skip to Main Content

Pennsylvania: Bushkill Falls

Set in the Pocono Mountains, Bushkill Falls is a set of eight unique waterfalls. the tallest of which is over 100 feet, which are accessible through a series of trails. The water of the Little Bush Kill and Pond Run Creek descends the mountain, toward the Delaware River, forming Bushkill Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Bridesmaid Falls, Laurel Glen Falls, Pennell Falls, and three additional, unnamed falls.

We first visited Bushkill Falls about 15 years ago when our kids were young (as were we) and these falls left an impression. So, skip forward and we decided to return and see if it was as good as we remembered.

These falls are privately owned and well maintained. Charles E. Peters first opened Bushkill Falls to the public in 1904, with a single path and a swinging bridge over the head of the main falls. Bushkill Falls is still owned by the Peters family.

Getting to Bushkill Falls is not too difficult but it will require driving. The drive from New York City is about 90 minutes (80 plus miles) and from Philadelphia, it is a bit further with a drive time of around 2 hours (120 miles). Once you are there is plenty of parking, but it does get somewhat busy at weekends during the summer. We travelled there on a Saturday in July and got there mid-morning and getting a parking spot was easy enough.

The queues for tickets can get long, but you can buy the tickets online and skip the lines.

At the entrance to the Falls, there are some gift shops and restaurants. We skipped those and headed to the entrance. 

The entrance to Bushkill Falls, Bushkill Pennsylvania
The entrance to Bushkill Falls

The trails start a short distance from the entrance building. There are four trails from trails:

Green TrailView the Main Falls from the green trail, which takes about 15 minutes to walk. No climbing is involved, however, there are steps.
Yellow TrailView the Main Falls, as well as Lower Gorge Falls, Laurel Glen and Upper Canyon, which takes 45 minutes to walk.
Blue TrailView Pennell Falls from the blue trail, which takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to walk.
Red Trail

View Bridal Veil Falls from the Red trail. This trail is for the avid hiker in that it spans almost 2 miles, includes all eight falls, and takes over 2 hours to hike.

A lot of the trails follow along boardwalks so you get close to the water and even cross over the top of falls. The boardwalks are quite narrow so in places, things can get a bit crowded especially at the weekend. Another thing is there are a lot of stairs to climb up and down, and these are quite steep in places. So, if you have trouble with stairs then this may not be the place for you.

The Red Trail is a circular walk, but this is currently damaged (check their website for the current status), so to get to the Bride and Bridal Veil falls you need to take the Blue Trail and get on the other end of the Red Trail.

So, was our revisit to Bushkill Falls a hit or a miss. I would say a hit and it is definitely worth the detour if you are heading through North Central Pennsylvania.

The trail leading down to the falls is quite steep - Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
The trail leading down to the falls is quite steep
A calm part of the river as it runs through Bushkill Falls park - Pennsylvania
A calm part of the river as it runs through Bushkill Falls park
The boardwalk trails follow the trail and get you close to the action - Bushkill, Falls, Pennsylvania
The boardwalk trails follow the trail and get you close to the action
The main falls - Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
The main falls
The brink of falls - Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
The brink of the falls
View from the highpoint on the trail - Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
View from the highpoint on the trail
Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
Bridesmaid falls - Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
Bridesmaid falls
Karen at Bridesmaid Falls, Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
Karen at Bridesmaid Falls
Bridal Falls, Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
Bridal Falls
Bridal Falls - Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
Bridal Falls
Cairns on the trail at Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
Cairns on the trail at Bushkill Falls
The upper falls at Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
The upper falls at Bushkill Falls
Light shining through the trees at Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
Light shining through the trees
A bridge across a stream at Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
A bridge across a stream

About Bushkill Falls

Address:Bushkill Falls Road, Bushkill, PA 18324
Website:www.visitbushkillfalls.com/
Telephone:T: 888.287.4545
Hours:
Fees

Weekdays: Adults $15, Seniors (62+) $14, Children (4-10) $9, Children (2 and under) are free

Weekends: Adults $18, Seniors (62+) $17, Children (4-10) $9, Children (2 and under) are free

Getting to Bushkill Falls

From New York City:

  • Interstate 80 to Exit 309, Rt. 209 north.
  • Turn left onto Bushkill Falls Road at the light in Bushkill, PA.

