Travel Itinerary
Hidden in Sussex County’s wild embrace, New Jersey’s tallest wonder shows its face. Buttermilk Falls – tumbling,
spilling,
sliding,
gliding, nearly 200 feet of water in flight, mossy cliffs glimmering in the light. Easy trails lead you close to the roar, a cascade calling you to explore.
1. Majestic Waterfall Views
Prepare for jaw-dropping beauty the moment you arrive! The main cascade plunges dramatically down a tiered rock face, creating a misty spectacle visible right from the parking area.
No strenuous hiking required for this initial view – perfect for families or those with limited mobility. Photographers, bring your gear for stunning shots, especially during golden hour when sunlight bathes the falls in warm hues.
2. Wooden Staircase Adventure
Feeling adventurous? A wooden staircase hugging the falls serves up thrilling perspectives most folks never see, each landing revealing a fresh slice of the cascade’s drama.
Cool mist drifts across the trail, turning summer heat into nature’s air conditioning.
The climb tests legs but frequent benches invite breathers while ever-grander views of the Delaware Water Gap unfold in front of you.
3. Appalachian Trail Connection
Where wilderness meets wonder, Buttermilk Falls Trail pushes skyward for 1.4 miles, climbing about 1,100 feet before linking with the storied Appalachian Trail.
Those who tackle the ascent earn sweeping panoramas across Kittatinny Ridge, a view that steals your breath as much as the climb. Steep stretches mix with curious rock outcrops and shifting forest scents, making every step a blend of challenge and discovery.
4. Seasonal Magic
Fall paints the forest in blazing reds and golds, maples and oaks turning the landscape into a shutterbug’s dream. Spring swells the falls with snowmelt and rain, water thundering so loud you feel it in your chest.
Winter freezes Buttermilk into a shimmering ice sculpture, every icicle catching light like crystal.
Summer softens the scene with blooming wildflowers and fragrant rhododendron, forming green tunnels that feel like gateways to a hidden world.
5. Wildlife Encounters
Keep those binoculars handy! The protected forests surrounding Buttermilk Falls host an impressive array of wildlife. Deer often graze peacefully near the trail edges at dawn and dusk.
Birdwatchers might spot scarlet tanagers, pileated woodpeckers, and even bald eagles soaring above. Though rarely seen, black bears and bobcats also call this wilderness home – another reason to maintain respectful distances and proper food storage.
6. Extended Adventure Options
Craving more than the falls alone? The 7.2-mile loop linking Buttermilk, Crater Lake, and Hemlock Pond serves up a full-day trek through untouched wilderness.
Crater Lake greets hikers with glassy waters and quiet nooks perfect for a picnic after the morning climb. Hemlock Pond reveals beaver lodges, and with a little luck, the busy builders themselves, tails slapping water as they shape their world. Shifting terrain and rich forest scents keep even seasoned hikers hooked from first step to last.