10 Best Hikes in the Poconos: Easy Trails, Waterfalls, and More

Looking for awesome hikes in the Poconos?

Luckily, there are plenty of options!

The Poconos region of Pennsylvania is known for its outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, boating, and camping.

I grew up in eastern Pennsylvania and explored all over the Poconos over the years. I’ve put together this list of the best hikes in the Poconos to make picking your next trail even easier.

I’ve divided this list of the best hikes in the Poconos into three sections: best waterfall hikes in the Poconos, best easy hikes in the Poconos, and best scenic hikes in the Poconos.

Ready to pick a trail? Here are the 10 best hikes in the Poconos.

Use these links to navigate through different categories of trails:

Best Waterfall Hikes in the Poconos
Best Easy Hikes in the Poconos
Best Scenic Hikes in the Poconos

Dingmans Falls (Photo source: Jason Burmeister, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr)

Best Waterfall Hikes in the Poconos

Here are the best hikes in the Poconos that lead to waterfalls. (Note that some of the most popular waterfalls in the Poconos have closed indefinitely in recent years, so those are not included on this list.)

If you plan to post pictures of your waterfall hike, make sure you have a waterfall caption ready for your post!

Bushkill Falls (red trail)

Distance: 2 miles
Elevation gain: 350 feet

No list of waterfall hikes in the Poconos would be complete without the famous Bushkill Falls.

Bushkill Falls is a privately-owned park in Pike County, PA.

Known as the “Niagara of Pennsylvania,” the park is more of a tourist destination than a go-to place for local hikers. However, it’s a popular destination for a reason so hikers should visit the park at least once.

There are 8 waterfalls at Bushkill Falls! So if you want to find waterfalls in the Poconos, Bushkill Falls is the best place to do it.

There are 4 color-coded trails of varying distances in the park.

About 2 miles long, the red trail is the longest trail at Bushkill Falls. The red trail is the only trail that leads to all 8 waterfalls. I recommend the red trail to those who hike regularly, though the shorter trails make Bushkill Falls a nice destination for hikers of all experience levels.

Before deciding to hike at Bushkill Falls, remember that it is a tourist destination. The park’s entrance fee is steep if you’re more focused on hiking than on savoring the experience. Plus, the point is to stop and admire all of the waterfalls, so don’t expect to move quickly along the trail with the number of visitors sharing the path.

But for a special occasion, Bushkill Falls is a beautiful place for a waterfall hike in the Poconos.

Dingmans Creek Trail

Distance: 0.8 miles
Elevation gain: 162 feet

If you’re looking for a handicap-accessible waterfall hike in the Poconos, look no further than the Dingmans Creek Trail.

Dingmans Creek Trail is a popular trail in the northern section of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

The trail leads to two of the tallest waterfalls in Pennsylvania: Dingmans Falls and Silverthread Falls. This makes it one of the most spectacular trails to see waterfalls in the Poconos.

It’s a short and sweet boardwalk trail that’s accessible to hikers of all abilities and skill levels. Yet the walk through the woods and the magnificent view of Dingmans Falls make the trail worthwhile for even more experienced hikers.

Most of the elevation gain comes from a set of stairs at the end of the trail that leads to the top of Dingmans Falls. Hikers can still have a great experience on this trail without taking the stairs, so keep that in mind if the extra elevation or stairs pose a challenge.

Note that the ease and fantastic endpoint of the Dingmans Creek Trail make it one of the busiest trails in the Delaware Water Gap. Parking fills up early on weekends in peak hiking season.

Tumbling Waters Trail

Distance: 2.8-mile loop
Elevation gain: 254 feet

Another excellent waterfall hike in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is the Tumbling Waters Trail.

In fact, this waterfall hike is so awesome it was named the best hike in Pennsylvania by Outside Magazine!

The trail’s namesake destination is a multi-tiered waterfall, but there are several natural features to keep hikers interested throughout this hike. In addition to the waterfall, hikers will also pass an overlook and a pond.

The Tumbling Waters Trail begins at the Pocono Environmental Education Center. The trail starts in the same place as the Fossil Trail so make sure to follow the correct color blazes to stay on the right trail.

Eventually the trail arrives at a set of stairs that lead down to the waterfall. This staircase is the steepest part of the trail but it’s worth the climb to see the falls!

The difficulty level and scenery of Tumbling Waters Trail make this Poconos waterfall hike ideal for many hikers.

Best Easy Hikes in the Poconos

These easy trails are some of the best hikes in the Poconos because they lead to beautiful views for relatively little effort. Check out these trails for the best “bang for your buck”!

Indian Trail

Distance: 1.3-mile loop
Elevation gain: 200 feet

The Indian Trail is the easiest trail in Big Pocono State Park.

This state park is located on Camelback Mountain, one of the highest points in northeast Pennsylvania. Visiting this park and taking the Indian Trail will afford hikers unobstructed views of the region surrounding Camelback Mountain.

The Indian Trail begins in parking lot #4. Hikers will get their first panoramic views here even before stepping foot on the trail!

Several viewpoints offer peeks of the vista along the way, but the actual viewpoint is wide open so it’s obvious once you’ve arrived there. From there you’ll be able to see as far away as the Delaware Water Gap.

If the Indian Trail sounds too easy, note that it intersects with the park’s North and South trails. This gives hikers the option to tack on additional trails that lead down Camelback Mountain.

