Ringing Rocks Park
Grab a hammer and join me for a visit to Ringing Rocks County Park located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, not far from the Milford Bridge!
This small but unique park is best known for its boulder field featuring rocks that “ring” when hit with a hammer. The first time we visited, I made the mistake of bringing dollar store mallets, as we made the decision to visit last minute and that’s what was available. Unfortunately, you really need a traditional hammer with a metal head. Our tire iron worked in a pinch, but I don’t recommend it. On a more recent visit, my husband tried a metal-headed mallet, and even that did not produce the same results as a traditional hammer. We noticed someone nearby using a toddler-size metal hammer and I felt like that produced the best sounds of all.
The parking lot is small and the park is popular, so I recommend arriving early especially if you plan to visit on the weekend. We had some rain the day before our visit and were pleasantly surprised to find the parking lot and trail to not be too muddy. There are several picnic tables in the center of the parking area and two porta-potties as well. There are no other facilities at this park, so plan accordingly.
The loop trail that encompasses the entire boulder field, and features a waterfall is about a mile long, making this an easy park to explore with kids. When we first visited my youngest was too little to venture into the boulder field, but was happy climbing on fallen trees and smaller rocks close to the loop trail. On our most recent visit, the entire family was able to explore the boulder field together.
The boulders are uneven and can be loose in spots. They are also surprisingly more difficult to navigate than I had anticipated. We have done hikes with rock scrambles, but the way these are situated makes you feel like you can just hop from one to another without much effort, but in reality, it is a lot of ups and downs and having your feet wedged in spots at weird angles. I definitely felt it in my 42-year-old knees and ankles the next day. I later read that hiking poles can be a big help when navigating boulder fields. We opted to scramble, using our hands to help us navigate when necessary. Just be warned that this expends much more energy than a traditional hike, but it’s totally worth it!
The Boulder Field at Ringing Rocks, a Bucks County Park located in Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania.
You can easily spot the best ringing rocks, as they have been worn away in spots from years of ringing. There are some just off the trail, but we found the “better” rocks to be further out in the boulder field. My kids were fascinated with the ringing rocks and spent over an hour, scrambling from rock to rock, testing out the different sounds they made. In all honesty, I think I enjoyed it as much as they did.
In addition to packing your hammer, I would recommend sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat. Boulder fields are just that, a giant field of boulders with no relief from the sun. We tend to visit on warmer winter days, but even then the sun can get intense. In the summer season, I could see it becoming unbearable. The sunglasses serve a dual purpose, both to protect your eyes from the sun, but also to protect them from the shards of rock that can fly when ringing the rocks with your hammer. Kids especially tend to ring the rocks with quite a bit of force and mine soon learned that means spraying yourself with shrapnel.
Once you have had your fill of ringing, head back to the loop trail and continue down to the waterfall. It is not a large or particularly impressive waterfall, but I have yet to meet a waterfall I didn’t like. There is a larger pool-like area just before the top of the falls, where it looked like people wade in warmer weather. There were also several spots near the falls where you could easily take a break and enjoy a snack or picnic before heading back to the car.
If your kids still have energy to burn, consider a stop at Kids Castle or Lion’s Pride Park! Both are fun and unique Bucks County playgrounds that make a great day-trip stop. If you loved the boulder field and would like to experience an even larger one, check out Hickory Run State Park in the Poconos. They have a huge boulder field as well as a variety of other types of recreation.
Check out our social media channels for videos of our visit. If you visit Ringing Rocks County Park, be sure to share your experience with us on Facebook, Instagram or Tik Tok and tag us @thefourmillionmilefamily.
