Harrison Wright Falls

The main entrance to Ricketts Glen State Park at Lake Jean is located along PA Route 487 between the towns of Lopez and Red Rock, about 25 west-northwest of Wilkes-Barre, or 37 miles east of Williamsport (as the crow flies). From the park entrance, cross the Lake Jean dam and then turn right where signs point to the Lake Rose Trailhead, and follow the road to the large parking area at its end. Additional Parking is available at Beach Lot #2 Trailhead, and at the Route 118 Trailhead (starting at Lake Rose is the shortest approach to the waterfalls).
From the Lake Rose Trailhead, follow the Falls Trail to the first junction in about two-tenths of a mile. If you plan on hiking the full loop, this is your return point. We recommend hiking the loop clockwise.
To reach Harrison Wright Falls, bear right at the junction and continue for another tenth of a mile to the next junction just after crossing Kitchen Creek on a footbridge, then turn left and begin down the Ganoga Glen Trail. Continue downstream along Ganoga Glen for just over 1.1 miles to the junction with the Glen Leigh Trail at Where Waters Meet, then continue another two-tenths of a mile to the top of the falls, and shortly after a staircase which descends to its base. Alternatively you can also hike upstream from the Route 118 Trailhead for about 1-1/2 miles to the falls.Ricketts Glen State Park is as close to a Waterfall Mecca as it gets within the United States. Within the confines of the park are 24 named waterfalls and dozens of small scenic cascades in between, all but one of which can be seen via a relatively easy hike in one day. All of the waterfalls occur within the Kitchen Creek drainage, split roughly in half between two branches of the stream which originate in different lakes and marshes on the plateau above the glens, and 5 of the falls found downstream of the confluence of the two branches.
Harrison Wright Falls is the first waterfall on Kitchen Creek located below the confluence of the Glen Leigh and Ganoga Glen branches of the stream. The falls drop over a broad ledge, producing a single curtain-type plunging fall which has formed a rather large pool at the base of the cliff. Park literature cites this waterfall as 27 feet tall, however our survey in May of 2018 showed it to be 32 feet tall - one of the few falls in the park which we found to actually be taller than the reported figures. During periods of moderate to heavy flow, the width of the falls can be equal to or greater than its height.
The Kitchen Creek drainage above Where Waters Meet covers an area of just over 7 square miles, and includes several lakes and areas of marsh which retain ground water well even in dry periods. Though the basin is of moderate size, the volume of water in the creek can vary substantially as the seasons progress, or as severe weather moves through. In general the streamflow will be at its lowest from late July through the end of September, but water will be present year round.Ricketts Glen was named for members of the Ricketts family who settled near Lake Ganoga in the mid-1850s and built a small hunting lodge and tavern on the shore of the lake. The family was not aware of the presence of the waterfalls on Kitchen Creek until 1865 when guests of the hotel wandered down the creek to go fishing. After serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, Robert Bruce Ricketts purchased most of the land which now makes up the park, expanded the hotel, built a lumber mill, and developed trails in the area to allow the waterfalls to be visited as attractions.

In 1913 the area was opened to the public, and operated as a private park until it reverted to state control after the Ricketts family sold the land and opened as a state park in 1943. A plan was in place in 1935 to convert Ricketts Glen to a National Park, however funding was sidetracked and thanks to financial hardships of the Great Depression and World War 2, and the National Park never came to fruition.

Twenty-two of the named waterfalls in the park were thought to be given their titles by Robert Bruce Ricketts. More than a dozen of the waterfalls were given Native American names, and several others bear the names of members or friends of the Ricketts family. This waterfall was named for Harrison Wright (1850–1885) who was a lawyer with a doctorate in mineralogy and an interest in archeology. He was active in the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society with Robert Bruce Ricketts.