Visit Bushkill Falls: a unique Poconos attraction
One of my favorite hiking spots in nearby Pennsylvania is Bushkill Falls, also known as the "Niagara of Pennsylvania''. While that may be a bit overstated, this lovely spot doesn’t disappoint.
Located in the scenic woods of the Pocono Mountains, Bushkill Falls features a series of eight waterfalls that are accessible through a well-maintained network of trails and bridges that offer excellent views of the falls and encompassing forests.
Bushkill Falls is not far from the Delaware Water Gap. It’s an easy drive up Route 80, so we’ve been coming to this place of natural beauty for years, at all different stages of life - as young singles with friends, as a romantic couple’s date, as a family with a young child, and now as empty-nesters. There is a trail to suit everyone’s needs and there is something universally soothing and thrilling about having a close encounter with waterfalls.
Overview of Bushkill Falls
This charmingly rustic attraction hasn’t changed or deviated from its Pocono vibe and it is truly authentic and original. This doesn’t mean it's rundown or neglected. The trails and facilities are well maintained; on our most recent visit, wooden stairways and bridge crossings looked freshly enhanced and very clean. Also, you won’t see garbage or debris in the water or in the gorge, as the rules are strict about what you can carry into the area, and the result is an unsullied, natural environment.
However, you do have to put the experience of Bushkill Falls in the category of “good old-fashioned fun”. There is still the same taxidermied Wildlife Exhibit at the trail entrance that was there the first time I came here in the late 1980s. (No animals were intentionally killed for this exhibit, by the way). So you’ll need to suspend your Disney expectations and get ready to commune with nature, Poconos style.
Bushkill Falls was opened as an attraction to the public in 1904; at that time it was only a single path and a swinging bridge over the head of the Main Falls. It is still owned by the same family today.
The headwaters of Bushkill Creek start high in the uplands of the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and as they rush downward toward the Delaware River, they tumble over the edge of a 100-foot cliff, the majestic Main Falls.
The pool at the bottom is alive with forest life, and quickly drops another seventy feet through a long, scenic and rocky gorge. It is around this gorge that a series of wooden bridges and stairs offer splendid views of this natural wonder.
Allow yourself 2 hours (or more!) to enjoy this popular nature trip.
How to get to Bushkill Falls
The only practical way to get to Bushkill Falls is via car. There is ample parking and no fee to park.
Bushkill Falls is easily accessible from just about anywhere in New Jersey via Route 80. Located in Pennsylvania’s Delaware Water Gap area, just over the border of northwestern New Jersey.
It’s just under 2 hours from New York City, driving in pretty much a straight line from the George Washington Bridge across New Jersey.
Bushkill Falls is a little over 2 hours from Philadelphia.
Bushkill Falls is open from April 1st through October 31st, April and November are weather permitting. Hours change as the season develops, so check their website, but generally, it is open from 9 am to 5 pm earlier in the season and then till 7 pm during the summer, and till 6 pm in the fall.
Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children, aged 10 and under. Tickets can be purchased ahead online or at the ticket window on the day of your visit. Tickets are valid for one year from the date of purchase.
The Trails at Bushkill Falls
The Bushkill Falls trails are very well marked.
A visit to Bushkill Falls can be as easy or challenging as you want it to be. There is a good amount of climbing up and down the wooden stairs, walkways and bridges, which can be a bit of a workout, but there is no need to do it all if that’s not for you.
Remember it’s all about the views! And you can get to the observation area overlooking the Main Falls via the Green Trail in about 15 minutes without much climbing, if that’s all you can handle or want to do.
There are 4 color-coded trails: Green, Yellow, Blue & Red, marked clearly enough to make any Boy or Girl Scout proud.
The trails range from the 15-minute Green Trail to the 2-hour Red Trail, which takes you on a nice walk through the forest and along the stream to Bridal Veil Falls, in a different area from the Main Falls.
Maps are readily available and approximate times clearly displayed.
Photo Tip
Long exposure is always a great effect for photographing running water. It gives a smooth, flowing look to the water. But did you know you can mimic a slow shutter speed effect with just your iPhone? To get a long exposure look from your iPhone:
First, make sure your “Live View” is on. (that’s the icon with the concentric circles along the top of your camera view.)
Take your photo, making sure you hold the camera steady. We braced ours against the wooden railing. You need to do this because the camera is capturing a few seconds before the shutter press in Live View, and you don’t want to blur the rest of the picture, just the water. You may also want to frame the picture a little wider than you want the final image, because the effect will crop the photo in a bit.
Go to the photo you just shot. You will see a LIVE icon with a pull-down arrow above your photo. Pull down to “long exposure” as see what it does!
What else is there to do at Bushkill Falls besides hiking the trails?
Eating at Bushkill Falls - There are food offerings at Bushkill Falls but it’s nothing fancy. An indoor Snack Bar serves beverages, burgers, pizza, and pulled pork BBQ sandwiches and an outdoor deck area offers hot dogs, hot pretzels, packaged snacks, and ice cream bars.
And no family fun attraction would be complete without its own fudge shop! How perfect, no? The Fudge Kitchen offers a wide variety of fudge flavors, hand-dipped ice cream and ice cream sodas and sundaes that come served in a souvenir mug. Nice. :)
We opted to bring our own sandwiches and make use of the large free picnic area next to the parking lot. There are plenty of picnic tables among the trees, but there is no grilling permitted. Also, make sure you do the right thing and carry out what you carried in. There is also a shaded pavilion with large, rustic Adirondack chairs for hanging out and having a snack or drink.
Snacks and water are permitted on the trails, but other food must be eaten in the picnic area. Items must be carried in a reusable bag or backpack. Plastic and paper bags are not permitted on the trails.
There are bathrooms available right by the trail entrance (though they weren’t as clean as I had hoped.)
Shopping - For those who need a souvenir, there are several small shops in the area of the Trail Entrance in a little village of cabin-styled buildings. Along with the standard t-shirts, hats, and branded trinkets, there are nature-oriented items, Native American mementos and hiking apparel. Or you can just create your own throwback souvenir and take your photo with the carved bear.
The bear waiting for your Instagram photos.
Fishing - I was surprised to learn you could do some fishing at Bushkill Falls! A permit can be purchased at the main gift shop for $7 (but no Pennsylvania Fishing license is required) and you can spend the day fishing along the shoreline of Twin Lakes. A current admission ticket is required.
Mining for Gems - While there is a children’s playground area for your kids to get their ya-yas out, one of the more charming little activities that is offered for kids is the “Gold Mining” trough. I remember doing this with my son when he was little - and into rocks! - and I was happy to see it’s still a thing at Bushkill Falls.
You can purchase a bag of “mining rough” at the giftshop ($16 - granted, a little steep for what it is), and sift the contents of the bag into the running water sluice trough, panning out the “gems” to take home, along with a card that tells you what they are.
See what I mean? Good old-fashioned fun.
For your GPS, Bushkill Falls is located at: 138 Bushkill Falls Trail, Bushkill, PA 18324
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