Nature Photography Locations - Northeastern Pennsylvania

Hello again everyone!


I hope you have all been enjoying my posts and are going out and capturing some terrific shots. As I stated last week I am breaking up the larger states into more manageable regions. Last week we took a look at Philadelphia and some of the photo locations that even a big city can offer. This week I will be focusing on Northeastern Pennsylvania, and more specifically the Appalachian Trail Region.


When most people think of the Northeastern Pennsylvanian Mountain Region the first thing that pops into their mind is the Pocono Mountains and the ski resorts. While both these things are great, there are some very wonderful, less known, natural wonders just outside the tourist area of the Pocono Valley.


As we have covered before, some of the best nature photos are waterfalls photos. With using a DSLR camera, a photographer is able to use an extended exposure to capture the water movement and create some breathtaking works of art that make you feel like you are standing in the midst of the rushing water. In this post I will explore two state parks in northeastern Pennsylvania known for their beautiful water falls.

The Falls at Salt Springs

First, to the far north of the Pocono Mountain Region is Salt Springs State Park, which is about an hour northeast of Scranton, PA, off of PA Rt. 29 and Silver Creek Rd. While Salt Springs State Park is only home to three waterfalls, it is the most pristine, cleanest and friendliest of the State Parks in this region. The park is the only one in the state that is operated and maintained by a local private organization of volunteers. With their efforts they have preserved the beautiful nature of the 842 acres that encompass the park. Salt Springs is home to 8.5 miles of nature trails that travel through the old-growth forest, the gorge that feeds the falls and pass through the wild fields and forests. Along the Fall Brook Trail is where you will find the gorge that feeds Salt Springs' series of three waterfalls. The trail makes for easy access to capture the falls while staying dry. Although I do suggest bringing river trousers to wade into the water to get the best direct point of view photos.

The Falls at Salt Springs State Park

Map of the Waterfalls at Ricketts Glen

Next we move to the south, about an hour and a half drive, to Ricketts Glen State Park located just north of Red Rock, PA, off of PA Rt. 487. Ricketts Glen State Park is a National Natural Landmark for a reason. It is home to 22 named waterfalls and some of the most stunning nature landscapes located all in one National Park. The waterfalls here start south of Lake Jean, and run along both Lake Rose and Lake Leigh. These two lakes feed the falls that run along the 7.2 miles of the Falls Hiking Trail. The two streams of the falls come together at Waters Meet. From there the water continues to flow southward through Ricketts Glen into Kitchen Creek. A detailed map of the State Park is to the right detailing where each of the falls are located. The Falls Trail starts by Lake Rose and encompasses both the upper and lower sections of the falls. 

Waterfalls along the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park

Ganoga Falls in Summer

Ganoga Falls in Winter

Ricketts Glen is also home to the Ganoga Falls, a 94 foot waterfall that is perhaps the most elegant of all the 22 falls in the park, if not the entire state. Not only are these falls a marvelous landscape in the summer, the falls will actually ice over during the winter. If you are lucky and brave enough to come out during or just after a winter snow, you can capture a great photo of a natural winter wonderland. Either way, the Ganoga Falls are the center piece of the Ricketts Glen Falls and should not be missed.




More than just waterfalls, both these and the dozens of other parks in the region offer stunning nature locations. Places where you may find deer, bears, snakes, frogs, reptiles, owls and all sorts of natural wild life.


I hope the insight into these two parks helps in the search for the perfect picture. Next week I will shift focus towards Western Pennsylvania. If you have any suggestions for locations for future post please contact me and let me know. Also, if you want any of your own pictures featured on my blog, I will be happy to do that as well. 

Have a good week and happy photo hunting!