By ALISON MITCHELL
Executive director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation
Of the hundreds of fantastic outdoor places to visit in New Jersey, some of the prettiest are the state’s waterfalls.
New Jersey is in a watery peninsula surrounded on one side by the Atlantic Ocean and on the other by the Delaware River and Delaware Bay. Its interior is crossed by countless rivers, streams, creeks and brooks. And where there are waterways, there are often waterfalls.
Not surprisingly, most of the state’s waterfalls are found in the rugged, mountainous Highlands region. Some are only a short walk from roads and parking areas, while others are farther. Here are some to visit:
Paterson Great Falls: The best-known of New Jersey waterfalls and one of the few located in an urban setting. Great Falls is the East Coast’s second largest waterfall behind Niagara, and the centerpiece of the recently established Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park. The roaring waters of the 77-foot waterfall once powered mills and industry.
Buttermilk Falls: Great Falls may be the state’s largest, but Buttermilk Falls in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is the highest at 200 feet. The waterfall cascades down a series of rocky ledges in the Kittatinny Mountains and is easily accessible only a few steps from a parking lot.
Tillman Ravine: If you’re visiting Buttermilk Falls, check out Tillman Ravine at the same time. It’s a beautiful natural area only about 3.5 miles away in Stokes State Forest. Hike through a shady hemlock forest to follow the Tillman as it drops over falls and through flumes and chutes.
Chikahoki Falls and Otter Hole: Norvin Green State Forest in Passaic County is known for its spectacular mountain views and views of the New York City skyline. Nearby Chikahoki Falls and Otter Hole are added attractions.
Apshawa Falls: These smaller falls are part of a hike in the Apshawa Preserve in West Milford that also features scenic overlooks, a former water-supply reservoir nestled in a ring of mountains, a dam with cascading water and the ruins of an old water purification system.
Greenbrook Falls: Rocky cliffs towering over the Hudson River, and waterfalls, too? That’s what you’ll find at the Greenbrook Sanctuary, a 165-acre woodland preserve on top of the Palisades in Tenafly and Alpine, Bergen County. The waterfalls can be seen from several overlooks above the Hudson.
Hemlock Falls: The South Mountain Reservation is the largest park in Essex County’s system, a green oasis in an urbanized area. It’s an easy walk from the road to this beautiful 25-foot waterfall and you can hike around it on a loop trail.
Boonton Falls: The Rockaway River cascades through Boonton and once provided power to the town’s iron industry. Located just outside Boonton’s downtown area, Grace Lord Park includes the large Boonton Falls as well as a smaller waterfall.
Bridal Veil Falls: Located just inside the grounds of William Paterson College in North Haledon, Bridal Veil Falls is located in an old sandstone quarry. A trail passes behind that enables visitors to stand in a cave behind the falling water.
Tinton Falls: Tinton Falls – for which the Monmouth County town was named – is a small gem that can be viewed from a wooden overlook platform off Tinton Avenue. Tinton Falls once powered mills, but is now a quiet spot that can be a refreshing change for vacationers.
A great time for a waterfall hike is a day or two after a heavy rainfall. Cascades that are merely pretty in dry weather can quickly become spectacular after a good soaking.
For more information, maps and detailed hike descriptions, visit the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference website at www.nynjtc.org.
