Miners Run in Lycoming County is a secret treasury of the best waterfalls in the McIntyre Wild Area. But there’s a trick to finding them. We’ll show you how.
The Mcintyre Wild Area is a waterfall wonderland, and miners Run is the crown jewel. There are two easy waterfalls, but the best ones are hidden in an exquisitely beautiful, secluded gorge.
We parked at the pull off on Rock Run Road adjacent to the bridge over Miners Run at 41.515868, -76.916750. This lot can accommodate about six vehicles. The first waterfall is directly under the bridge, although it is not quite as scenic. We’ll call this one the pre-waterfall. As soon as we started on the trail, we heard then saw the exquisitely intricate first waterfall at 41.51627, -76.91659. The first waterfall is about ten feet tall.
Boulders adjacent to the fist waterfall form a gateway. This is appropriate, because exploring Miners Run is like entering another world.
When people hear about Miners Run Falls they may visit the first waterfall and think that is it. But there is another easy waterfall a few minutes’ walk upstream plus much more beyond. There are no marked trails, so we followed the stream to the second waterfall at 41.51680, -76.91776. The second waterfall is a veil about six feet tall. The terrain is rocky and we crossed the stream several times, but the trek was not difficult.
Most people enjoy these first two admittedly decent waterfalls then seeing the high cliffs and ledge of the second waterfall, turn back. This is like admiring the ornate entryway to a magnificent mansion but never going inside. Here’s the secret: Miners Run hides a secluded gorge that is a veritable treasury of waterfall wonder.
To find the secluded gorge, it is possible to travel a narrow footpath to the left of the second waterfall. However, because of the looseness of the fallen leaves on the sloped terrain, we opted to return to the trailhead and take another route. We crossed Miners Run and ascend via the Miners Run Trail starting at 41.51616, -76.91640. Although there are no blazes, this was one of the clearest trails we encountered in the McIntyre Wild Area. But that isn’t saying much because most hiking in the McIntyre Wild Area is via 100+ year old grades and bushwacking. We traveled up significant incline and passed through fun mountain laurel tunnels. The mountain laurels grow into the path, but it was not overgrown when we visited.
From the rim of the gorge, we saw passed through the mountain laurel, as through a veil, into another world: a gorge of exquisite beauty adorned with waterfall after waterfall! A narrow grade curves down into this secluded wonderland. With anticipation, we made our way down to the first waterfall in the gorge, the third on Miners Run, pictured above.
There is a fourth waterfall (not pictured) just above the third waterfall that you can see in the video. It is debatable whether it can be classified as a waterfall or a cascade, but for our purposes we’ll call it a waterfall. There is an interesting large rock slab balanced on a small boulder just in front of the fourth waterfall. After exploring these, we returned to the moss-lined grade that turned a tight curve in the gorge to reveal the stunning two-tiered fifth waterfall, approximately forty feet tall.
After ascending to the top of the fifth waterfall, we caught sight of the sixth waterfall beyond a run of scenic cascades. Although it the shortest of the waterfalls in the gorge, its pool and double flows make it perhaps the most picturesque.
Although the Loyalsock State Forest Map shows the Miners Run Trail ascending to the McIntyre Mountain plateau to the right of Miners Run, we lost the trail just after the fifth waterfall. We explored off trail above the sixth falls but didn’t find any more waterfalls. We returned the way we came, exuberant with our finds.
Parking is at 41.515868, -76.916750.
The second waterfall is less than 0.1 miles from the trailhead.
The farthest waterfall, the sixth, is about 0.3 miles from the trailhead.
We’ve seen lots of waterfalls in Pennsylvania. Miners Run is on our top ten list. It is certainly the best waterfall trail in the McIntyre Wild Area. We love it for the waterfalls themselves, the number within a short space, and the sheer beauty of the secluded ravine landscape. With that said, it takes some uphill hiking through mountain laurel tunnel to find the gorge, contributing to its special feel. But it isn’t for everyone. If you love waterfalls, but hiking not so much, the intricately beautiful first waterfall can almost be seen form the road. The second waterfall is only a tenth of a mile beyond. No matter how far you go, Miners Run is a win and we highly recommend it.
Want more? Here are other adventures in McIntyre Wild Area:
McIntyre Wild Area
Abbott Run
Scenic Overlook
Pennsylvania Ghost Town
in All of PA
Be sure to check out our other adventures.
