Raymondskill Falls
4.8(300)google
4.7(33)yelp
Hiking TrailScenic LookoutFamilyOutdoorPhoto SpotFreeWorld RecordMust-SeeWaterfallForest
Overview
Raymondskill Falls holds the proud title of being the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania, located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. This spectacular three-tiered cascading waterfall measures just a few feet shorter than Niagara Falls when its tiers are combined. Well-designed trails provide easy access to two premier viewing platforms: one offering a dramatic view of the top drop, and another overlooking the pool below. Surrounded by lush rhododendrons and towering hemlocks, it offers a serene, postcard-perfect nature experience.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration0.5-1.5 hours
Best TimeIdeal during early summer (May to June) for peak snowmelt volume or mid-October for deep autumn foliage. Hit the cliffside trails early between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM; as PA's tallest waterfall dropping nearly 150 feet, morning cross-lighting hits the dark tiered shales gorgeously, allowing you to lock down one of the few free public gravel spots easily.
Getting ThereLocated inside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area near Milford. From downtown Milford, follow US-209 S south for 3 miles, and turn right uphill onto Raymondskill Road. Drive 1 mile to the trailhead; the National Park Service provides a highly restrictive, free rustic gravel pull-off loop where a steep 0.3-mile stone stepped trail begins.
Travel Tips
- As PA's tallest waterfall, this Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area site has no admission fee, but the trails to the upper/lower overlooks are precipitously steep, unpaved, and prone to washouts; remaining behind retaining barriers is legally mandated due to fatal slip hazards on moss-slick ledge rocks.
- The on-site primary and secondary parking footprints are severely constrained to roughly 30 total vehicular spaces, with an absolute ban on RVs or towed rigs; if full, parking on the shoulders of Raymondskill Road is illegal, resulting in federal citations and immediate towing by National Park Service rangers.
Photo Tips
Best LightThe three-tiered waterfall drops through a deeply incised slot canyon, making midday solar angles (11:30 AM - 1:30 PM) yield harsh backlighting and blown-out highlights; choose overcast days or pre-8:00 AM slots to utilize soft, even ambient light for long-exposure photography with neutral density filters.
Reviews
Positive
- As Pennsylvania's tallest waterfall, the three-tiered drop is visually spectacular, authentic, and free to access.
- The parking lot is super close to the viewing platforms, making it highly accessible and convenient for short visits.
- It preserves wonderful raw natural tranquility, entirely free of commercial clutter, offering pure natural thunder.
- The observation platforms are sturdily maintained with secure metal railings, providing excellent safety for photos.
Heads up
- Public facilities are severely lacking; there are no real restrooms (only a single porta-potty) and no benches.
- The path to the lower deck is short but very steep and gravelly, lacking accessibility options and prone to slips.
- The parking lot is tiny; on sunny weekend afternoons, it fills up completely, forcing risky roadside parking outside.
- As an unstaffed natural spot, it lacks informative background exhibits or multi-lingual signs for guidance.