The best waterfalls near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania are Dry Run Falls, Dutchman Falls, Adams Falls and 7 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Luke's Falls, about 76 miles northeast of Harrisburg.
For more waterfalls around Harrisburg, browse the nearest towns: Bainbridge, Conyngham, Weatherly, Glen Lyon, Laporte, Towamensing Trails, Hudson, Bala-Cynwyd. You can also see every waterfall on the Pennsylvania waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 17 publicly accessible Pennsylvania waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Harrisburg that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Dry Run Falls
81 miles north of Harrisburg. Our top pick near the city 4.9 out of 5 from 32 reviews.
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Dry Run Falls is about 81 miles north of Harrisburg, near Laporte. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 32 Google reviews, and 97% of them give it five stars. In short: "Tranquil waterfall comprised of 2 cascading streams, featuring a small, steep path to the bottom."
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2. Dutchman Falls
84 miles north of Harrisburg. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 27 reviews.
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Dutchman Falls is about 84 miles north of Harrisburg, near Laporte. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 27 Google reviews, and 93% of them give it five stars. Older records also call it Amber Falls.
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3. Adams Falls
78 miles northeast of Harrisburg. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 13 reviews.
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Adams Falls is about 78 miles northeast of Harrisburg, near Glen Lyon. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 13 Google reviews. In short: "This small waterfall with two major drops cascades down rocks amid a lush forest in Glen State Park."
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4. Hawk Falls
83 miles northeast of Harrisburg. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 375 reviews.
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Hawk Falls is about 83 miles northeast of Harrisburg, near Towamensing Trails. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 375 Google reviews, and 75% of them give it five stars. In short: "A 25-foot-high waterfall in a state park with a bridge accessed via a forest trail."
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5. Lewis Falls
78 miles north of Harrisburg. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 8 reviews.
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Lewis Falls is about 78 miles north of Harrisburg, near Laporte. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 8 Google reviews.
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6. Kitchen Creek Falls
78 miles northeast of Harrisburg. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
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Kitchen Creek Falls is about 78 miles northeast of Harrisburg, near Glen Lyon. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 5 Google reviews.
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7. The Grotto
90 miles east of Harrisburg. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 7 reviews.
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The Grotto is about 90 miles east of Harrisburg, near Wyndmoor. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 7 Google reviews.
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8. Twin Falls
78 miles north of Harrisburg. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 6 reviews.
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Twin Falls is about 78 miles north of Harrisburg, near Laporte. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 6 Google reviews.
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9. Luke's Falls
76 miles northeast of Harrisburg. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 20 reviews.
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Luke's Falls is about 76 miles northeast of Harrisburg, near Weatherly. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 20 Google reviews, and 60% of them give it five stars.
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10. Angel Falls
78 miles north of Harrisburg. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 14 reviews.
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Angel Falls is about 78 miles north of Harrisburg, near Laporte. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 14 Google reviews.
Waterfall Day Trips From Harrisburg
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luke's Falls | 76 mi northeast | Weatherly | 4.5 |
| Kitchen Creek Falls | 78 mi northeast | Glen Lyon | 4.8 |
| Adams Falls | 78 mi northeast | Glen Lyon | 4.8 |
| Angel Falls | 78 mi north | Laporte | 4.5 |
| Twin Falls | 78 mi north | Laporte | 4.7 |
| Lewis Falls | 78 mi north | Laporte | 4.9 |
| Dry Run Falls | 81 mi north | Laporte | 4.9 |
| Hawk Falls | 83 mi northeast | Towamensing Trails | 4.6 |
| Dutchman Falls | 84 mi north | Laporte | 4.8 |
| The Grotto | 90 mi east | Wyndmoor | 4.9 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Harrisburg. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Harrisburg?
Dry Run Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 81 miles north of Harrisburg and rated 4.9 stars from 32 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Harrisburg?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Luke's Falls is the closest, about 76 straight-line miles northeast of the city, near Weatherly.
How many waterfalls are near Harrisburg?
We track 17 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Pennsylvania within 100 miles of Harrisburg. See every waterfall in the state on the Pennsylvania waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 17 publicly accessible Pennsylvania waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Harrisburg that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
Where is the largest concentration of waterfalls in Pennsylvania?
Ricketts Glen State Park, on the line between Luzerne and Sullivan counties, holds a long series of named falls along Kitchen Creek. The Poconos of Pike and Monroe counties have the next largest cluster.
Summary
Dry Run Falls is our top waterfall pick near Harrisburg, rated 4.9 out of 5 and about 81 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Spring is the strongest season across Pennsylvania, from roughly March through May, when snowmelt and rain fill the plateau streams. The glens of Ricketts Glen and the Pocono ravines run at their best then, and the falls can be spectacular after heavy rain at any time of year. Summer flows often decline, though shaded glens remain cool, and July and August bring the heaviest crowds to the Poconos and Ohiopyle. October offers colorful hardwood forests and fewer visitors on weekdays. Winter can freeze the falls into ice formations, but the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen becomes hazardous and its use in icy conditions is restricted.
For more Pennsylvania waterfalls, see the full Pennsylvania waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in Pennsylvania, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Pennsylvania and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Pennsylvania.