There are picnic tables in the parking lot for those who time their hike around a meal. A short hike on the Indian Trail followed by a scenic picnic lunch makes for the perfect family outing in the Poconos.

Milford Knob Trail

Distance: 2.6 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 488 feet

Milford Knob is a viewpoint near the northern end of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

The Milford Knob Trail is the shortest route to reach this overlook. (Check out the next trail on the list for an alternative option.)

Note that this trail is connected to a network of other trails. Keep a trail map with you and follow the correct color blazes.

No matter which route you take, you’ll reach a pretty view overlooking the town of Milford, PA, surrounded by hills and the Delaware River.

After soaking in the view, retrace your steps to return to the trailhead or tack on the connecting trails if you’re prepared for a full day of hiking.

Cliff Trail

Distance: 5.7 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 679 feet

Cliff Trail is one of the best trails for scenic views in the Poconos.

This trail in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area leads hikers to 4 beautiful overlooks.

These overlooks offer uninterrupted views of the winding Delaware River. At some of the overlooks, hikers can look out over both New Jersey and New York.

As pretty as the views are along Cliff Trail, this trail is not ideal for everyone. Hikers with a fear of heights or little kids will probably want to skip this one. It’s called Cliff Trail for a reason!

If you have more time after returning to the trailhead, head over to Raymondskill Falls to see the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania. Reaching the waterfall will only add half a mile to your day of hiking.

Note that parts of the Cliff Trail are closed each year between February and August due to falcons nesting in the area. Consider hiking the trail in the fall to access the entire trail.

Tank Hollow Trail

Distance: 3.4 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 223 feet

Tank Hollow Trail is on State Game Lands near Jim Thorpe, PA.

This easy trail leads to a spectacular sight. You’ll look out across a bend in the Lehigh River to the tree-covered slopes of Lehigh Gorge State Park.

The experience of hiking this trail is not quite as nice as other trails since the majority of the Tank Hollow Trail is just a gravel road. However, the road does make for an easy hike and it’s a path worth taking to reach such a picturesque view.

Note that the place to turn off the gravel road to reach Tank Hollow is not well-marked. Make sure to download an app like AllTrails so you can identify where to turn when you’re out on the trail.

Best Scenic Hikes in the Poconos

Here are more great hikes in the Poconos that lead to excellent views but are steeper or more difficult than the easy trails listed above.

Mount Pisgah Trail

Distance: 1.4 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 492 feet

The Mount Pisgah Trail is a short but steep hike near Jim Thorpe, PA.

This trail goes to a beautiful vista overlooking the Lehigh River and the surrounding hills.

Note that the trail is covered in small rocks. As long as you have good balance and sturdy hiking shoes, it’s worth putting up with the trail conditions for the view.

The Mount Pisgah Trail connects to a network of trails so hikers can continue on to others for a longer hike if they’re prepared with a map, water, and snacks.

Heads up: the Mount Pisgah Trail does not have a designated parking lot. You may have to hunt for an acceptable place to park along North Avenue.

Lehigh Gorge Overlook Trail

Distance: 3.3 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 987 feet

NOTE: This trail shares a trailhead with the popular Glen Onoko trail, which has been closed since 2019. Do not attempt that dangerous trail.

The Lehigh Gorge Overlook Trail is on State Game Lands near Jim Thorpe, PA.

The view at the overlook is amazing, though hikers must be willing to put in effort to reach it.

This trail goes uphill with no relief until the top. It’s also a rocky trail as is common in Pennsylvania.

Hikers who persist up the incline will be treated to a beautiful sight at Hetchell’s Tooth Cliffs. Here, hikers can see the Lehigh River meandering through the surrounding hills.

The Lehigh Gorge Overlook Trail intersects with a few other trails so make sure to check out a trail map or have the AllTrails app downloaded before heading out to the trail.

Mount Minsi (via Appalachian Trail)

Distance: 5-mile loop
Elevation gain: 1,049 feet

The Appalachian Trail runs from Georgia to Maine, but hikers can explore a small section of this trail to embark on one of the best day hikes in the Poconos.

Just a few miles on the Appalachian Trail is all that is needed to reach Mount Minsi.

This section of the trail is accessed from the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. It’s one of the busiest trails in the recreation area, and understandably so.

Taking the trail to Mount Minsi provides outdoor enthusiasts with delightful scenery from the beginning. The trail may be one of the more difficult hikes in the Poconos but the natural beauty along the trail distracts from the effort required.

After trekking through the woods past several water features, hikers will come to several overlooks. These overlooks offer views of New Jersey’s Mt. Tammany, the Delaware River, and the surrounding landscape.

Parking at the Mount Minsi trailhead fills up quickly, so make sure to arrive early if you want to take a turn experiencing this fabulous landscape.

Summary of the Best Hikes in the Poconos

There are plenty of great, scenic hikes in the Poconos.

The best places to hike in the Poconos are the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Jim Thorpe, but there are tons of trails all throughout the region.

Here are the top 10 hikes in the Poconos:

Bushkill Falls (red trail)
Dingmans Creek Trail
Tumbling Waters Trail
Indian Trail
Milford Knob Trail
Cliff Trail
Tank Hollow Trail
Mount Pisgah Trail
Lehigh Gorge Overlook Trail
Mount Minsi (via Appalachian Trail)

Whether you choose one of these trails or hike them all over time, happy hiking!

Check out these articles for more outdoor adventures near the Poconos:

As always, enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Leave no trace on all of your adventures.