Ralph Stover State Park High Rocks Hike

Ralph Stover State Park High Rocks Hike

The High Rocks hike at Ralph Stover State Park offers scenic cliffside views of Tohickon Creek and quintessential Bucks County scenery. This hike is a local's favorite.

Rating:

4.5 / 5

Distance:

2.7 miles (4.3 km)

Time:

1:30 hours

Difficulty:

Easy

Climbing:

690 ft (210 m)

Trail Condition:

Blazed Trails

Challenges:

None

People:

Moderately busy

Known For:

Cliff Views, Creek Views

Best Time:

Any time

Dogs:

Leashed

Bathrooms:

Yes

Parking:

Free

Trailhead:

5987 State Park Rd, Plumstead Township, PA, 18947, USA

Park Website:

Ralph Stover State Park

Phone:

Hike Weather:

Plumstead Township, PA

In this Guide:

→ Trail Maps
→ Gear Recommendations
→ Turn-by-Turn Directions
→ Hike Video

High Rocks Hike Trail Maps

Google Maps trailhead:
5987 State Park Rd, Plumstead Township, PA, 18947, USA

ralph stover state park high rocks hike location — Ralph Stover State Park is about 80 minutes from Philadelphia, 100 minutes from New York, 60 minutes from Allentown, and 25 minutes from New Hope, PA.

ralph stover state park high rocks hike 3d map — The hike follows the cliffs above Tohickon Creek and then gently descends. Once you get to the creek, you go back the way you came.

ralph stover state park high rocks hike elevation — There's a little climb in the beginning, then you gently descend along the cliff down to Tohickon creek.

Interactive Map

Click Here To Load Map

High Rocks Hike Map Downloads

hiking map on garmin fenix 3

If you have GPS device (I use this one by Garmin and I love it) for your hike, load the GPX file below into your device to navigate the hike. For help on loading the GPX file, read this article on converting and transferring to a Garmin GPS.

Also, don't rely on electronics as your sole means of navigation. There's a basic printable PDF map below, and I strongly picking up a good topo map too.

View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

Gear for the High Rocks Hike

camelback fourteener 24

The best hydration daypack out there. The CamelBak Fourteener has been perfect on hikes of all distances (including Mt Whitney and Cactus to Clouds). It's light, has plenty of room for snacks, extra layers, hiking gear, and comes with a 3 liter water bladder. I also like the raised sweat pads on the back that keep your back dry. It's the perfect blend of high-tech, durability, and simplicity. I've got hundreds of hours on it and still love it.

CamelBak Fourteener Reviews

recommended hiking boot

My favorite hiking boot of all time. The La Sportiva Synthesis (for women and men) are waterproof, super-light, have incredible grip, and won a Backpacker Magazine Editor's Choice Award (my review here). I've gone through a lot of boots and these are my favorite. They feel like comfortable sneakers with the protection of hiking boots.

La Sportiva Hiking Boot Reviews

Don't hike without this in your backpack. It's a GPS emergency beacon and can save your life (more on that here). On the trail, you're often out of cell phone range, and even something as simple as a twisted ankle could become a life and death situation. This beacon works where cell phones don't and is the size of a fist. Just press a button and help is on the way. Your life is worth every penny.

ACR GPS Beacon Reviews

Be prepared! My complete list of hiking gear and survival kit contents is here, check it out!

Help support this site by checking out REI outlet for great gear for a fraction of the full price.

High Rocks Hike Directions

What to Expect

The High Rocks hike follows along a (fenced) 200 foot sheer rock face cliff overlooking Tohickon Creek, eventually reaching the creek itself.
The argillite and shale cliffs are popular with climbers. You may notice ropes tied off along the cliff edge as you hike.
Tohickon Creek (Lenape for “Deer-Bone-Creek”) is a popular whitewater kayaking spot when spring rains flood it. Occasionally they release water from Lake Nockamixon, another popular time for kayakers.
The High Rocks section of Ralph Stover State Park was donated in 1956 by James A. Michener, author of books such as Alaska and Texas. The original park dates to 1931.
There are a few ways to start this hike. These hike directions start at a big lot with bathrooms. Be sure to use the address in this post. Map programs could take you to the other parking areas.

