Did you know that New Jersey is home to over 80 incredible waterfalls? With that many waterfalls, it can be hard to determine which ones are the best and most worthwhile to visit. For that reason, we have compiled the 10 best waterfalls in New Jersey, ranging from easy-to-reach roadside waterfalls to others involving a more involved hike. So without further ado, here are the 10 best waterfalls in New Jersey (in our opinion):
Buttermilk Falls (Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area)
Standing at 130 feet, Buttermilk Falls is the tallest waterfall on the list. It is a near-vertical cascade that scenically drops down the face of the Kittatinny Ridge. While it is technically a roadside waterfall, it is still an adventure to get to. Reaching it requires driving several miles down twisty and later unpaved, pothole-ridden dirt roads in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Those who make the journey are rewarded with a truly spectacular waterfall. For those wanting to see the waterfall even closer, a steep trail featuring steps and observation platforms leads to the top, though the view is arguably best from the bottom.
Learn how to get to Buttermilk Falls here: Buttermilk Falls: How to Visit One of New Jersey’s Tallest Waterfalls
Our Advice:
- Buttermilk Falls is a seasonal waterfall and can run dry in the summer. Visit in the spring or after heavy rain to see it at its best.
- As this is only a few minutes away from Silver Spray Falls and Teacup Falls, it is recommended to combine them all into one adventure.
- Mountain Road (where the waterfall is) is closed in the winter. However, you are welcome to hike in for about 1.4 miles on the closed road from Haneys Mill Bridge. For more information on winter access, click here.
- Mountain Road is in very poor condition, even when open. If you have a low-clearance vehicle, you may want to park at Haneys Mill Bridge (1.4 miles) or at Walpack Cemetery (2 miles) and hike in.
Did you know?
- There are actually three other waterfalls named Buttermilk Falls in New Jersey. There is one each in Wayne, Mendham and Bridgewater.
Great Falls of the Passaic (Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park)
The Great Falls of the Passaic River is easily the most powerful waterfall in the state. At 77 feet high and 260 feet wide, it is a massive and aggressive cascade. Like Buttermilk Falls, this is a roadside waterfall, though this one is located in the heart of a major city rather than in the middle of rural New Jersey. There are a few ways to view this waterfall from multiple observation decks. The classic view is from Paterson’s Overlook Park, which offers a head-on view of the chasm where the waterfall sits. However, the best view is arguably from the footbridge spanning the Passaic River just below the waterfall. For those wanting to feel the spray of water, another observation deck sits just next to the cascade and is often covered in mist.
Learn how to get to the Great Falls of the Passaic here: Visiting the Paterson Great Falls in Winter: New Jersey’s Largest Waterfall
Our Advice:
- This waterfall looks impressive at any time of the year but is especially impressive during the winter as ice forms on it.
Did you know?
- The National Park Service operates two parks centered around a waterfall known as the Great Falls. The other is Great Falls Park in Maryland.
Silver Spray (Hidden) Falls (Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area)
Located just a short distance from Buttermilk Falls, Silver Spray Falls is often overlooked because it is not on the official park map, and there are no official trails leading to it. It is tucked into a steep, mossy hemlock ravine that sometimes feels more like a jungle than New Jersey. This ravine makes its 46-foot drop appear bigger than it is. Visiting Silver Spray Falls is not hard, but as its nickname “Hidden Falls” suggests, you need to know where to look to find it. Click the link below for the full guide on how to find Silver Spray Falls.
Learn how to find Silver Spray Falls here: Explore the Excellent Silver Spray Falls (Hidden Falls) in Delaware Water Gap
Our Advice:
- As this is only a few minutes away from Buttermilk Falls and Teacup Falls, it is recommended to combine them all into one adventure.
- Mountain Road (where the waterfall is) is closed in the winter. However, you are welcome to hike in for about 2 miles on the closed road
Van Campens Falls (Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area)
Van Campens Falls is a uniquely tiered waterfall. This waterfall features a 25-foot drop that begins as a vertical plunge, then fans out into a wide slide before hitting a wide pool. Van Campens Falls also marks the end of Van Campens Glen, a narrow ravine featuring a few other impressive cascades and interesting rocky geology.
Learn how to get to Van Campens Falls here: Easy Hike to Scenic Waterfalls at Van Campens Glen
Our Advice
- Van Campens Glen is very popular, but features limited parking. Try to avoid going on peak summer days.
- There are two parking areas: one at the top of the trail (upper) and one at the bottom (lower). The upper parking lot is closer, but we find the hike more exciting when we start from the lower parking area. If you choose to park at the lower parking lot, make sure you continue up the ravine for a few bonus waterfalls!