From Central New Jersey:

  • Interstate 78 into Rt. 33 north.
  • Follow the directions from Philadelphia.

From Trenton, NJ 

  • Via NJ-31 N. to Exit 309 onto US-209 N. toward PA-447
  • Take NJ-29 N. toward Lambertville
  • Turn right onto Washington Crossing Pennington Rd.
  • Turn left onto Bear Tavern Rd.
  • At the end of the road turn left onto Route 31 N.
  • Slight right onto US-202 toward Flemington
  • At the roundabout, take second exit onto State Route 41
  • At the end of the road turn left onto US Highway 46
  • Turn Left to merge onto I-80 W.
  • Exit 309 onto US-209 N. toward PA-447
  • Turn left onto Bushkill Falls Road at the light in Bushkill, PA

From Philadelphia:

  • Interstate 476 North to Exit 56
  • Travel Rt. 22 east to Rt. 33.
  • North on Rt. 33 to Interstate 80.
  • East on I-80 to Exit 309. Rt. 209 north.
  • Turn left onto Bushkill Falls Road at the light in Bushkill, PA.

Best time to visit Bushkill Falls

Pennsylvania’s weather is very similar to that of New York or New Jersey. It’s changeable, with moderate precipitation all year long, with some heat waves in the summer and cool weather in the winter and early spring. Snow is concentrated in the winter months.

Late-spring – May, June – or late-summer and early-fall – September, October – are excellent months for visiting Pennsylvania.

WHEN NOT TO GO TO PENNSYLVANIA

Avoid the winter months, when temperatures may reach very low levels.

Humidity and high temperatures may turn some July and August days rather uncomfortable, despite the moderating influence of the Lake Erie in the region.

[shortcode-weather-atlas city_selector=2378185]

Where to stay near Bushkill Falls

1. POCONO VILLAS RESORT

Pocono Villas Resort features free WiFi and views of garden in East Stroudsburg. Boasting family rooms, this property also provides guests with a children’s playground. The hotel features an indoor pool, fitness centre and a 24-hour front desk.

The rooms at the hotel come with air conditioning, a seating area, a TV with cable channels, a kitchen, a dining area and a private bathroom with a hairdryer, a shower and free toiletries. At Pocono Villas Resort rooms are fitted with bed linen and towels.

The accommodation offers 3-star accommodation with a hot tub and sun terrace. You can play billiards, table tennis and darts at Pocono Villas Resort, and the area is popular for hiking and skiing.

2. FROGTOWN INN

Enjoy country-style lodging at The Frogtown Inn, Bed & Breakfast. This classically restored Inn features 16 rooms with private bathrooms in an original 1800′s farmhouse setting. Each of the rooms, including both singles and suites, have a private bathroom, shower, cable TV, air conditioning and free wireless internet access. For guests staying in the Inn, breakfast is served each morning in the Western-themed Saloon.

Grown from the foundations of a humble 1800’s farmhouse, The Frogtown Inn embodies the relaxation of yesteryear with comforts befitting the modern traveller. Nestled in the hemlock laden village of Canadensis, The Frogtown Inn sits on 6 acres of wooded paradise complete with a babbling brook, frog pond, garden. 

3. THE PENN STROUD HOTEL

This historic hotel in downtown Stroudsberg originally opened its doors in 1833. In 2020 the hotel was purchased by new owners who spent millions of dollars to bring the hotel into the modern era.

The downtown location in Stroudsberg means you can take advantage of the local dining, shopping and entertainment.

 
Back To Top
Search
PHP Code Snippets Powered By : XYZScripts.com
%d