Bushkill Falls

Bushkill Falls was the reason we stopped in Pennsylvania. We had left Cape Cod and were on our way home. We needed to slumber somewhere, but yet wanted to see some kind of an outdoor attraction. Therefore, before we left our home, I already made reservations on the Internet at a Days Inn Hotel in Stroudberg, PA. It appeared to be close to Bushkill Falls.

By the time we made it to Bushkill, PA, it was in the late afternoon. We decided to just drive around the surrounding area. We went to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The admission here is free, but all the activities aren’t. Therefore, we didn’t take advantage of what this area had to offer: hiking, boating, climbing, camping, etc. This park possesses almost 70,000 acres of land along the Delaware River’s New Jersey and Pennsylvania shores and preserves 40 miles of the middle of this river.

After the drive to the park, we went to a local pizza joint. It served both deli sandwiches and pizza. It was located at a strip mall in the Bushkill region. We ordered a pizza and took it back to our hotel.

The next day, we headed for the Bushkill Falls. We had packed a lunch to take with us. We arrived early. The parking lot appeared to be large. We then went to purchase our tickets. We paid under a piece in 2002. The ticket person gave us a trail map for this self-guided tour. As I recall, it had three trails you could follow that were color-coded. The colors represented how difficult the trails were and how long each was. By mistake, we went the avid hiker trail. If you are out of shape, this is a killer trail, but it does take you to all the gorgeous falls.

We enjoyed touring the Bushkill Property. Not only did we enjoy taking in the falls, but we also liked the complex itself. We visited all the shops. Some of the purchases we made were a collector’s plate with Bushkill Falls painted on it, a polo shirt with a small bear and Bushkill Falls embroidered on it, and postcards. And we also ate our lunch at a picnic table that was provided there. Lastly, we walked around the beautiful Twin Lakes area. Unfortunately, we were on a time restraint and couldn’t enjoy it further.

Quick Tips:

I have five suggestions. One, wear comfortable shoes when you take this tour. There are areas that are more difficult to cross than others (slippery), and the bridges and the step downs from them can be narrow. I recommend a hiking boot with a non-slippery surface sole.

Two, bring extra money for souvenirs and other attractions that can be seen or done at this complex.

Three, if you're thinking about saving money for lunch, then pack a lunch and dine at one of the picnic tables the complex has. This place has charcoal grills, picnic tables, and covered pavilions for your family.

Four, go later in the morning if you want better pictures of the Falls. Although we took nice pictures, they would have been better if we had taken this tour later. This area is pretty dark in the early part of the morning.

And lastly, bring water bottles with you. This is in case the water booths along the trails are not open (they weren’t when we went), and if you don’t want to pay more purchasing them from the booths when the booths are open.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get to Bushkill is by car. And the only way to get around at Bushkill Falls is on foot. As I aforementioned, you should where comfortable and "safe" shoes. You will be treading on various "tricky" surfaces. These include narrow, wooden bridges, old wood step downs from the bridges, slippery rocks, etc. You need to walk with caution. The Bushkill complex will not allow strollers or wheelchairs on their trails.

Bushkill Falls driving instructions are the following: From I-84, take Exit 11 on the Pennsylvania border to PA-209 south. Follow PA-209 south through Milford and entering the National Rec. After 26.3 miles, make a right at Bushkill Falls Road. The entrance is 1.8 miles later on the left. You can also reach this area from I-80 (take exit 52, PA-209 north).

The phone number of Bushkill Falls is 888/628-7454. The admission rates are the following: Adults are , seniors are , children 4 to 10 are , and children 3 and under are free. Group rates are available, too. Then there are various prices for the other attractions at this complex. This place is open on various dates from April to November 2005.

It was difficult trying to find a hotel/motel that had available rooms that was listed on the Internet. This was because the time we went to the Pocono Mountain region, there was the NASCAR race going on. Also, we were told on the phone by all the hotels that they were charging more for their rooms because of this. After doing an engine search on the Internet, I did finally find a motel in Stroudsburg, which is less than 10 miles from the Bushkill Falls attraction.

This motel was a mistake. From the get-go, when we checked in, I got this vibe that this was not a place to be. I was right! When we checked in, it was a nightmare. First, a lady, the mother, (it appeared to be a family-run business) tried to run our debit card through. She made a mistake and charged us twice. Then I complained about that, and then her husband and the son started to squabble how to remedy the second charge on my card. Finally, the son overruled the father and proceeded to tell me that I was only going to be charged only once for the room. He claimed he took care of it.

We were given a room on the ground level. The room had a king-size bed, a writing table and chair, a refrigerator, a microwave, a picture window, and a bathroom with a shower/bath and a toilet. The walls were off-white in color and decorated with cheap pictures. The room appeared okay in the cleaning department, except it wasn’t spotless. There were scummy marks on the walls.

The room was a small one with a king-size bed stuffed in it. One wall in the area of the bed had wallpaper coming off. One of the lights on the wall near the bed was not working. And the bathroom was extremely small. We paid $120 for 1 night here. I think that price was too much for what we were paying.

