Despite having visited Promised Land State Park for a decade or more, I only learned of the Little Falls trail last year, while scrolling through pages of recommended hikes in Northeast PA. To be fair, I think I did know about it at one point, but had forgotten – the trail follows the East Branch of Wallenpaupack Creek as it leaves the southern end of Lower Lake, passing over the spillway and beneath the parallel road bridge and hiking bridge as it starts its way through the forest and down a series of small waterfalls.
Little Falls is an apt name.
I ventured out last autumn with the camera and the tripod. The far southern end of Lower Lake isn’t part of my usual path when I visit the park, as it’s rather out of the way, unless you’re using the campground.
But the Little Falls trail is delightful, following the creek on both sides. A wooden footbridge crosses the creek below the last of the falls, making it easy to go down one side and come back along the other. On an overcast autumn morning, it made for a lovely hike, with plenty of easy access for photos.
There’s something about dark, tannin-stained water rushing along a creek in the autumn, beneath the trees with a carpet of leaves alongside…walks like this are good for the soul.