhill woodland trail with a footbridge; the return climbs. Rocks at the top of the falls are slippery when wet. The path to the base is unmarked.
Hawk Falls is a 25-foot waterfall on Hawk Run in Hickory Run State Park, just above its meeting with Mud Run. From the parking area on PA 534, walk about 100 feet up the road toward the highway overpass to the trailhead at the guardrail where PA 534 crosses Hawk Run. The yellow-blazed trail runs mostly downhill through rhododendron and crosses Hawk Run on a wooden bridge. A little past the bridge, a rock outcrop about 20 feet off the trail on the right gives a view from the top of the falls. For a view from below, continue to Mud Run and take the unmarked worn path to the right.
Plan your visit
Hawk Falls Trail from the PA 534 parking area east of the I-476 overpass
Uncovering PA gives about half a mile from the parking area to the top of Hawk Falls. The park lists the Hawk Falls Trail as 0.6 mile. Return the same way.
Mostly downhill woodland trail with a footbridge; the return climbs. Rocks at the top of the falls are slippery when wet. The path to the base is unmarked.
Where to start
Parking area on PA 534 just east of the I-476 overpass, with space on both sides of the road; the trailhead is on the south side. There are no restrooms at this lot. The park warns that trailhead lots can fill early in the day, even on weekdays.
Timing & water
No seasonal closure is stated. The park is open sunrise to sunset.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned. Swimming is prohibited at Hawk Falls.
Visitor informationVisit sources
- Pennsylvania DCNR: Hiking at Hickory Run State Park
- Pennsylvania DCNR: Hiking at Hickory Run State Park
- Uncovering PA: How to Get to Hawk Falls in Hickory Run State Park
- Uncovering PA: How to Get to Hawk Falls in Hickory Run State Park
- Uncovering PA: How to Get to Hawk Falls in Hickory Run State Park
- Go Waterfalling: Hawk Falls
- Pennsylvania DCNR: Hickory Run State Park
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
Tobyhanna FallsEasy county natural area trail from Route 115Monroe County, PA5.8 miNE- Buttermilk FallsFlat state park rail trail and parking documentedCarbon County, PA6.7 miW
- Lukes FallsOfficial park rail trail and access area documented; short level walkCarbon County, PA6.7 miSW
- Great Falls of the LehighMonroe County, PA8.5 miN
Wild Creek FallsOfficial state park trail and trailhead documented; summer weekend parking limitsCarbon County, PA8.9 miSE- Cave FallsCarbon County, PA11 miSW
- Terrace FallsCarbon County, PA11 miSW
Onoko FallsCarbon County, PA11 miSW- Lower FallsCarbon County, PA11 miSW