Norvin Green State Forest is home to two noteworthy waterfalls in Otter Hole Falls and Chikahoki Falls. Otter Hole Falls is about 15 feet tall and features two short tiers. This waterfall is extremely easy to get to as it is virtually right next to the parking lot. Chikahoki Falls is more impressive at about 20 feet, but requires a little bit of hiking to get to. Both waterfalls are along Posts Brook as it flows from a pond named Otter Hole down to the Wanaque Reservoir, allowing both waterfalls to be seen along a singular hike.
Norvin Green State Forest
Parking: 582 Glenwild Ave, Bloomingdale, NJ 07403 (only about 7-8 spots, an additional similarly sized lot is available up the road)
Price: Free
Other Attractions: Stone Living Room, Carris Hill and Wyanokie High Point
Otter Hole Falls
Height: 15.7 feet
Waterfall Coordinates: 41.04670, -74.34973
Rating:
Explore North Jersey Review: Easy to reach waterfall that is best combined with a longer hike.
From the Otter Hole Parking Area, take the Blue Hewitt-Butler Trail. There is trail access on both sides of the road, but the trail to the waterfalls is on the same side of the road as the parking area. If the Otter Hole Parking Area is full, there is additional parking a few hundred feet up the road. If you need to park here, turn left from the parking area and walk along the road until you reach the main Otter Hole Parking Area. From the trail, you will almost immediately reach the falls and the trail crosses over the top of the falls itself. There is no bridge here, but it is an easy crossing thanks to the many large rocks along Posts Brook. To get the best view of the waterfall, you will want to hike down to the bottom from either side of the waterfall where there are short and easy unmarked side trails down.
Chikahoki Falls
Height: 19.4 feet
Waterfall Coordinates: 41.04430, -74.33286
Rating:
Explore North Jersey Review: Easy to reach waterfall along an enjoyable trail. Best after a lot of rain.
To reach Chikahoki Falls, continue on the Blue Hewitt-Butler Trail from Otter Hole Falls. Very soon, the Teal Highlands Trail will join the Blue Hewitt-Butler Trail. Continue on this co-blazed trail for about a mile until you see the White Lower Trail on the right. Take this trail, and along the way you will see short side trails leading to small cascades along Posts Brook. These short trails are all under a hundred feet at most, and most are worth checking out. Soon you will reach the main site in Chikahoki Falls. For the best view of the waterfall, you will want to cross Posts Brook. There is no trail or bridge here, but it is relatively easy to work your way across with careful footing.
GPS Route
Attached is the route as described above for reference. Additionally users can download the route to use on their preferred GPS.
Additional Information
- Norvin Green State Forest is very popular, and the main parking areas for the waterfalls do fill up.
- The park website currently features two different trail maps. This is the correct map.
- This is basically an undeveloped park. There are no facilities, including restrooms.
- Waterfall heights are from the New Jersey Geological and Water Survey. Heights of waterfalls not listed by them are estimated and noted with an asterisk “*”
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