Hawk Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated

Hawk Falls is a waterfall in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, about 2.6 miles west of Towamensing Trails. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Carbon County, PA

Nearest town

Towamensing Trails (2.6 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★★ 4.6 from 375 reviews

Crowds

Popular

Access

Short hike likely

Coordinates

41.00648, -75.63380

USGS topo

Hickory Run quad

Getting there

Hawk Falls sits about 2.6 miles west of Towamensing Trails in Carbon County. Google lists the address as Kidder Township, PA 18210. Visitors reach it on foot by trail. Check the current trail map for distance and elevation before you go.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Hawk Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Most of Pennsylvania's falls are on public land, including state parks, state forests, state game lands and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, though Bushkill Falls is a private attraction with an admission charge. State parks such as Ricketts Glen and Ohiopyle draw large crowds on summer weekends, and parking fills early. The most common hazards are wet rock and steep, uneven trails: the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen involves many slippery stone steps and is strenuous in any conditions. On the Youghiogheny and Slippery Rock Creek, strong currents and undercut rocks make wading and swimming near falls dangerous. Some smaller falls sit on private property, so look for posted signs.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Hawk Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of Pennsylvania. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 41.00648, -75.63380 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Camera and a small tripod. Visitors have shared 1,410 photos of it; a tripod lets you shoot silky water in low light.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

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. 375 Google reviews make it a well-known stop. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to visit.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

What visitors say

Hawk Falls holds a 4.6-star average across 375 Google reviews, and 75% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the most reviewed waterfall in Carbon County. Visitors have shared 1,410 photos.

A 25-foot-high waterfall in a state park with a bridge accessed via a forest trail.

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

Hawk Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on November 1, 1989, and it appears on the USGS Hickory Run 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Hawk Run (stream, 0.1 mi), Panther Creek (stream, 0.2 mi), Summer Mountain (summit, 0.9 mi), and Keipers Run (stream, 1.3 mi).

Poconos and the Delaware Water Gap. Tributaries of the Delaware River drop off the Pocono Plateau in a series of short, steep ravines. Within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Dingmans Falls, described as 130 feet high, and nearby Silverthread Falls are reached by a boardwalk trail, and Raymondskill Falls descends in three tiers near Milford. Bushkill Falls, the state's most reviewed waterfall, is a privately owned park with eight falls and a network of trails and bridges. Around East Stroudsburg and Mountainhome, Monroe County adds more, while Hawk Falls in Hickory Run State Park in Carbon County is reached on a short forest trail.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Hawk Falls about 2.6 miles west of Towamensing Trails is rated 4.6 out of 5 by 375 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Hawk Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.