Third Falls
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 21 ft (6.3 m)
- Location
- Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
- Access status
- Partial guide: off-trail scramble in a narrow gorge
- The walk
- About 1.4 miles to the First Falls, then a short off-trail climb upstream
- Ground & access
- Flat rail grade, then rough unmarked ground, a steep off-trail climb and a narrow gorge.
The Third Falls is a two-tiered waterfall of about 20 feet in a tight gorge on Dutchmans Run, just upstream of the small Second Falls in the McIntyre Wild Area. Follow the railroad grade north from the DCNR lot in Ralston to Dutchmans Run and walk upstream to the First Falls. Climb up and around the First Falls on the left bank (facing downstream), come back down above it, and continue upstream past the Second Falls. This partial guide relies on one visitor account; the approach above the First Falls is an off-trail scramble in a narrow gorge.
Plan your visit
DCNR parking lot in Ralston, the old railroad grade to Dutchmans Run, then up and around the First Falls and past the Second Falls to the Third Falls
PA Bucket List puts the first falls at 1.4 miles from the Ralston lot. The Third Falls is a short distance farther upstream, reached off-trail; no separate distance is given.
Flat rail grade, then rough unmarked ground, a steep off-trail climb and a narrow gorge.
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. Ice makes the gorge hazardous in 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 miSW
- First FallsPartial guide: last stretch follows the stream without a marked trail33 ft (10 m) · Lycoming County, PA0.2 miSW
- Upper Middle Branch FallsPartial guide: short creekside approach with no described trail12 ft (3.6 m) · Sullivan County, PA9.4 miE
- Lower Middle Branch FallsPartial guide: a short streamside walk with no named or marked trail described20 ft (6 m) · Sullivan County, PA9.4 miE
Jacoby FallsBlazed state forest trail from Wallis Run RoadLycoming County, PA9.7 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, PA12 miSE