Swimming directory

Listing correction

Little Shickshinny Creek Falls: Swimming Prohibited

Wilkes Barre, Sugar Notch, Shickshinny, PA

Do not swim here

58 Pa. Code 135.2(4) prohibits swimming on Commission-controlled waters unless the specified permission is granted. No exception or site permission was found for this listing.

We previously described this location as a swimming spot. That recommendation was incorrect. We have removed it from our swimming recommendations, directory results, and swimming maps. This page remains available to correct that information for anyone following an older link.

Do not treat older directions, photographs, or reports of people swimming as permission to enter the water. Check the managing authority's current notices and obey all posted access restrictions, including any park or trail closures.

Visit for waterfall scenery, not swimming

Pennsylvania’s tourism guide places Little Shickshinny Falls in State Game Lands 260. The Commission-controlled waters rule prohibits swimming without the specified permission. No site exception was established. This page is retained to correct the old swimming recommendation and help visitors plan a viewing hike.

Check clothing requirements before hiking

The State Game Lands rule specifies fluorescent-orange clothing or an orange hat for non-hunting visitors during October 1 through January 31 and April 20 through May 31. Read the full rule for requirements and exceptions, and check current closures before setting out.

Use maps without treating them as live conditions

The 2014 Game Commission map provides access background, but is not a current trail-status report. Confirm permitted parking and follow current signs. The retained map point is an area reference, not a surveyed trailhead. Carry water and allow for wet footing; a short walk is not necessarily an accessible route.

Enjoy the gallery from a safe viewing position

Four reviewed, people-free images show waterfall, dam and creek scenery. Pool depth and flow cannot be judged safely from photos. Keep back from ledges and dam structures, and do not enter the water for a photograph.

A closer look

4photos

Photos show past visits, not current water levels or swimming conditions. Select a photo to view it larger.

Little Shickshinny Falls flowing between layered rock walls beneath autumn trees
Little Shickshinny Falls flowing between layered rock walls beneath autumn treesView source listing (opens a new tab)
Water spilling over a dam in the Little Shickshinny Creek photo collection, shown as scenery rather than swimming access
Water spilling over a dam in the Little Shickshinny Creek photo collection, shown as scenery rather than swimming accessView source listing (opens a new tab)
Woodland creek with moss-covered rocks and fallen branches in the Little Shickshinny Falls photo collection
Woodland creek with moss-covered rocks and fallen branches in the Little Shickshinny Falls photo collectionView source listing (opens a new tab)
Close view of water flowing beside a concrete block and dark rock in the Little Shickshinny Creek photo collection
Close view of water flowing beside a concrete block and dark rock in the Little Shickshinny Creek photo collectionView source listing (opens a new tab)

Photos of Little Shickshinny Creek Falls

Photos show past visits, not current water levels, water quality or swimming permission. Check the listing's access notes before planning a visit.

Open full-size image (new tab)Source listing (new tab)

Visitor questions

Can I swim at Little Shickshinny Falls?

Swimming is prohibited on Commission-controlled waters without the specified permission. No site exception was verified, so this directory does not recommend swimming here.

Do I need orange clothing for a viewing hike?

During the dates specified by 58 Pa. Code 135.41(c)(21), non-hunting visitors must follow its fluorescent-orange clothing or hat requirements. Consult the linked rule for details and exceptions.

Does the map pin mark a verified trailhead?

No. It is a retained area reference. Use the official map and current signs to confirm a permitted approach and parking.

Why keep this page if swimming is restricted?

It corrects the historical swimming recommendation while providing a useful waterfall-viewing guide and scenic gallery.

Official sources

Rules checked: