Onondaga Falls
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 15 ft (4.6 m)
- Location
- Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- Access status
- Official state park trail and parking documented
- The walk
- About 1 mile from Beach Lot #2
- Ground & access
- Rocky, steep and often wet trail along the gorge with many stone steps. DCNR rates the Falls Trail System most difficult and requires sturdy boots; sneakers, sandals and water shoes are not advised.
Onondaga Falls is on the Glen Leigh branch of Kitchen Creek inside the Glens Natural Area of Ricketts Glen State Park. It is the eighth and last named falls in Glen Leigh counting upstream from Waters Meet. From Beach Lot #2, follow signs down the trail beside the cabin road to the Glen Leigh side of the Falls Trail, then descend along the glen to Onondaga Falls. Return the same way, or follow DCNR's recommended 3.2-mile clockwise loop from Lake Rose Trailhead: Highland Trail to the Glen Leigh side, down to Waters Meet, then up the Ganoga Glen side. Onondaga is a 15-foot falls and the first one reached from Beach Lot #2.
Plan your visit
Beach Lot #2 Trailhead down the Glen Leigh side of the Falls Trail to Onondaga Falls
DCNR gives a 1-mile hike from Beach Lot #2 to the closest waterfall. Wikipedia places Onondaga Falls 1.04 miles south of the trailhead parking lot by Lake Jean, and 0.73 mile upstream of Waters Meet.
Rocky, steep and often wet trail along the gorge with many stone steps. DCNR rates the Falls Trail System most difficult and requires sturdy boots; sneakers, sandals and water shoes are not advised.
Where to start
Beach Lot #2 Trailhead Parking, the closest access to the Glen Leigh side of the Falls Trail. Follow signs out of the lot and down the trail beside the cabin road for 0.5 mile. Lake Rose Trailhead Parking (41.329880, -76.291092) is the other upper start. The park office is at 695 State Route 487, Benton, PA.
Timing & water
DCNR closes the Falls Trail System in winter except to properly equipped ice climbers and hikers. Plan to be off the trail well before dark.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
F.L. Ricketts FallsState park trail from Beach Lot #238 ft (11.6 m) · Luzerne County, PA0.0 miS- Shawnee FallsOfficial Falls Trail from Beach Lot #2; distance to this falls not givenLuzerne County, PA0.2 miS
- Huron FallsOfficial state park trail and trailhead parking documented; steep and slippery41 ft (12.5 m) · Luzerne County, PA0.2 miS
Ozone FallsOfficial Falls Trail from Beach Lot #2; distance to this falls not given60 ft (18.3 m) · Luzerne County, PA0.4 miS- R.B. Ricketts FallsOfficial state park trail and parking documented36 ft (11 m) · Luzerne County, PA0.5 miS
- B. Reynolds FallsState park trail down the Glen Leigh side of the Falls Trail40 ft (12.2 m) · Luzerne County, PA0.6 miS
- Wyandot FallsOfficial state park trail and parking documented15 ft (4.6 m) · Luzerne County, PA0.6 miS
- Erie FallsOfficial Falls Trail from Lake Rose Trailhead; distance to this falls not given47 ft (14.3 m) · Luzerne County, PA0.7 miS
- Cayuga FallsOfficial state park trail and parking documented11 ft (3.3 m) · Luzerne County, PA0.7 miSW