Glens Natural Area - Ricketts Glen State Park

Many of the magnificent trees in this area are over 300 years old. Diameters of almost four feet are common and many trees tower to 100 feet in height. One hemlock was determined to be 500 years old, but many of the hemlocks have now been killed by the wooly adelgid insect. The area is the meeting ground of the southern and northern hardwood types, creating an extensive variety of trees. In 1868, Colonel R. Bruce Ricketts bought land in northeast Pennsylvania to timber it. Explorations revealed two creek branches that cut through deep gorges in a series of waterfalls then united and flowed through a glen among giant pines, hemlocks and oaks. Col. Ricketts built trails to the area of the waterfalls. The lower glen came to be called Ricketts Glen. The Glens became a registered National Natural Landmark in 1969, and in 1993 became a State Park Natural Area and will be protected and maintained in a natural state. The Natural Area covers 1,261 acres; it is surrounded by more than 10,000 acres of park land. The Evergreen Trail is only 1 mile and easy, the Falls Trail is 7.2 miles, steep and rocky; both are beautiful.