Ringing Rocks and High Falls Loop Hiking Guide
In a 128-acre Bucks County park near the Delaware River sits a field of dark boulders that ring like bells when you tap them with a hammer. A short loop from the parking lot takes in the boulder field and High Falls, the largest waterfall in the county. It is a small walk with an unusual payoff, and easy to pair with a longer hike nearby.
The Loop
Mapping apps list the Ringing Rocks loop at about 0.8 miles with around 114 feet of gain. The boulder field is a quick walk from the parking area, and the county tourism bureau describes the waterfall as about five minutes' walk beyond it through the woods. A shorter there-and-back to the rocks and falls is listed at about 0.6 miles. Anyone wanting a real workout can follow a mapped 2.6-mile route that links down to the Delaware Canal, with roughly 490 feet of gain.
Why the Rocks Ring
A state geology guide explains that the boulders are diabase, a dense igneous rock that pushed into the surrounding basin as magma about 200 million years ago. During the Ice Age, repeated freezing and thawing broke the bedrock apart and the pieces crept downhill over frozen ground, building the field. Not every rock rings; ones wedged tight can't vibrate. The field covers seven to eight acres depending on the source, with rocks stacked up to ten feet deep.
Bring a Hammer
Visitors are told to bring their own hammer, and an ordinary one works. Spend a few minutes testing rocks to find the loud ones. The boulders are uneven and slippery, especially when wet, so wear closed-toe shoes with good grip and keep small children close. Hopping across the field is the main hazard here, not the trail.
High Falls Through the Seasons
High Falls runs strongest in a wet spring, after heavy rain. By late summer it can shrink to a trickle, and in a hard winter it can freeze solid. Bucks County warns that trails here are not maintained in winter and may be icy, so traction is wise if you come to see the frozen falls.
Park Basics
The park is on Ringing Rocks Road in Upper Black Eddy and is open daily from dawn to dusk, with no admission charge. The parking area is small and can fill on weekends. Under the county park ordinance, a dog needs a leash of six feet or less plus a current license and rabies tag. Rough rock is hard on paws, so consider keeping a dog off the boulder field itself.
Hiking tips for Ringing Rocks and High Falls Loop
- Pack a hammer from home; any ordinary hammer makes the rocks ring.
- Wear closed-toe shoes with grip for hopping across the boulders.
- Visit after a wet spell in spring for the strongest flow at High Falls.
- Bring traction in winter; the county does not maintain these trails then.
- Arrive early on weekends, since the small lot fills.
Nearby trails to explore
- High Rocks Trail (Ralph Stover)
- Tyler State Park Covered Bridge Loop
- Hawk Mountain Lookout Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Ringing Rocks is the kind of oddity that's more fun with company and more than one hammer. Use TrailMates to find Philadelphia hikers heading to Ringing Rocks. Download the TrailMates app to connect.