Boonton Falls (Grace Lord Park)
Located in Boonton’s Grace Lord Park, this 36-foot drop on the Rockaway River is surprisingly aggressive. The waterfall marks the beginning of the Boonton Gorge, a series of whitewater rapids leading to the Boonton Reservoir. There are multiple areas to view this waterfall from both sides of the Rockaway River thanks to a small bridge located just downriver from the falls. Make sure you cross this bridge for even more great views.
Learn how to get to Boonton Falls here: Boonton Falls: Easy Access & Great Views
Our Advice
- Boonton Falls looks good any time of year, but the trail to get close to it from the right side (looking upriver) becomes thin and overgrown in the summer. Try visiting in the spring or fall.
Chikahoki Falls (Norvin Green State Forest)
Located in Passaic County’s Norvin Green State Forest, Chikahoki Falls offers a 20-foot drop into a large pool. When the water is high, the falls split into two separate side-by-side cascades, making it especially scenic. During drier periods, water only flows down the left side. The trail itself only skirts the side of Chikahoki Falls before leading away, but visitors can get an excellent view by rock hopping in front of the falls. Chikahoki Falls is also one of the longer waterfall hikes in New Jersey (though still not too challenging).
Learn how to get to Chikahoki Falls here: Discover Otter Hole Falls and Chikahoki Falls at Norvin Green State Forest
Our Advice
- Chikahoki Falls looks best when both sides are flowing. Try to visit during the spring or after heavy rain.
- Though not on this list, Chikahoki Falls is near Otter Hole Falls, and a series of off-trail waterfalls. It is worth making an effort to see at least Otter Hole Falls when you visit.
Hemlock Falls (South Mountain Reservation)
Located in South Mountain Reservation in Maplewood, this 25-foot falls drops over a basalt ledge into a natural stone amphitheater. Despite not being the tallest and being a relatively low-volume waterfall, the cliffs surrounding this cascade make it surprisingly dramatic. Hemlock Falls is very easy to get to, featuring numerous parking areas, the closest of which is just under a quarter mile away.
Learn how to get to Hemlock Falls here: Hemlock Falls and Hobble Falls Guide for South Mountain Reservation
Our Advice
- Hemlock Falls is a seasonal waterfall and can run dry in the summer. Visit in the spring or after heavy rain to see it at its best.
- Hemlock Falls is almost directly next to the smaller Hobble Falls which is also worth visiting.
Teacup Falls (Stokes State Forest)
Teacup Falls is a small waterfall in Tillman Ravine, an area often called the most beautiful place in New Jersey. What makes Teacup Falls unique is a large rock positioned right in the center of the drop, causing the water to split just before it drops into a small pool that resembles a teacup. Access is very easy, and is just a couple minute walk from the large parking area.
Learn how to get to Teacup Falls here: Hiking the Scenic Tillman Ravine
Our Advice
- As this is only a few minutes away from Buttermilk Falls and Silver Spray Falls, it is recommend to combine them all into one adventure.
- The parking lot is inaccessible during the winter. Visitors can park where Dimon Road closes in the winter and hike 2 mile in.
Did you know?
- The “teacup” at the bottom of the waterfall is known as a pothole. Potholes are created by sand and other small debris, slowly eroding the bedrock in a circular manner.
Electric Brook Falls (Schooley’s Mountain County Park)
Found in Schooley’s Mountain County Park are a pair of similar, back-to-back waterfalls. Each waterfall drops about 20 feet and is set in a steep, rocky gorge. Both these waterfalls would be worth visiting in their own right, but the fact that they are mere feet apart makes them even more worthy of being on this list.
Learn how to get to Electric Brook Falls here: Hiking the Waterfall Trail at Schooley’s Mountain
Our Advice
- The gorge trail is very rocky and features at least one section that requires you to use your hands. It is much easier to reach the waterfalls by creating a loop and hiking uphill on this trail.
Laurel Falls (Worthington State Forest)
Laurel Falls is another roadside waterfall comprising two main waterfalls (plus a third, less impressive cascade uphill). These waterfalls are separated by about one hundred feet. The lower falls are a straight fanning drop. The middle falls are similar to the lower falls but features a small pool in the middle, creating a multi-step cascade. If you bushwhack uphill, you can find an upper cascade, though this one is much less impressive than the previous two drops.
Learn how to get to Laurel Falls here: Finding the Hidden Laurel Falls in Worthington State Forest
Our Advice:
- Despite being roadside, it is best to park and walk up the unmarked but obvious trail. A moderately sized parking lot is located just across the street.
Discover More Incredible Waterfalls
Well, there it is. These are, in our opinion, the 10 best waterfalls in the state, but there are over 70 more waterfalls to explore. Discover all these waterfalls on our dedicated waterfall page here.
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