Ricketts Glen State Park – Ganoga Falls

Ricketts Glen is the crown jewel of the Pennsylvania State Park system and for good reason!

Rain had rolled in by morning. So I decided to sleep in a little. Once I got out and going I had noticed thick fog was in the area. Oh good, I thought maybe it will be in the Glens as well. I love shooting in the fog. One of my favorite elements. I had noticed a section of Lake Jean from the road that I wanted to shoot the night before but I did not stop. With such thick fog I decided to pull off the road and make my way down to the lake. Off in the distance I could hear the birds chirping. I wasn’t so sure if I was still on the banks or if I was on the lake itself. It is always so mysterious to be shooting in thick fog. I probably could’ve stayed down there all day if I hadn’t wanted to get to The Glens.

Not much further down the road was the park office. I knew that I had to stop and sign-in to go on the Falls trail. It is still very much iced over and is only open to experienced hikers and ice climbers and one must have the correct equipment. I wasn’t sure if I was experienced enough or at all really, even though I’ve been doing this for years now. For some reason this was the hike that I was worried about. I had been keeping tabs on the conditions and looking at trail photos that others before me had taken. I chatted with the ranger, signed myself in, and off I went. It was a short hike before I found myself ready to drop into the Ganoga side of the Glen. I knew what I wanted to see, it was 94-ft Ganoga Falls. The tallest in the park. This was it, time to test my mettle. I strapped on those crampons, took a deep breath and descended. The first falls on the Ganoga side is Mohawk Falls. It was beautiful, looked like a double slide fall, I stopped and contemplated for a long time if I should shoot it now. But no, I decided that I would hike right to what I came here to see. Other than the first section of the trail where Mohawk was, the trail wasn’t bad. I expected worse, more ice. Glad I had the gear though. I wouldn’t do this without the gear! I passed the next two falls (Oneida and Cayuga) and soon arrived at Ganoga. I was really excited to make it here, I looked over the edge to see the gigantic 94-ft falls crash to the bottom. Then I remembered… the way down. The switchback. Oh that switchback which I had hoped wasn’t as iced over as I saw in the pictures, it was. I took my time descending into the Glen area. When I finally made it into the valley I looked up and was surrounded by icicles. These lovely blue and sometimes multi-colored icicles. I’ve never seen anything like it. Ganoga Falls was breath-taking. The strength of the falls and the ice formations that have formed around it were amazing. I stood there for a long time, just contemplating in the company of this enormous giant. By this point, it was still raining and I was drenched and cold. I finished making photos of the falls, my gloves were soaked to the point where I took them off and had to ring them out. Wrong pair of gloves to say the least. I explored the area looking for other angles, some of the snow had begun to melt and I could see where the stream was underneath my feet. I wasn’t sure of the thickness of the snowdrifts under me so I decided it was time to make my way back up the steep, icy switchback.

I knew that I wanted to make photos of the other falls along the way back up. So I knew I still had a few hours ahead of me. The hike up wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be. I can say that I did not encounter a tricky spot, not even once. I did take the time to photograph the remaining falls on my way back. That will be a story for another day.

Hikes like these are character building. If I didn’t think I was experienced enough from the beginning, I felt experienced now. I felt like I accomplished something and I did. I looked at a fear and conquered it. I would never admit to anyone that this was the hike that scared me the most. A winter hike into the Glen Natural Area…most would think I was crazy, maybe I am a little. But there really is nothing like an experience like this. A little research, caution, and the right equipment and one can have a very enjoyable time!