Loading...

🎆 50% off 4th of July sale on Supporter Accounts — now through July 6! Learn More.

Darling Run Falls

Directions
Map
Pictures
Send to App
Distance:
1.7 Miles / 2.7 km
Type:
Out-and-Back
Difficulty:
Moderate
Time to Hike:
~51 minutes
Features:
PA Wilds
Surface Type:
Dirt
Park:
Tioga State Forest
Town:
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
Directions:
41.733714, -77.42835
Added:
June 15, 2020
Updated:
April 07, 2022
Copy Trail Link Hiking this trail? Send a friend or family member a link to this trail guide for your own safety. Hike at your own risk (disclaimer)
Loading...
Loading...
173'

Total Change
205'

Ascent
205'

Descent

Download the Trail Route for Offline Use

Supporters get exclusive access to download trail routes to the MyHikes app for offline use. Stay prepared on your adventure, even without an internet connection! Become a Supporter today to unlock this feature and hike with confidence.

Send to App

Darling Run Falls

The Darling Run Falls hike at Tioga State Forest in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania is a moderate 1.7-mile out-and-back hike that leads down Darling Run creek out to a small two-tiered waterfall, Darling Run Falls.

This hike follows a creek most of the way, so hikers must either get their feet wet, wear waders, or both in order to reach the waterfall. During the late Spring, the creek is much more shallow allowing hikers to meander up Darling Run creek to reach the waterfall without getting soaking wet.

The hike begins at the end of Forest Road next to the Darling Run parking area for the Pine Creek Trail and follows the Pine Creek Trail for approximately 0.2-miles before reaching Darling Run.

Once at Darling Run, hike down the small embankment to the creek below and begin your hike upstream. The hike upstream is moderate because of the loose and slippery rocks, which can make this trek more dangerous. This upstream hike lasts for approximately 0.5 miles while passing blowdown trees, loose and slippery rocks, and eventually a bedrock creek bottom. Along the way lies an old home foundation and a lesser-known backcountry campsite.

Old Home Foundation
Around mile 0.3, from parking, or less than 0.1-miles from the Pine Creek Trail, hikers will find an old abandoned home foundation. This old foundation is mostly visible when the leaves are off of the trees. Hikers heading upstream, in the creek, may not notice this small piece of history tucked away just off-trail, so be on the lookout.

As you hike up to Darling Run, hikers will notice a fork in the creek - look to the creek on your right-hand side and you'll find Lower Darling Run Falls cascading down this tributary creek. At Darling Run Falls, if the water level is low enough, hikers can make their way up the Lower tier of the waterfall and hike over to the Upper tier.

Darling Run Falls
This two-tiered waterfall can be found approximately 0.5-miles upstream from where hikers leave the Pine Creek Trail. The Lower Darling Run Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall that cascades down about 8-feet in total. The Upper Darling Run Falls is a single-tier waterfall that's approximately 6-feet tall. Neither waterfall is all that scenic, but it's a nice spot tucked away in the woods of Tioga State Forest that sees very little foot-traffic.
 
Parking
Hikers can find parking at the coordinates provided at the Pine Creek Trail Darling Run parking area. There's enough parking to fit several dozen cars.

Pets
Dogs are allowed if leashed and their waste must be carried out by the hiker.

Warnings
Rattlesnakes: While rare, the Timber Rattlesnake lives in this area and tends to come down to creeks to cool down or hunt between the end of April through the end of September. Watch your step and give any rattlesnake you see some space.

History - Native American Footpath
According to the Guide to the Historical Markers of Tioga County, this trail actually follows one branch of an ancient Seneca trail, Pine Creek Path, which was used by the Seneca tribe to connect Genesee River to Susquehanna River down in Jersey Shore, PA. This section of the trail used to connect Pine Creek to Babb Creek, using Darling Run as part of the route.
Explore 271 trails near Wellsboro, PA
  1. Parking

    41.733714, -77.42835
  2. Main Trailhead

    41.733617, -77.428265
  3. Campsite

    41.727047, -77.423109
    Campsite
  4. Lower Darling Run Falls

    41.726356, -77.423103
    Lower Darling Run Falls
  5. Upper Darling Run Falls

    41.726156, -77.423356
    Upper Darling Run Falls
  6. Old foundation

    41.730042, -77.427528
    Old foundation
No community routes found. To add your own hike as a Community Route for this Trail guide, leave a Trip Report with an attached GPX file.

Hazards

Ticks - Lyme Disease More Info (CDC)
Snakes
Poison Ivy/Oak

Seasons

All

Trip Reports

Trail Guide By:
Admin user profile picture
1.7 miles / 2.7 km
0.5 miles / 0.8 km
April 11, 2025
I didn't hike to this spot which is farther downstream, but highly recommend the short hike off-trail down from the intersection of Darling Run & Copp Hollow Rds (open pull-off parking area). Used left/south bank down to beautiful multi-tier falls that is very photogenic!
Hiking
0.8 miles / 1.3 km
February 14, 2021
Hiked half-way to Darling Run Falls before turning back. The ice in the creek did not appear to be strong enough to trust hiking upstream all the way to the waterfall. Along the hike upstream I found an old foundation of what I assume used to be a home or camp. This old foundation is located on the north side of Darling Run creek less than 0.1-miles from the Pine Creek Trail. Instead of attempting to reach the waterfall by hiking upstream further, I drove to Copp Hollow Rd in Wellsboro and hiked through the woods and down the narrow spine of a hill to reach a viewpoint of the waterfall.
Hiking Snowshoeing

Weather Forecast

In Wellsboro, PA

Explore Hiking Trails

You May Also Like

Colorado's Million Dollar Highway - Plan a day's drive adventure along the iconic Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Explore the best short trails, roadside stops, waterfalls, vistas, ghost towns, and hot springs within a ~6 hour road trip.
Explore

Colorado's Million Dollar Highway

Plan a day's drive adventure along the iconic Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Explore the best short trails, roadside stops, waterfalls, vistas, ghost towns, and hot springs within a ~6 hour road trip.

Read
New York's Best Waterfalls - Whether you're planning a day hike, roadside stop, or a leisurely short walk, this guide provides hikers, travelers, and locals alike with 63 different locations to over 100 scenic waterfalls to help plan your next adventure!
Explore

New York's Best Waterfalls

Whether you're planning a day hike, roadside stop, or a leisurely short walk, this guide provides hikers, travelers, and locals alike with 63 different locations to over 100 scenic waterfalls to help plan your next adventure!

Read

Before you boogie...

Find our trail guides useful? Consider becoming a Supporter to unlock perks!

MyHikes is an indie platform that makes exploring public trails easier for everyone. The platform has no investors, no ads, and is owned and operated by one person, Dave Miller. Dave has personally mapped and written over 1,800 trail guides on MyHikes for the public to explore. MyHikes has helped millions outdoor enthusiasts plan their next adventure.

But it takes a lot of time 🕦, money 💰, work, and espresso shots ☕ to run MyHikes, including hiking , mapping , writing , and publishing new trails with high-quality (accurate) information... along with software engineering (coding) the platform like building new features, website and mobile app development (iOS and Android), site maintainance . and much much more.

Supporters unlock website and mobile app perks with an annual one-time payment of $25 (you renew) 😎👍. Or you can simply make a Donation of your choice. Otherwise, you can support us by telling your friends about MyHikes - both quick and free 🎉

Admin user profile picture

Dave Miller
MyHikes Founder