Bushkill Falls Red Trail

To visit Bushkill Falls, we first pass a cash register and pay $14.50 per person. It is strange that such a rich nature reserve is in private hands.

The landscape is dominated by cliffs with no less than eight waterfalls. Along the way, this area is advertised as 'The Niagara of Pennsylvania'. That seems a bit excessive to us, but who knows ...

Once we pass the ticket office, we quickly reach the largest waterfall, which has to make do with the inspirationless name Main Falls.

A beautiful waterfall of about 30 meters high that is visually fascinating because it consists of different segments. The top half splits into three strips. At the ends the water plunges down wildly, in the middle the water seeps more elegantly from the rock formation. The lower half consists of an irregularly eroded rock that causes the falling water to burst in all directions.

The waterfall stands idyllically in a rock formation overgrown with greenery. So it really is a very beautiful waterfall!

The time has come to choose: which walk do we take? The green, yellow and blue walks are respectively ultra easy, easy and medium, both in length and level. All these walks take place entirely or largely on well-landscaped wooden footpaths.

Of course we opt for the red walk: on the information boards with many exclamation points and the message 'for avid hikers only'. This walk is the longest, runs largely along natural paths but mainly takes you past all waterfalls. However, there are 1,267 stairs to tame. A good workout for the leg muscles.

We follow the path clockwise, counterintuitively away from the main waterfall. This ensures that we do not meet a human during the first half and enjoy nature in peace. Despite the good signage, walking here feels like losing ourselves in a paradisiacally green environment. Everywhere and even in the most unexpected places we see small streams with rippling water. The irregular relief of rocks and cliffs creates picturesque waterfalls here and there. We can admire these alternately both from below and from above during the walk.

Needless to say, the hike climbs and descends a lot. Because the surroundings are so beautiful, that doesn't bother us. After a while of walking we enjoy the next impressive waterfall. The area is somewhat similar to Franconia Notch State Park.