Conestoga Falls is a 17-foot waterfall on Ganoga Glen Branch of Kitchen Creek in Ricketts Glen State Park, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
The falls
The lake-fed stream slides over a single 17-foot drop, a figure USGS lidar data confirms as relatively accurate, though a May 2018 field survey missed the falls in person. The Falls Trail approaches from above and faces away from the fall, so there is no direct lower view. Flow is lowest from late July through September.
Getting there
Ricketts Glen State Park is managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Lake Rose is the closest Falls Trail parking area, reaching the waterfall system in 5 to 10 minutes on foot, though it fills quickly at peak times. From Lake Rose it is about 1.15 miles one way to the top of the falls. The park charges no entrance or day-use fee, and ordinary hiking needs no reservation.
When to go
Winter access to the Falls Trail requires proper ice equipment. The park's alerts page listed no active notice as of September 25, 2026.
On site
Steep, wet and slippery sections call for caution and proper footwear. Swimming is permitted only at the park's designated beach, not at the Falls Trail waterfalls. An accessible viewpoint and any deaths, rescues or injuries at Conestoga Falls specifically are not documented.
History and name
Robert Bruce Ricketts assigned most of the names in the park. Conestoga Falls takes its name from the Conestoga, or Susquehannock, an Iroquoian-speaking people associated with the Susquehanna River basin.
Nearby
Mohican Falls and Tuscarora Falls are each about 0.1 mile away, Seneca Falls is also about 0.1 mile, and Ganoga Falls about 0.2 mile.
Distances are straight-line.