<<<Best Hikes in NJ

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, some rocky sections but also a lot of really easy woods roads.

 

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 Hemlock Pond and return.

 

Map: Map# 121 of the "Kittatinny Trails" map set. Could not locate free map online. Overview of the area.

 

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. There are also some detours on Mountain Road (as of 10/4/09) that involve the long way around using Old Mine.

 

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". An alternate loop from Buttermilk Falls can be found in "Hiking New Jersey".

 

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 – Wood 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.

 

2.5 miles – ORANGE (Crater Lake) trail crosses the AT. Continue following the AT, which is a LEFT turn. The trails around the lake are a bit confusing.

 

2.8 miles – the AT blazes indicate a right, while the woods road goes straight. Take the RIGHT on the AT to a little bit of a view.

 

It then curves around and you end up back on the woods road at 2.9 miles, with the AT going to the left of the woods road (or straight in front of you if you are coming off the AT).

 

Keep following the woods road, which is to the RIGHT. [you could take the AT route as an alternate, it’s a short steep scramble down and will meet up with this route at the bottom]

ORANGE blazes along here are a little hard to see but there.

 

Keep following 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 and some picnic tables, and some rocky outcrops to sit on.

 

Continue following the ORANGE trail. The informal trail around the lake is somewhat unclear and is not the trail. Look in the parking lot on the left where there are metal barricades – that’s the trail. Follows a woods road for a short ways.

 

4.1 miles - At the end of the lake, the road curves right – but you want to bear LEFT and continue on ORANGE.

 

Its not real clear but the woods road you will come to on your right, turn here and you should meet up to the AT where you where earlier. If you miss it and go straight a bit, just turn right and back track up.

 

The ORANGE trail in general seems to be lacking in blazes in spots.

 

4.2 miles – Meet up with the AT again. Go 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.

 

Return back to this spot 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)