Glen Onoko Falls

If I had to rate the attractions of Lehigh Gorge State Park, the first place would go to the waterfalls on a mountain stream named Glen Onoko Run. The trail to the falls starts from the Lehigh River, which flows into a stream, climbs a mountain, and passes through magnificently beautiful rhododendron forest.


Lehigh Gorge State Park is very big. To travel to the falls, you have to stop at the parking lot, which is shown on the map. The place is located near the town of Jim Thorpe.

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The trail is very difficult. Although in the beginning, there are easy paths.

To the right of the trail, there is overgrown rhododendrons. Photos of this post are from different years, and filmed by different cameras.

Here, it is a little more complicated, but for the prepared traveler it is only a light workout.

The trail passes near the stream in some places, in others - on the high cliffs.

Someone carefully built these stone steps.

 The trail is very picturesque and offers a thrilling hike.

But closer to the falls, the trail ends and the further expedition requires at least some fitness.

In the distance, there is the first waterfall. At this point the trail is the hardest. We had to navigate by the tracks of other adventurers. Also, in this place there is a danger of falling stones harming unaware tourists.

If you overcame the difficult trails, a break in the canyon of Chameleon Falls will be a good reward. It looks like a waterfall in the spring and during the summer rains.

Closer to the fall, or in the prolonged absence of rainfall in summer, Chameleon Falls looks like this. I enjoy the waterfall in any form, at any time.

Immediately after the first waterfall is the next. I have not seen the names of these waterfalls on maps or on the trail. But sources on the Internet say it is called Onoko Falls.

This photo of Onoko Falls is after a fairly dry summer of 2008.

But the most impressive place of the route is on a stone platform above Onoko Falls. The view, which opens here, in conjunction with the flow of the stream, make time spent here truly unforgettable.

If the stream is flowing with full strength, it is hard to get to the edge of the waterfall . While this site has many high places, you can relax at any level of the water.

When the water is low, the boldest sit on the edge. The bold but sensible tie themselves to a secure rope.

Still, the trail climbs uphill. And pretty soon there appears a waterfall known as Hidden Sweet. Doing research online, I came across people calling it Cave Falls. The waterfall has a shallow niche, giving it the similarity of a cave.

From Cave Falls, you can return by the old route along the creek or on the trail. The map shows the route running along Broad Mountain which offers good views of the Lehigh River. However, this route is not as complicated as the one on the way to Chameleon Falls.

Before the entrance to the trail, you are met with such a warning. It should not scare you, but precautions should always be observed before beginning the trail. Also, the rocky terrain and the presence of water in this place make a good home for snakes. There are many, but due to the fact that snakes are afraid of the people walking the trails, meetings with them are rare. But in any case, it is important to remember that the rattlesnakes are protected by law, and not to harm them.