There are waterfalls scattered throughout the Skylands region, but nowhere so plentiful than in the Kittatinny Mountains, where streams find their way down steep slopes to the Delaware River. Within the Kittatinny range, which parallels a forty-mile stretch of the river in Warren and Sussex Counties, are Worthington and Stokes State Forests, High Point State Park, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and State Wildlife Management areas. Several waterfalls are only a short walk away from parking areas.
At Dunnfield Creek Natural Area, part of Worthington State Forest, there is a quaint little waterfall less than a mile’s walk along the Appalachian Trail and Dunnfield Creek Trail from the parking area off of Interstate Route 80 west of exit 4. Follow the White Blazed Appalachian Trail to a fork where the green blazed Dunnfield Creek trail bears right. Continue a short distance to these falls.
Continue west on I-80 to the last exit in New Jersey at Old Mine Road and bear right to a stoplight. Travel along Old Mine Road for almost exactly four miles to a parking area on the left; the trailheads for Douglas Trail and Garvey Springs Trails. There is a waterfall on the creek here barely within sight of the road. Take a quick walk up the hill for a closer look.
Resume along the Old Mine Road for another 3.5 miles to another parking lot on the left, Copper Mines parking area. While the old mine holes are the main attraction of this area, the often overlooked little waterfalls along Coppermines Brook are worth the trip. There are two particularly nice ones at the confluence of two streams about a mile along the upper Coppermines Trail. This and the Garvey Springs Trail can also be accessed by way of the Appalachian Trail.
The Van Campen’s Glen parking area is located about 2.2 miles from the Coppermines Parking lot, on the right side of the road. The smaller of the two falls along the trail is located a very short walk from the parking area, the larger one is a bit further, still under a mile. Van Campen’s Brook carves it’s way through overhanging rocks, and just above the falls the rocks have eroded to form a natural shelf, the most beautiful example of water erosion in the state. Van Campen’s Glen Trail can also be accessed from Watergate nearer to Millbrook Village.
A right hand turn off County Rt. 615 in Sussex County onto the unmarked, unpaved Mountain Road will lead about 1.5 mile to Buttermilk Falls, the highest waterfall in New Jersey. Wooden stairs and viewing platforms on the beginning of Buttermilk Falls Trail afford excellent views of the falls from different angles. The trail continues 1.6 miles to the Appalachian Trail.
After viewing the falls, continue on Mountain Road north for under another half mile to the next bridge over a small stream. An unmarked trail along the stream leads a short distance to Hidden Falls, an aptly named narrow waterfall, also known as “Silver Sprays Falls”. Next, continue along Mountain Road for another mile, to Tillman Creek, where another unmarked trail will lead to the rocky Tillman Ravine with some small falls. There is good parking along Brink Road, the next right hand turn off Mountain Road less than a mile up.
Stokes State Forest has a nice seasonal waterfall just south of Stony Lake. From the Stokes entrance, take Coursen Road to Stony Lake, and follow the brook south to a nice little waterfall.
These modest waterfalls are beautiful sights, sculpted by the hands of nature, and nestled in an unspoiled piece of the planet. One cannot help but feel humbled in the presence of the kinetic display of the waterfall.
Guided fly fishing excursions, beginner to expert, instruction also available. Catch trout in spring, smallmouth bass in summer, ice fishing in winter. Explore the Paulinskill, Flatbrook and wild trout streams.
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