Turn by Turn Hike Directions

high rocks hike parking — The parking lot is pretty big. Use my trailhead address to get to this parking area. There’s a sign at the road into the lot, but no ‘official’ Google address for it.

high rocks hike bathrooms — There are bathrooms in the parking lot, as well as a picnic area.

high rocks hike start — The High Rocks hike starts at the bridge on the far end of the parking lot. Ignore the closed sign, it’s only for cars. Unless you weigh over 10 tons.

high rocks hike bridge — The bridge is pretty cool. Head across it and make sure to look over the side at the creek.

high rocks hike paved road — Go through the gate on the other side of the bridge and walk up the paved road.

high rocks hike side trail — Right after you start up the road, there’s a trail leading to the creek on the right. Stay on the road.

high rocks hike road — The road goes through a residential area. Keep your eyes open for cars.

high rocks hike right turn — At about 0.5 miles, look for the hidden trail start on the right, after the sign.

high rocks hike trail start — The start of the trail is easy to miss. This is what it looks like. There should be a yellow blaze but it might be faint.

high rocks hike trail — After a minute or two the trail becomes much more defined.

high rocks hike trail yellow blaze — Look for a yellow blaze as you continue.

A note about the blazes. There’s a white blaze, yellow blaze, and red dot blaze. The trails here used to be marked much better, but these days they’ve been spotty. In general you want to follow the yellow blaze, but these directions are more precise. Stick to these directions or the GPX file if in doubt.

high rocks hike trail goes left — At about .7 miles stay left on the upper cliff. The trail to the right goes down to the creek. Not for us on this hike.

high rocks hike trail — The trail is well defined. Continue hiking straight. You’ll see some yellow blazes again.

high rocks hike trail junction — Continue straight through the junction.

Argillite Overlook sign — The trail comes to a sign for the Argillite Overlook. Follow the arrow and make the hard right to the overlook.

fence on high rocks hike — The hard right brings you down to the fence by the cliff.

fence on high rocks hike — Head up to the edge of the fence.

high rocks hike views — The views off of High Rocks are great. Take it all in.

fence on the side of cliff — Continue hiking along the fence on the side of the cliff.

high rocks hike trail sign — As you hike this stretch, there are lots of view opportunities. Heed the signs and don’t go over the fence.

Tohickon Creek — You’ll start to see Tohickon Creek from the High Rocks Vista as you hike along the cliff.

rock climbing ropes — Keep your eyes on the ground. You’ll see ropes from the folks doing rock climbing.

trail turns left away from the cliff — Eventually the trail turns left away from the cliff. Follow the trail.

high rocks hike trail goes right — Soon after, the trail dead ends. Hike to the right.

high rocks hike trail descends — The trail meanders through the woods and starts to descend.

high rocks hike trail splits — When the trail splits just after 1 mile, stay right along the cliff.

high rocks hike trail — Continue down the trail as it continues downhill.

high rocks hike trail goes right — At about 1.1 miles, bear to the right.

high rocks hike trail — Continue hiking downhill.

high rocks hike trail left turn — At about 1.2 miles, the trail splits again. Stay to the left this time.

high rocks hike trail right turn — Just after 1.3 miles, bear right at the split.

high rocks hike trail — The trail is well marked and continues downhill.

high rocks hike trail hard right — Almost there! At about 1.5 miles you reach a big clearing. Make the hard right to head down to the creek.

trail to Tohickon Creek — The trail goes steeply down to Tohickon Creek.

Tohickon Creek — You made it! This is Tohickon Creek. Look for fish in the crystal clear water. In addition to bass, catfish, and perch, the state stocks the creek with trout.

cris hazzard at Tohickon Creek — Take a break, soak it in, and go back the way you came. Hope you enjoy the hike!

High Rocks Hike Video

Click Here To Load Video

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel here!

Washington Crossing State Park Hike to Bowmans Tower

This easy hike takes you to Bowman’s Tower, through Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, and then ends at historic soldier graves from 1776 at Washington Crossing State Park. It’s a great hike with tons to see in a short distance.

The Modern Hiking Essentials

The 10 hiking essentials are the recommended key survival tools that hikers should bring with them on every hike. The original 10 essentials date back the 1930s. Here’s my take on the modern hiking essentials and how to use them.

About Hiking Guy (aka Cris Hazzard)

I’m Hiking Guy, aka Cris Hazzard. I like to get outdoors, walk, and then write about it. It wasn’t always like that though.

Hiking Near Philadelphia

I spent a lot of my childhood enjoying the hiking near Philadelphia. There are not a ton of options in Philadelphia itself, but head about 30 minutes out of the city and you have a ton of options. The hiking near Philadelphia tends to be full of wildlife, lush vegetation, and have easy to follow trails.

A quick note. These directions are meant as a guide for the hike, and not a definitive source. Conditions change, and the information here can be different based on time of day, weather, season, etc. There can be small side trails that you might see but I missed. I have made every effort to include all the information you need to complete the hike successfully. I recommend using this guide in conjunction with a map, GPX file, common sense, and call to the ranger station or park office. If you do the hike and notice something has changed, please contact me and I will update the guide.