Glen Onoko Falls

Glen Onoko Falls is well known in Pennsylvania and neighboring New Jersey as a premier place to go if you want to see a waterfall. The trail will make you work hard to see the falls, but it is well worth it in the end.

Going right at the first Glen Onoko sign will take you under a couple of bridges toward the trail. Veering right at the second sign will take you up, and you can follow orange blazes for the entirety of the hike. While you gain elevation at a moderate rate, there is a fair amount of scrambling needed, as well as the occasional stream crossing. When log crossings are down, you'll want to take your shoes off for any stream crossings: This is not a trip you want to do with wet shoes because you spend the majority of the time scrambling around rocks.

It won't take you very long to reach the lower falls. From there, the middle falls, which are the main attraction, will be visible. Follow the orange blaze carefully up the rocks; it is easy to slip and fall if you do not pay attention to your footing. The middle falls are a great place to rest and grab a snack, and you can get up very close to the bottom of the falls. The trail continues to the right of the base of the falls, which will take you to the top. This area is roped off and filled with warning signs urging hikers to keep out, but many hikers choose to slide under the rope and take in the view of Lehigh Valley. 

Follow the trail up through a canopy of short trees that you may have to duck under, and shortly you will come to the upper falls of Glen Onoko. The falls present another great place to rest before beginning your descent. It is advised to follow the trail down rather than turn around and attempt to navigate the rocks. The trail going down descends steeply, but it is nowhere near as strenuous as the rock-filled trail going up. Just watch your feet, as it is easy to roll an ankle. You'll come back on the other side of the second sign with the train tracks on your left. As you drive to leave the park, the first parking lot (on the left) has a small cave overlooking the river that many visitors choose to explore. 

To find the parking lot for this adventure, be alert for a small sign for Lehigh Gorge State Park on the left directly across the road from Jim Thorpe River Adventures. Go down this road and follow it all the way across the wooden bridge, where you will have access to the trail.

If you're looking for a fun but challenging hike, Glen Onoko Falls is definitely a place to go. It is advised to wear hiking boots or shoes because the majority of the hike is spent on rocks. Be prepared to get dirty and have your feet get a little wet. If you don't have a lot of hiking experience, this may not be the best place to start. However, the view makes the tough ascent worth it!