The Poconos pack three very different hikes into one region: Pennsylvania's tallest waterfall, an Appalachian Trail summit with a straight-down view of the Delaware River, and gentle lakeside loops that take under an hour. Pick by the experience you want, not by trail count.
Here are the ones worth a morning, ordered from shortest to hardest.
Which waterfall hike should you pick?
Raymondskill Falls is the shortest payoff in the region: a 0.3-mile trail to a three-tiered cascade that is the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania, with two viewing platforms, one at the bottom for the full drop and one at the top for the upper pools (The French Manor). It sits inside Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area near Milford.
Bushkill Falls runs on a different model — a privately operated attraction with four marked trails graded by experience level, from a Green Trail that takes about 15 minutes to a Red Trail that runs roughly two hours (The French Manor). It is the most famous waterfall stop in the state and the busiest, so it suits families and first-timers better than anyone chasing solitude.
Nearby Dingmans Falls adds a 0.4-mile walk through a hemlock ravine to a 130-foot drop, passing Silverthread Falls on the way (The French Manor). Stack it with Raymondskill for a half-day waterfall run.
Is Glen Onoko Falls open again?
No. The Glen Onoko Falls Trail near Jim Thorpe closed on May 1, 2019 over safety concerns and deteriorating conditions, and DCNR says it will stay closed to visitors throughout 2026 while crews rebuild a steep half-mile section that climbs about 800 feet (lehighvalleylive.com).
The closure covers both the Falls Trail and the connector trail to Nine Mile Loop Road. The state's Outdoor Corps began rehabilitation work in 2026 — technical stonework including retaining walls, steps, and rock armor — and officials say the project will take multiple years, with future closures of the adjoining Shortcut and Overlook Trails as work advances. Local officials stressed that visitors must observe current trail closures for the safety of both the public and work crews (lehighvalleylive.com).
Ignore the old blog posts and trail-app waypoints that still route people up the falls.
Where do you get the best view?
Mount Minsi, on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Water Gap, is the reliable answer: a steady climb on the Appalachian Trail to a lookout over the river, Mount Tammany, and the ridge line beyond.
The park lists the Lake Lenape trailhead as the Mount Minsi access point for its summer hiker shuttle (NPS).
Treat it as a half-day, not a stroll. The reward is the north-facing ledge above the river, and the descent is where most weekend hikers underestimate the time. Parking is the real bottleneck — at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, lots at popular trailheads can fill as early as 9 a.m. on weekends and holidays, and the park advises having a backup itinerary (NPS).
For something gentler, Big Pocono State Park near Tannersville puts you on the ridge with short trails, and Tobyhanna State Park offers a lakeside loop that works for kids and dogs.
What should you know before you go?
Arrive early, carry water, and check the park's alerts before you drive. The park notes that May through October is the busiest window and that parking areas are heaviest between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. (NPS).
Cell service inside the park is very limited, and the park warns against depending on a phone for emergency help (NPS). Download a map before you lose signal. Expanded amenity fees are collected April through October at select sites — $10 for a vehicle day pass, $45 for a season pass (NPS).
In summer, free hiker shuttles run on weekends and holidays between Memorial Day and Labor Day, connecting the park-and-ride lot, the Lake Lenape trailhead for Mount Minsi, and the Kittatinny Point and Dunnfield lots for Mount Tammany (NPS). Take it when the lots are full.
The short version
Waterfall, minimum effort: Raymondskill Falls, 0.3 miles, two platforms.
Waterfall, family day: Bushkill Falls, four graded trails from 15 minutes to two hours.
Best view: Mount Minsi via the Appalachian Trail — go early, or ride the hiker shuttle.
Skip for now: Glen Onoko Falls, closed through 2026 and beyond.
The Poconos reward planning more than they reward ambition. A 9 a.m. start and a backup trailhead will do more for your day than any extra mile.
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