Ricketts Glen State Park
State park · Pennsylvania
The Falls Trail's 7.1-mile loop threads past 22 named waterfalls, including the 94-foot Ganoga Falls, through a National Natural Landmark old-growth forest. Fall color across the 13,050-acre park peaks mid-to-late October, with the Route 118 trailhead near Benton the standard starting point.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 15–October 19
Color builds from October 2 · mostly bare by November 8
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Ricketts Glen State Park’s own coordinates and elevation (414 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Ricketts Glen State Park on the map
More things to do in Pennsylvania
Longwood Gardens
GardenPeak November 1
Pierre S. du Pont's 1,100-acre estate near Kennett Square anchors its fall season with the Chrysanthemum Festival (some 4,500 mums, including an 18-month-trained 'thousand bloom' specimen) set against woodland and meadow color running into mid-November.
Don’t miss: Chrysanthemum Festival · 1,100 acres of gardens and meadow · Conservatory displays
Eastern State Penitentiary
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks November 3
Philadelphia's crumbling 1829 penitentiary (one of the first true prisons in the world, abandoned in 1971) turns its cellblocks into Halloween Nights each fall: five haunted houses and an outdoor scare zone staffed by 200-plus performers, running select nights from mid-September through Halloween.
Don’t miss: Five haunted house experiences · 200+ live performers · Set inside an 1829 former penitentiary
Leonard Harrison State Park
State parkPeak October 15
The east rim overlook of Pine Creek Gorge (800 feet deep and nearly 4,000 feet across, and nicknamed the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon) turns into a sea of red and gold each October. Leonard Harrison donated the 585-acre park's land in 1922; its visitor center sits steps from the main overlook.
Don’t miss: 800-ft-deep gorge overlook · Visitor center at the rim · Pine Creek Rail Trail access
Ghost Tours of New Hope
Ghost tourColor nearby peaks October 31
Lantern-lit walking tours have wound through this Bucks County river town since 1982, gathering at the corner of Main and Ferry streets beside the Parry Mansion and setting off at 8pm past the 1727 Logan Inn. Public tours run Saturday nights from June through the Saturday before Thanksgiving, adding Friday nights and Halloween itself in October.
Don’t miss: Lantern-lit walk past the 1727 Logan Inn · Fridays added through October, plus Halloween night · Meets at Main and Ferry streets, 8pm
Frequently asked
- When does Ricketts Glen State Park peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 15–October 19 (best estimate October 17). Color starts around October 2 and is mostly bare by November 8.
- What is Ricketts Glen State Park best for?
- Waterfall hiking in fall color.
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