Sand Run Falls and the Gorges of Babb Creek-Tioga State Forest

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Yellow are the unblazed but well established trails.  Orange is the Mid State Trail.

The eastern part of the Tioga State Forest is not as famous as the Pine Creek Gorge, but it has remarkable natural beauty. Here you will find impressive gorges and waterfalls. No hiker should miss Sand Run Falls and the gorges of Babb Creek.

Most people hike into Sand Run Falls along the Mid State Trail from SR 2016. While that is a great hike, there is a much shorter and arguably more scenic route along an unblazed but obvious trail from Landrus Road. The pull off parking is marked with a tree painted with a variety of colors. The trail starts just down the road and descends along switchback to the bottom of the valley. Hike through a grove of ironwood trees and reach Lick Run. You will need to make two stream crossings without bridges. Expect wet feet in higher water.

The trail continues up along Babb Creek and it is beautiful, passing under hemlocks and above the creek, which is often framed with cliffs and ledges. Climb gradually up the stream valley and reach thicker hemlocks and some wet areas. Babb Creek hides from view, flowing in a gorge.

Reach a place where the trail splits; I took the left trail which drops down a steep slope with a rope to Babb Creek. The beauty is amazing with gorges and cliffs, no more than 50 feet deep. Springs tumbled down the ledges. I hiked up along Babb Creek, passing an impressive grotto to the right with a falls. I continued and crossed Sand Run to take in the beauty of San Run Falls.

This is a gorgeous falls set in an impressive gorge with incredible campsites. The roar of water surrounded me, confined within the gorge walls. I felt as if I were within a hidden world. I climbed a trail up a steep slope on the north side of the gorge and turned left onto the orange blazed Mid State Trail (MST). The MST is an awesome hiking trail through this area, offering views down into the gorges. The trail descended to Babb Creek above a bedrock slide and waterfalls downstream. Do not cross here in high water. The MST climbed a ridge with views of another falls on a tributary. I hiked the MST to where it crossed the tributary, where I turned around.

Back at the Babb Creek crossing, I went off trail and hiked up Babb Creek. I highly recommend you do this if the water isn’t high. The beauty is amazing with several bedrock slides, pools, cascades, and gorges. This section has attracted the attention of whitewater kayakers (see the video below).

I then turned around and hiked the MST back the way I came. I stayed on the MST as it crossed above Sand Run Falls. I then hiked off trail up Sand Run to see more gorges, cascades, pools, and rapids. This area is incredible. I returned to the MST, hiked down it for a short distance, and then turned right off the MST and onto the unblazed trail.   I then retraced my steps back to the car.

This hike is about 1.5 miles, one way. It is moderate in difficulty and there are some steep slopes. Do not attempt in high water as there are no bridges.

I parked at approximately 41.653248, -77.193058.

Photos and videos:

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Falls in a grotto, this is just off the Mid State Trail.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Apr 16, 2019 at 1:06pm PDT

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Approaching Sand Run Falls. The Mid State Trail is above the falls.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Apr 16, 2019 at 1:53pm PDT

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Sand Run Falls.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Apr 16, 2019 at 3:25pm PDT

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Profile of Sand Run Falls, it was roaring.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Apr 16, 2019 at 4:50pm PDT

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Sand Run Falls. The Babb Creek area is a hidden gem.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Apr 16, 2019 at 5:00pm PDT

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The Mid State Trail along Sand Run and Babb Creek is absolutely beautiful. Hike it.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Apr 16, 2019 at 5:07pm PDT

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Babb Creek is a stream of incredible beauty with many bedrock slides. Mid State Trail.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Apr 16, 2019 at 5:51pm PDT

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Crossing Babb Creek on the Mid State Trail. No bridge equals wet feet.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Apr 17, 2019 at 1:41pm PDT

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Another falls on a trib to Babb Creek along the Mid State Trail. Tioga State Forest.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Apr 17, 2019 at 1:45pm PDT

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More bedrock slides, Babb Creek, Mid State Trail. Tioga State Forest.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Apr 17, 2019 at 1:49pm PDT

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Babb Creek wonderland. So much beauty in the PA Wilds. Mid State Trail, Tioga State Forest.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Apr 17, 2019 at 2:02pm PDT

From scott.martin.images:

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Yesterday made me grateful for public lands and the access we have to enjoy them! Seriously, this valley is stunning!!! Got to kayak a very seldom visited creek tucked away in the Tioga State Forest as well as another classic. Great day out with the boys, sun came out and many laughs were enjoyed. #pyranhakayaks #gopro #whitewaterismagic #conservationalliance #drawntowater #publiclands #visitpa

A post shared by Scott Martin | Photographer (@scott.martin.images) on Apr 21, 2019 at 8:26am PDT