Autumn at the Tubs

By: Patrick Gensel

With Autumn quickly approaching, and the temperatures beginning to drop it’s time to start thinking about getting out and checking out the colors of the season. There are many great places to check out the spectacular colors of the season for all levels of hiking ability.

Ricketts Glen State Park – Red Rock, PA
Featuring 22 named waterfalls including the 93 foot tall Ganoga, The Ricketts Glen falls trail is among the most popular hikes in Northeast PA and the state for that matter. Visiting the park during peak fall foliage season is sure to make for an excellent day hike. The most popular hike at the glen is the 7 mile falls loop trail. This trail parades you past each of the 22 named waterfalls and through some really fantastic appalachian canopy. Be sure to bring sneakers and your leg muscles though since this trail traverses some steep and rocky terrain. For more information on Ricketts Glen State Park check out their DCNR page.

The Seven Tubs Natural Area – Bear Creek, PA
Named for the seven sandstone tubs carved thousands of years ago by glacial meltwater. The easy terrain and close proximity to Wilkes-Barre make this an excellent beginner hiking destination with some great views. In addition to Hiking, the Seven Tubs Natural Area does offer some mountain biking. The heavily wooded area of the park offers some spectacular fall foliage views. For more information about the Seven Tubs, check out Luzerne County’s page.

Worlds End State Park – Forksville, PA
Located between Dushore and Forksville, Worlds End State Park offers some incredibly scenic vistas. Two of the more popular vistas: Canyon Vista and High Rock Vista offer beautiful views of the canopy that are especially rewarding during peak fall foliage. Canyon Vista can be accessed by the Canyon Vista trail, a 4 mile loop that rewards hikers with a scenic view of Loyalsock Creek Gorge from Canyon Vista itself. High Rock Vista can be accessed via the High Rock Trail. This trail climbs for 1 mile out of the valley across rocks and boulders to High Rock Vista. Be forewarned, this trail is quite difficult. More info on World End State Park can be found at their DCNR page.

Moon Lake Park – Plymouth Township, PA
A popular local destination for mountain bikers, Moon Lake Park also offers fishing and hiking. With nearly 20 miles of hiking, you won’t run out of ground to cover on a day hike. The abundant deciduous growth in the area offeres for spectacular fall foliage views and again, the close proximity to the Wyoming Valley makes this a great day hike destination. Though Moon Lake Park does not have a website, more info and directions to the park can be found here.

Nay Aug Park, Scranton, PA
Residing in the city of Scranton, Nay Aug Park is a diamond in the rough so to speak. Despite the noise coming from nearby Interstate 81, entering Nay Aug Park feels as if you are not in a city at all. Some of the attractions to this park include the awe inspiring David Wenzel tree house, Walking trails, Waterfalls, and the beautiful Nay Aug Gorge. Located minutes from downtown Scranton, Nay Aug Park is a great way for you to quickly satiate your appetite for beautiful fall scenery. Head to the gorge and snap some photos of the seasonal colors of the leaves hanging high above the gorge.