What if your next Pennsylvania road trip came with thundering waterfalls by day and glasses of locally made wine by afternoon?
This route pairs some of the state’s most impressive cascades with wineries pouring everything from crisp Riesling to Cabernet Franc and unique European varieties.
Along the way, you’ll hike through deep forest, cross wooden bridges, wander between rows of grapevines, and kick back on patios with gorgeous views.
So if you’re ready for muddy hiking shoes, waterfall photos, and well-earned wine tastings, keep reading to plan your Pennsylvania waterfalls and wineries road trip.
1. Penns Woods Winery
Penns Woods Winery sits on a 30-acre property in Chadds Ford, offering a relaxing stop among the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley.
It is known for Pennsylvania-grown wines, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Chambourcin, with each bottle showcasing the region’s flavors.
Enjoy a tasting or glass in the Tasting Room, or settle into the lawn seating when it’s open for the season and spend some time soaking up the vineyard views.
Bonus: Penns Woods also hosts seasonal events like live music, vineyard tours, puppy yoga, and harvest celebrations, adding even more fun to your visit.
2. Raymondskill Falls
Now drive 2.5 hours from the vineyards to Raymondskill Falls, a rushing waterfall in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area near Milford.
This three-tier waterfall drops about 150 feet from top to bottom, making it the state’s tallest waterfall when all three sections are measured together.
For a closer look at the cascades, hike the steep 0.5-mile Raymondskill Falls Trail, which gains about 115 feet and leads to two viewing platforms.
The rocks near the falls can be dangerously slippery, so stick to the marked paths and save your energy for the uphill climb after taking those waterfall photos.
3. Bushkill Falls
Next, head to Bushkill Falls, a privately owned Pocono Mountains attraction where eight waterfalls flow through a scenic network of forest trails and wooden bridges.
The star is 100-foot Main Falls, but you can also hunt down Bridal Veil Falls, Bridesmaid’s Falls, Laurel Glen, Pennell Falls, and Lower Gorge Falls along the way.
To explore them, choose from four color-coded hiking routes, from the 15-minute Green Trail to the 2-mile Red Trail, a two-hour hike that takes you past all eight.
You’ll need to pay admission, but the maintained trails, overlooks, wooden bridges, fishing spots, and snack bar make it an easy place to spend a few hours.
4. Galen Glen Winery
Just 80 minutes from Bushkill Falls is Galen Glen Winery in Andreas, where grapevines cover rolling hills near the base of the Pocono Mountains.
This family-run winery specializes in cool-climate grapes like Riesling and Gewürztraminer, with Grüner Veltliner standing out as one of its signature wines.
For a taste, settle in for a 30- to 45-minute guided tasting indoors, and if you time your visit right, you can head outside for a bite from a local food truck.
Altogether, it’s a beautiful, laid-back stop that gives you time to slow down and recharge before getting back to the waterfall trails.
5. Ricketts Glen State Park
Once you’ve sampled Galen Glen’s wines, drive 1.5 hours to Ricketts Glen State Park, which covers 13,193 acres across Luzerne, Sullivan, and Columbia counties.
Here, an old-growth forest surrounds 22 named waterfalls along Kitchen Creek, including 94-foot Ganoga Falls, the tallest in the park.
If you want to see them all, hike the challenging 7.2-mile Falls Trail loop, or opt for a shorter route if you’d rather avoid some of the steep climbs and slick rocks.
You can also swim at the 245-acre Lake Jean beach, camp overnight, fish, paddle, or return in autumn when colorful leaves frame the waterfalls.
6. Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery
After all that hiking, give your legs a break with a 2-hour drive to Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery on the southern slopes of Mount Nittany near Centre Hall.
This family-owned winery has been making wine since 1990, with everything from Chardonnay, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc to fruit-forward and sweeter pours.
When you’re ready for a taste, join a wine tasting with your choice of pondside seating, a covered deck, indoor seating, or an outdoor pavilion near the fire pit.
Spanning 60 acres with a six-acre vineyard and spring-fed pond, the property offers a peaceful setting that makes it easy to lose track of time.
7. Cucumber Falls, Ohiopyle State Park
With your Mount Nittany wine tasting complete, head to Ohiopyle State Park, where 36-foot Cucumber Falls drops over a wide sandstone ledge into a rocky gorge.
From the Cucumber Falls parking area, follow an easy, well-marked 0.3-mile trail along Cucumber Run to reach the waterfall overlook.
For a closer view, continue down the steeper, rockier trail to the base, where the falls are especially impressive in spring and after heavy rain.
Once you’re at the bottom, you can cool off in the shallow pool or carefully make your way behind the rushing water to snap some scenic photos.
8. Stone Villa Wine Cellars
Lastly, slow things down with a 45-minute drive from Cucumber Falls to Stone Villa Wine Cellars in Acme, tucked in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands.
The winery produces over 20 wines, from bold Cabernet Sauvignon Unfiltered and refreshing Pinot Grigio to seasonal Villa Spring and a variety of fruity blushes.
Order a glass at the tasting bar or grab a bottle and head to the patio, where you can enjoy pond views, covered seating, and live music on select weekends.
It’s an easy place to relax, snack, and compare favorite pours while looking back on all the waterfalls, vineyards, and scenic stops along the way.
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