Some roads are worth driving simply for the views they keep revealing.
Pennsylvania Route 487 winds through northeastern Pennsylvania, trading busy highways for forested hills, quiet stretches of pavement, and mountain scenery that seems to unfold around every bend.
Near Ricketts Glen State Park, the road becomes even more memorable.
Towering trees, rocky ridges, rushing waterfalls, and Lake Jean create a setting that feels far removed from the noise of everyday life.
You can cruise PA-487 for the scenery alone, but stopping along the way opens the door to hiking, waterfalls, picnicking, and plenty of fresh-air adventure.
If you’re craving a road trip where the drive is part of the destination, this beautiful stretch deserves a spot on your map.
Drive Into a Sea of Pennsylvania Forest
Thick woodland surrounds you on both sides as PA-487 approaches Ricketts Glen, transforming your drive into something that feels more like an escape than a commute. The forest grows denser with each passing mile, creating walls of green that tower overhead during summer months.
Unlike busier Pennsylvania highways lined with gas stations and shopping centers, this route keeps its natural character intact. You won’t find much commercial development interrupting the tree-lined views, which makes the experience feel genuinely remote.
Wildlife sightings happen regularly along this stretch. Deer often graze near the roadside, especially during early morning or evening hours when traffic stays light.
The canopy creates a tunnel effect in places, with branches reaching across the pavement from both sides. Fall transforms this corridor into a spectacular display of orange, red, and yellow leaves that draw photographers and leaf-peepers from across the region.
Spring brings fresh green growth that feels almost electric after Pennsylvania’s gray winters, while winter snowfall adds a quiet beauty to the already peaceful setting.
Climb Through North Mountain Country
North Mountain rises up before the park entrance, and PA-487 climbs right over it. The road curves and twists as it gains elevation, giving you that genuine Appalachian mountain driving experience without leaving Pennsylvania.
Your ears might pop slightly during the ascent. The elevation change isn’t dramatic enough to cause problems, but it’s noticeable enough to remind you that you’re entering different terrain.
Views open up occasionally along this section where the forest pulls back from the roadside. You can glimpse neighboring ridges and valleys that stretch toward the horizon in layered waves of blue and green.
The winding character of this stretch demands attention from drivers, but that just forces you to slow down and take everything in. Sharp curves appear regularly, making this portion feel more adventurous than the straighter sections to the south.
Winter weather can make this climb challenging when ice or snow covers the pavement, so checking conditions beforehand makes good sense during colder months.
Pass Through Ricketts Glen State Park
Something special happens when PA-487 crosses into Ricketts Glen State Park boundaries. You’re suddenly traveling through more than 13,000 acres of protected forest that spans three Pennsylvania counties.
The park designation means this land stays wild and accessible. Development restrictions keep the forest intact while still allowing visitors to enjoy hiking trails, camping areas, and scenic overlooks scattered throughout the property.
The Glens Natural Area represents the crown jewel of the park. This special zone protects ancient forests and spectacular waterfalls that have drawn nature lovers for generations.
The road provides easy access to this remarkable landscape.
Park boundaries extend well beyond what you can see from your car window. The forest continues for miles in every direction, creating habitat for black bears, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and countless smaller creatures.
Year-round access means you can experience the park during any season, though individual facilities operate on schedules that vary with weather and visitor demand throughout the calendar year.
Watch for Lake Jean
A sudden break in the trees reveals Lake Jean spreading out alongside the western edge of PA-487. This 245-acre lake creates a completely different landscape from the enclosed forest sections you’ve been driving through.
The water reflects surrounding mountains and sky, doubling the visual impact of the scenery. Sunny days turn the lake surface into a mirror, while overcast conditions give everything a moody, contemplative quality.
Beach areas and boat launches dot the shoreline where the park provides recreational access. During summer months, swimmers and paddlers enjoy the relatively warm water, while anglers try their luck year-round hoping to catch trout, bass, or panfish.
The lake itself was created in 1842 as a millpond, making it one of Pennsylvania’s older man-made water bodies. Despite its artificial origins, the lake looks perfectly natural nestled among forested hills.
Pull into one of the parking areas along this section if you want to stretch your legs or snap some photos of the water and surrounding landscape before continuing your drive northward.
Make Time for the Waterfalls
Here’s where PA-487 becomes more than just a pretty drive. Ricketts Glen’s Falls Trail system takes hikers past 22 named waterfalls tucked into the forested gorges of the Glens Natural Area.
