Ringing Rocks County Park in Bucks County is one of the largest diabase rock boulder fields in the eastern United States. It’s known for its fun and relatively easy waterfall trail and, of course, the ringing rocks!
This family-friendly park is perfect for kids of all ages and a great way to introduce young children to hiking and nature and it’s one of the best places to hike in Bucks County.
We’ve been hiking here since the kids were little! The rocks are fun to climb on (and make music with), and the hiking trail leads to a fun waterfall and other cool things to explore. As one of our favorite family-friendly hikes near Philadelphia, we always recommend this hike for first-time hikers or parents with young kids.
Before you head out, read the guide below. It shares everything you need to know about Ringing Rocks County Park in Upper Black Eddy, PA.
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Where is Ringing Rocks County Park?
Ringing Rocks County Park is located in Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania. The park can sometimes be confused with Ringing Rocks Park in Pottsgrove—both feature boulder fields with rocks that ring when hit with a hammer.
Ringing Rocks County Park is about a 1.5-hour drive from Philadelphia and New York City and less than an hour from popular towns like New Hope, Doylestown, and Easton in Pennsylvania.
Geology of Ringing Rocks Boulder Field
Ringing Rocks is one of the largest diabase boulder fields in the eastern United States. Diabase rock is an intrusive igneous rock similar to basalt.
It is believed that the rocks intruded on the basin rocks in the form of magma about 200 million years ago and then cooled. From then, the rocks split into smaller pieces during the freezing and thawing processes.
Unfortunately, there is no concrete evidence of why the rocks are all gathered in one location. However, there is a theory about permafrost allowing the boulders to slide into one area.
The Best Time to Visit Ringing Rocks in Bucks County
Every season is beautiful at Ringing Rocks County Park. However, some are better than others.
Summer is the worst time to visit the park, although it’s one of the most popular. The park is more crowded, and parking can be challenging at midday. Plus, the waterfall is usually a slow dribble.
If you want a rushing waterfall, one of the best times to visit is in the winter! Though snow and ice can make access to the boulder field difficult, try not to visit immediately after a snowfall.
Spring and fall are both excellent times to visit. The crowds are low, and the waterfall is usually substantial enough to enjoy.
What To Know Before You Visit Ringing Rocks County Park
Parking
The parking lot at Ringing Rocks County Park is generous in size but can still fill up quickly due to the park’s popularity. It’s best to arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Occasionally, during the summer, the parking lot might be filled with buses from local day camps.
Amenities
Ringing Rocks is different from other Bucks County parks as the park has limited amenities.
There are two portable toilets next to the parking area and some picnic tables in the center of the circular parking lot.
Unlike the other parks, Ringing Rocks County Park has no playground area, ball fields, or paved paths.
Bring a Hammer!
Part of the fun of Ringing Rocks County Park is hitting the rocks with hammers to make them ring! A lightweight ball peen hammer will work great for kids.
Be a Responsible Visitor
Places like the Ringing Rocks County Park are popular with visitors, which can bring trash and other issues. We all need to do our part to keep our parks clean and enjoyable for all. Remember to pack out all trash (including those fruit peels) and leave behind what you found. Leave no trace so we all can enjoy these parks for years to come.
Ringing Rocks Hiking Trail and Waterfall
| Trail Location: | Ringing Rocks Rd, Upper Black Eddy, PA 18972 |
| Trail Length: | 1 mile |
| Trail Difficulty: | Easy to Moderate – The trail has some rocks to navigate around. If you want a better look at the waterfall, the steep descent to the creek bed can be tricky for some |
| Trail Type: | Loop |
| Elevation Gain: | 100 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
The hiking trail at Ringing Rocks County Parks is a 1-mile loop trail and is an easy waterfall trail near Philadelphia. The trail leads to both the boulder field and the waterfall. The route is relatively easy. However, there are many rocks along the path that you’ll have to navigate around.
Ringing Rocks Trailhead
The trailhead is at the back of the parking lot. Follow the signs to the boulder field. Even though you can access the field at several points along the loop, the quickest way to get there is to the right. While the trail is rocky at this section, it is relatively flat with no incline/decline.
Ringing Rocks Boulder Field
Ringing Rocks got its name from the sonorous rocks in the boulder field. The 8-acre boulder field is filled with rocks with a higher iron percentage than other typical igneous rocks, giving the rocks a metallic ringing sound when struck with a hammer.
While climbing on the rocks is fun, you must be careful. The boulders can shift under your feet. And if you aren’t wearing the proper footwear, you can easily slip on the rocks.
As you climb across the boulders, take the time to hit each one! Not every rock will ring. But the ones that do all make different tones. You can see some stones are more popular than others, with divots from the banging.
Waterfall at Ringing Rocks
As you continue along the trail, you’ll walk past the top of the waterfall. The waterfall usually isn’t too full. However, it can be fuller in winter, early spring, or late fall after a rainstorm. This is also where the trail can get steeper in some sections as it gets closer to the creek.
After reaching the waterfall’s top, continue along the loop trail. A short off-shoot trail leads to the creek bed, but it’s pretty steep. You can decide if you want to make the trek back up.
You’ll face a little uphill climb once you’re back on the loop trail. The trail can get muddy on this side of the boulder field. In case you didn’t stop the first time, you can also access the other side of the boulder field from this side of the trail.
Things to Do Near Ringing Rocks
After you visit Ringing Rocks County Park, you might be looking for more fun things to do in the area.
If you want more hiking and outdoorsy things to do, Nockamixon State Park is a 15-minute drive away. There are several hiking trails and other fun activities. The High Rocks Vista trail at Ralph Stover State Park is also a short drive away. Or you can walk or ride bikes along the Delaware Canal State Park towpath.
In New Jersey, the trail at Thomas F Breden Preserve across the river gives beautiful views of the Delaware River.
There are some fun small towns near Ringing Rocks County Park. Milford, NJ, is right across the river and has some great restaurants and shops. The popular Frenchtown is a 10-minute drive away.
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