Brandywine Gorge Loop

Brandywine Gorge Loop is a 1.4-mile clockwise loop from Brandywine Falls Trailhead, circling the wooded ravine carved by Brandywine Creek and bringing you back to the Falls-area upper boardwalk. The route is mostly unpaved, hilly and rocky, with about 160 feet of elevation change. Plan on about an hour of walking; pause longer at the viewpoints. It is a compact walk with real ups and downs, not just the short, level path to the Falls overlook.

Start at the Falls lot and head toward the boardwalk; turn left just before it to enter the loop. The trail follows the gorge edge before descending to creek level. A footbridge carries you across Brandywine Creek; the opposite bank climbs back through the woods. The return passes the Inn at Brandywine Falls and crosses back toward the waterfall before reaching the upper boardwalk and parking. Keep right at intersections and use the park map: several trails share this area, and a wrong turn can send you onto a connector instead of around the loop. Sturdy walking shoes suit the rocky tread.

The upper boardwalk gives a close view of Brandywine Falls. It is a separate short walk from the lot and is wheelchair-accessible; the full gorge loop is not. An optional lower viewing deck brings you nearer the water but requires about 80 steps and is not included in the loop distance. The route is rated moderate: its short mileage is offset by a steep drop to the creek, a climb back out and uneven, rocky footing. Leashed pets are permitted on park trails with a leash no longer than six feet.

Brandywine Creek carved the ravine and the waterfall through layered rock. Hard Berea Sandstone caps softer Bedford and Cleveland shales, which formed from ancient sea-floor mud; the sandstone grains accumulated in an older sea. The gorge’s damp conditions support moss on the rock and eastern hemlocks along the creek. Spring pools can form in low spots and attract breeding salamanders, while red maples bring fall color. The waterfall’s veil is more pronounced when its flow is lower, and runoff after storms can swell it.

In 1814, George Wallace built a sawmill above the Falls; grist and woolen mills followed, and a village grew around the creek’s power. Much of the settlement later disappeared during construction of Interstate 271. The James Wallace house, built by George’s son, survives as the Inn at Brandywine Falls, which the trail passes.

The trailhead has restrooms and drinking water with a bottle-filling station. The shared parking lot has limited spaces, no overflow, and often fills between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on fair-weather summer days; arrive earlier or later and do not park on the road. The Falls area closes at dusk.