Ganoga Falls stands out as the tallest at 94 feet. Water plunges down a sheer rock face into a pool below, creating that thundering sound and cool mist that makes waterfalls so mesmerizing to watch.
The other 21 falls each have their own personality and names. Some cascade gently over stepped rocks, while others shoot through narrow chutes or fan out across wide rock faces.
Serious hikers can see all 22 in a single loop trail that covers about seven miles.
Spring runoff and periods following heavy rain create the most impressive waterfall displays. Summer usually brings lower water levels but comfortable hiking temperatures.
Fall combines decent water flow with spectacular leaf colors that frame every cascade beautifully. Proper footwear matters here because trails cross streams and climb over rocky, often slippery terrain near the water features.
Take a Detour for Old-Growth Forest
Some trees in the Glens Natural Area have been growing for more than 300 years. These giants predate European settlement of Pennsylvania, surviving centuries while the world changed completely around them.
Walking among old-growth trees feels different from typical forest hikes. The trunks reach massive proportions, and the canopy towers so high overhead that the forest floor stays relatively open and easy to navigate.
Hemlock and white pine dominate the old-growth stands. These evergreens create year-round green that contrasts beautifully with bare hardwoods during winter months.
Their thick bark and enormous girth make them instantly recognizable as ancient specimens.
Protected status saved these trees from the logging that cleared most of Pennsylvania’s original forests. The lumber industry never reached this specific area, leaving these natural cathedrals intact for modern visitors to experience.
Scientists study these old forests to understand how original Pennsylvania ecosystems functioned before widespread human alteration. Simply standing among trees that watched centuries pass creates a humbling connection to natural history that few Pennsylvania locations can match anymore.
Stop for a Shorter Trail Adventure
Not everyone wants to tackle the challenging Falls Trail with its steep sections and hours-long commitment. Old Beaver Dam Road Trail offers a gentler alternative that still delivers forest scenery and stream crossings.
This four-mile loop follows an old roadbed through varied habitats. The relatively flat terrain makes it accessible for families with younger children or hikers who prefer easier conditions.
Stream crossings add interest without creating major obstacles. The trail passes through different forest types, from dense hemlock groves to more open mixed hardwood stands where wildflowers bloom during spring and early summer.
A small parking area along PA-487 provides trail access without requiring long walks from main park facilities. Maps posted at the trailhead help hikers orient themselves before starting out.
This route works well for morning walks before continuing your drive, or as an afternoon activity if you decide to spend more time exploring the park. The loop configuration means you end up back where you started without needing to retrace your steps or arrange vehicle shuttles like some longer trail systems require.
Enjoy the Road Beyond the Park
PA-487 keeps its scenic character long after you leave official park boundaries. The road continues northward through small rural communities that feel wonderfully removed from Pennsylvania’s urban centers.
Ricketts, Lopez, and Mildred mark tiny settlements along the route. These aren’t tourist towns with rows of shops and restaurants, but genuine rural communities where local residents quietly go about their lives.
Forest remains the dominant feature between towns. Fields and farms appear occasionally, breaking up the woodland and adding agricultural landscapes to the mountain scenery.
Old barns and farmhouses dot the hillsides, some still working and others slowly returning to nature.
The road itself stays enjoyably twisty and narrow compared to modern highways. Pavement quality remains good, but the route clearly wasn’t designed for speed or heavy traffic.
That limitation becomes an advantage for scenic drivers who appreciate roads that force slower, more observant travel. Stone walls, family cemeteries, and other historical remnants appear periodically alongside the pavement, hinting at the generations of Pennsylvanians who’ve called these mountains home since settlement times.
Know When to Slow Down
Speed isn’t the point on PA-487, especially through the steepest sections. The stretch between Red Rock and the Lake Jean area drops and climbs sharply enough that Pennsylvania officially warns heavy trailer units to find alternate routes.
Those steep grades combined with tight curves demand full attention from drivers. Looking at scenery while actively driving becomes difficult here, making pulloffs and parking areas valuable for safely enjoying views.
Brakes can overheat on long descents if you ride them continuously. Downshifting to lower gears helps control speed without overworking your brake system on the steeper sections.
Trailers and RVs face particular challenges navigating this terrain. The state recommends approaching the park from the south through Dushore if you’re pulling significant weight.
That alternate route avoids the steepest grades while still providing park access. Regular passenger vehicles handle the road fine with alert driving, but this definitely isn’t a place to rush or drive distracted.
Taking your time actually enhances the experience by allowing you to appreciate the mountain character that makes these steep, winding sections special.
