<<<Best Hikes in NJ
Hike Info:
Buttermilk Falls, Crater Lake,
Hemlock Pond
Delaware Water Gap
Summary: This route starts at NJ’s highest waterfall, Buttermilk Falls. The falls are 200’ high and requires no hiking to see it, but elaborate stairs can be climbed to get other views. Head steeply uphill to meet up with the Appalachian Trail to Crater Lake, then to Hemlock Pond. There are some limited views along the Buttermilk Falls trail.
7.4 miles – Moderate trail surface; steep in the beginning (so again at the end), some rocky sections but also a lot of really easy woods roads.
As noted
in the description below, the portion of this route that loops
around Crater Lake is poorly blazed and can be confusing. (the loop is a woods
roads that is marked with ORANGE blazes); be sure to have the Kittatinny
Trails Map Set 
Shorter options:
-
Super short: Just climb up the stairs around the falls and enjoy. You can continue on the BLUE trail at top, but be aware it is quite steep right from the start and more than a stroll in the woods. Consider stopping at Tillman Ravine on the way to the Falls and doing a couple mile hike around there, and then stopping at Buttermilk for a look.
-
Medium: Buttermilk Falls trail to an unmarked woods road to Hemlock Pond and return.
Map: Map# 121 of the "Kittatinny
Trails"
Parking: Rt. 206 N, past Culver’s Lake. Left onto Struble Road. This becomes Dimon Road. Pass two parking areas on the left for Tillman Ravine. At the intersection, turn left onto Mountain Road and pass Walpack Cemetery. Keep goingon Mountain Road until you see a large dirt lot on your right, the falls on are the left right next to the road and can’t be missed.
Alt: Parking can be approached from the other direction through Rt 602 through Millbrook, although the 206 way is easier.
Restrooms: None at the Falls parking. If you approach from Rt. 206, there are outhouses at the two Tillman Ravine parking lots on Mountain Rd, there could be others we didn’t take note of. If you approach from the other direction, there are portas at Millbrook, and restrooms when it’s open.
During the hike there are two composting toilets in the parking lot at Crater Lake.
Books: An excellent guide to all of the trails in the region
is "Kittatinny
Trails"
Hike Directions: Climb the stairs to the top of the falls and cross a wooden footbridge.
Follow the BLUE (Buttermilk Falls Trail) markers. Immediately the trail is quite steep.
The trail levels off some onto a rocky footpath, then arrives at a bit of a ridge with limited views.
1.0 mile – Woods Road crosses the trail to the left and right. Continue straight on BLUE. [variation: turn right here and follow the woods road to Hemlock Pond]
Trail continues to head steeply up, over some rock slabs.
1.6 miles – BLUE ends at the AT. Turn RIGHT here, now following the WHITE blazes of the AT.
2.5 miles – Junction with ORANGE (Crater Lake) trail. The Crater Lake trail is a woods road that circles Crater Lake to the east, as well as going west from this point to Hemlock Pond. The trail is intermittantly blazed with ORANGE so it can be confusing. It may appear that you are walking along an unmarked woods road at times.
At this junction, the ORANGE trail leads to Crater Lake in two directions, as it completes it's loop around the lake. For this hike, continue south on the AT (WHITE), which will first take you away from the lake.
2.8 miles – Follow the AT(WHITE) blazes as the trail bears to the right, to a little bit of a view.
2.9 miles - The AT (WHITE) curves around and you end up back at ORANGE. The ORANGE blazes along here are hard to see but there.
Start following ORANGE south. [the AT is an alternate route. It is a short steep scramble down and will meet up with this route at the bottom]
Keep following ORANGE, an easy woods road. It will loop around and gently go downhill. The lake will come into view through the trees. Pass several unmarked trails/woods roads on your right.
3.8 miles – the Crater Lake Parking lot. There are toilets, picnic tables, and some rocky outcrops to sit on.
Continue following the ORANGE trail. There is an informal path near the lake that is not the trail. Look in the parking lot where there are metal barricades – the woods road there is the trail. Head west on this woods road, which may be intermittantly blazed ORANGE.
4.1 miles - At the end of the lake, bear LEFT and continue on ORANGE. The woods road that you were following curves right at this point, heading north, and is an unmarked woods road that is not the trail.
Turn right onto another woods road, and you should meet up to the AT where you where earlier. This junction is not marked clearly, is confusing, and there are multiple paths.
4.2 miles – Meet up with the AT again, which continues north to your right. Continue straight on ORANGE towards Hemlock Pond.
Trail descends on a rocky footpath.
4.6 miles – a woods road crosses ORANGE to the left and right. Hemlock Pond is visible in front of you. ORANGE continues down to the waters edge, where there is a spot to sit and get a view of the Pond.
Backtrack to the woods road and head south. (coming back from the pond, make a right. If you don’t go to the pond, you’ll be making a left while facing it)
This is an unmarked very easy woods road. Not so much hiking as strolling. The Pond is visible through the trees on your right.
Pass a woods road on your left; (this would head to Blue Mountain Lake.)
5.0 miles – come to the end of the Pond and make a RIGHT. There is a woods road that goes left which should also lead to Blue Mountain Lake.
Walk past the pond. The actual road does not hug the pond, if you walk by the pond, at the end you will need to take a few steps through the trees to meet up with the road again.
5.3 miles – Continue straight on a unmarked woods road. A woods road also goes to the right, continuing its circle around the pond.
Super easy strolling. Pass by a swampy area on your right.
6.3 miles – turn left onto BLUE. You were here earlier in the day, and you will be retracing your route downhill now. (it is quite steep in spots – trekking poles are handy if you have them)
