Ganoga Falls, 94 feet, the tallest waterfall in the park and the centerpiece of the hike — the meaning of its name, and a firm caution to view it from the trail and never climb on or near it.
And here it is — the one you came to see. Ganoga Falls. Ninety-four feet of water dropping in a single magnificent plunge — the tallest waterfall in the entire park, and the crown jewel of this whole trail. Stop here. Stand on the trail, look up the full height of it, feel the cool air and the mist coming off the pool, and just take it in for a minute. Photos never quite catch the scale; you have to stand under it to feel it.
The name Ganoga is said to come from a Native word meaning "water on the mountain" — and there is no better description of the whole place than that. It was suggested to Colonel Ricketts by a Pennsylvania senator, and Ricketts liked it enough that he named his home lake up on the plateau Ganoga too. Boone will have more on the names.
Now — I have to be firm with you right here, because this beautiful spot is one of the most dangerous on the trail. Do NOT climb up toward the base of this falls, and do not climb out onto the rocks beside it. This is exactly the kind of place where people have been badly hurt and killed, going out onto wet rock for a closer look or a better photo and losing their footing. Ninety-four feet is a long way, and the rock up there is soaked and slick. The view from the trail is the whole show — it's spectacular, and it's safe. Keep your feet on the trail, keep the kids close, and when you've drunk it in, we climb on toward the top of the glen.
Photo: Juliancolton · Public domain
