Hells Hollow Falls

Worth a detour

Is it plungeworthy?

12feet tall

A 3-tier waterfall on Hell Run.

Scale27/60

Documentation15/20

Character14/20

The details

Tiers: 3 drops
Watercourse: Hell Run
Coordinates: 40.92951, -80.2318

Get directions →

About Hells Hollow Falls

Hells Hollow Falls is a 12-foot waterfall in Pennsylvania, on Hell Run. The water falls in 3 distinct tiers.

It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.

Plungeworthy rates Hells Hollow Falls 5.6/10 — worth a detour. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

What you'll find

A limestone falls with a 19th-century lime kiln for a neighbor: Hell Run slides 10-and-some feet through a sinkhole-pocked hollow in McConnells Mill State Park's quiet western wing, down a flat half-mile path that ends at a wooden staircase to the base.

Getting there

Trailhead: Hell's Hollow trailhead lot, western section of McConnells Mill State Park, Portersville
Parking: Small free lot
Road: Paved park roads
Hike: 1 mi round trip (easy)
Heads up: The restored lime kiln beside the trail is the history bonus; the main park's covered bridge and gorge are a short drive east.

When to go

Spring for the strongest flow — Hell Run is small and honest about it; the kiln and hollow carry a low-water visit.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: None — PA state parks are free
Dogs: Leashed
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Camping: None in the park; Moraine State Park next door
Warnings: Wet rock at the base and an icy staircase in winter. The park's drowning warnings belong to Slippery Rock Creek in the main gorge — different water, same respect.

Researched from PA DCNR — McConnells Mill State Park · Uncovering PA — Hell's Hollow Falls. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Hells Hollow Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.

Where it is

Planning a visit? We want your photo.

Hells Hollow Falls doesn't have a photo yet. If you make the trip, send one to hello@plungeworthy.com and we'll publish it here with credit to you.

Before you go

The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.