There are only two things I can say that are positive. One, in the office/lobby area, you are offered a continental breakfast of pastries or bagels and juice. And two, the location is great. It was only 8 miles from Bushkill Falls and other attractions.

This hotel is located at 100 Park Ave./I-80, Stroudsburg, PA, 18360. The phone number is 570/424-1771. Driving directions are as follows:

From the north: I-380 south to I-80 and I-80 east to Exit 307. Take your first right to the hotel.

From the south: Take route 33 north to I-80 and I-80 east to exit 307. Take first right to the hotel.

From the east: Traveling I-80 East, use Exit 307.

From the West: Traveling I-80 west, use exit 307, take 191 South, and then take first right on Lenox Street.

I somewhat recommend this accommodation only for its location. I would only stay here again if all the other area accommodations are booked.

Bushkill Falls is centuries of natural beauty. It is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. The owners of this extraordinary attraction are the Peters family. The forefather of this attraction, Charles E. Peters, first opened this place up in 1904. Then it had a single path and a swinging bridge over the main falls.

Although it is billed has having eight falls, it really only has seven. They are the following: Upper Canyon/Laurel Glen, Bridesmaid Falls #1, Bridesmaid Falls #2, Bridal Veil Falls, Lower Gorge Falls, Bushkill Falls, and Pennell Falls. These have either the Little Bushkill Creek or Pond Run Creek as their water cascades.

The two falls (Upper Canyon /Laurel Glen), in the same location, hardly even consist of one. Both falls are 3 to 4 feet high. You will find that the Upper Canyon is upstream of Laurel Glenn, with Little Bushkill Creek squeezing by a gorge with high canyon walls. To be frank, the gorge is more interesting than the cascades, since they are so small. However, in high water, the Upper Canyon is more volatile and therefore receives more of your attention. Concerning Laurel Glenn, it is the mouth of the Upper Canyon, where the river gets a little bigger. Here, during high water, the small cascades are pretty breathtaking, but in the lower water, they are not. There is also a bridge that goes over the cascades. Overall, this area is scenic to walk through, since you can walk so close to the stream but is not very impressive.

Bushkill Falls probably has been a tourist attraction since it was founded by the pioneers in this region. It is this waterfall that is the main one in this area. As a result, the whole attraction is named after it. Why Bushkill Falls is dubbed "Niagara of Pennsylvania" is beyond me. It is not powerful, large enough, or gorgeous enough to even come close to Niagara Falls. Instead, what is here is a pretty good-sized version of a mountain waterfall that blossoms in size around spring time. But in the drier months, it possesses a few small cascades. The water here falls in two parts out of a gorge fanning out as it descends. You will see that one side of the deep pool at the bottom half and tall cliff walls as its landscape. I think this is the most enchanting fall this attraction has. In addition, it is the highest-volume waterfall here. Bushkill Falls is 100 feet high.

Bridesmaid Falls #1 is a smaller waterfall, but worth checking out. It is one of three falls on Pond Run, which has a "bridal"-name theme to it. It is in the same vicinity of the other Bridal Falls. Bridesmaid Falls #1 of the two bridesmaids is the more downstream one. It consists of ledge cascade that drapes half the height of the falls and then spreads out into several wider cascades, where it lands. During periods of medium-to-high water levels, this falls is beautiful, but in lower water times, it is not intriguing. The falls is 25 feet in height.

Bridesmaid Falls #2 is another small waterfall that is part of three falls on Pond Run. This one, like Bridesmaid #1, possesses the bridal-theme name. It is located in between the two other bridal-theme falls. However, this one is more upstream then Bridal Falls #1. It is made up of two sets of cascades, which descend down the rock face into a pool encompassed by rock walls about 20 feet high. This fall’s appearance and landscape is one of the prettier falls here. Bridesmaid Falls #2 is 20 feet high.

Bridal Veil Falls is the last small waterfalls that make up the trio of all the falls that go by the "bridal"-name theme. It is in the same area as Bridesmaid Falls 1 and 2. This falls is dubbed Bridal Veil Falls because the bottom half of the falls off a ledge in a cascade, which looks like a veil. But you don’t see this water formation all the time. This is because it only happens in higher water. In lower water times, in August and September, this cascade just becomes more of a slide down the falls’ face. Therefore, the best time to see in is before August. This falls is 30 feet in height.

Lower Gorge Falls is another falls that has been around since this area was discovered by pioneers. It doesn’t matter when you come see this falls, it is still intriguing. What makes this falls more appealing is that there is a bridge that is right above the falls. The falls here descends through a narrow gorge, which doesn’t let you view it from the front on the path, so this bridge is the only view of the falls that you are likely to get. This falls is very volatile and powerful in the springtime, when water levels are high because all the water that dumps over the wider Bushkill Falls (just above Lower Gorge Falls) has to now channel through a narrow gorge. It is 30 feet in height.

Lastly, Pennell Falls is my least favorite falls. It is pretty boring seeing it. This falls is created by several cascades in wide stair-stepping rock ledges going into a small pool of water. If you are lucky enough and see these falls at high-water times, you may see three streams of water form one wide cascade. But if you are not lucky, you will see two or three small streams of water. Pennell Falls is 10 feet in height. The only positive thing I can say about this waterfall is that it is peaceful to look at, but if you can’t hike anymore due to exhaustion, you are not missing much if you skip this waterfall.

The phone number of Bushkill Falls is 888/628-7454. The admission rates are the following: Adults are $ 9, seniors are $8, children 4 to 10 are $4, and children 3 and under are free. Group rates are available too. Then there are various prices for the other attractions at this complex. This place is open on various dates from April to November 2005.

In order to get to the Bushkill Falls attraction, you need a few items. These include comfortable shoes (preferably hiking boots with a non-slippery sole), the map of the trail, and bottles of water. If you are in pretty good condition (not necessarily the Iron Man or Woman condition) and can walk extensively through varies terrains, such as slippery, wet ground; rock; boardwalks; bridges; etc., you will probably enjoy the hiking. You will see not only the gorgeous falls, which are centuries old, but also the other parts of the natural environment. For instance, at the headwaters of Bushkill Creek, there is a fantastic marsh that is vibrant, with wild birds present. It is not uncommon to see a variety of local and migratory bird species here. These include song birds and birds of prey, like hawks, eagles, and owls. You may even see wild turkeys, ducks, geese, white-tail deer, red and grey fox, skunk, rabbit, squirrel, chipmunks, etc., on other parts of the trail. We saw squirrels and a couple of deer while we were hiking. Also, at the bottom of the Main Falls (Bushkill Falls), you will notice a deep pool of water. This is surrounded by wild flowers, mosses, and ferns. You will also view gorges, mountain pants, trees, and enormous boulders on your trails. Lastly, nature hikers will be elated about the walk to Bridal Veil Falls. At this place, you can follow a trail by the Pond Run stream. The mountain path runs deep in the forest. Here you will view spring-fed waters trickling down the mountainside in a trio of falls. These are the ones called Bridesmaid Falls #1, Bridesmaid Falls #2, and Bride Veil Falls.

What is nice about hiking here is that you don’t have to take the avid hiker trail if you don’t feel comfortable doing so, but by doing this, you will not see all the falls either. At this attraction, the staff here will assist you in deciding what trail is right for your individual abilities or concerns. The trails here vary in both difficulty and length. For example, the green trail only take 15 minutes to travel, and the red one is 2 miles long and possesses all the seven falls. This trail takes over 2 hours to hike. But it doesn’t matter which trail you take because you will be exposed to great scenery.

The phone number of Bushkill Falls is 888/628-7454. The admission rates are the following: Adults are $ 9, seniors are $8, children 4 to 10 are $4, and children 3 and under are free. Group rates are available, too. Then there are various prices for the other attractions at this complex. This place is open on various dates from April to November 2005.

You may automatically think that all you can do on the Bushkill property is view the falls. This is false. This property is very expansive and has a variety of things to do. After viewing the falls, you may want to have lunch at the snack bar, which has pizza, hamburgers, and drinks. Or you may want to just have an ice-cream specialty at the ice-cream parlor. There is also a shop called the Fudge Kitchen, where you view fudge being made and/or purchase the fudge. Lastly, concerning eating, there is the option of bringing something to grill and cooking it on one of the grills provided or bringing a sack lunch and eating at one of their picnic tables. We brought a sack lunch and consumed it at one of the picnic tables. This place provides a great picnic area that has it all.

Besides eating at Bushkill, you can do a variety of activities here. You may want to tour the Pennsylvania Wildlife Exhibit and/or the Native American Exhibit. You can also mine for gemstones, putt a few rounds of golf, rent a paddleboat, fish, or just walk around the Twin Lakes area of the complex. The following are charges for these activities for the 2005 season. Mining for gemstones is $8 for a large bag, and for a small one, it is $6. Miniature golf costs $5, but it includes a souvenir ball you receive. The Paddleboat rentals are $3 per person, and a putt and paddle combo is $7. A fishing permit is $2, and fishing rentals are $5.

We walked the whole complex and also toured the gift shops. My partner, Sharon, purchased a cute polo shirt that has a small bear and Bushkill Falls embroidered on it. I purchased a collector’s plate that has Bushkill Falls scrawled on it with a waterfalls and a deer in the background. We also purchased postcards of the individual waterfalls as well. The prices of the items we purchased weren’t any higher than any other tourist shops. For Sharon’s polo we paid about $21; for my plate we paid under $5; and for the postcards we paid a $0.25 a piece. We purchased these at the store called the Trading Post.

The phone number of Bushkill Falls is 888/628-7454. The admission rates are the following: Adults are $9, seniors are $8, children 4 to 10 are $4, and children 3 and under are free. Group rates are available, too. This place is open on various dates from April to November 2005.