The Hidden Wetumpka Falls

Wetumpka Falls is a hidden waterfall located in Somerset County’s Watchung Borough. Situated just below the busy Village Green and Watchung Circle, hundreds of people drive past this waterfall daily without ever knowing it exists. Visitors can park in one of the many lots around the traffic circle and walk to the site, marked only by a bench that once offered a view of the falls. Today, viewing the impressive 20-foot cascade requires scrambling down a steep hillside.

Parking

There is no parking at Wetumpka Falls itself, but visitors have numerous options if they are willing to walk a little. I recommend parking at one of the numerous public parking spaces in and around the Watchung Traffic Circle.

On either side of the circle are Watchung Lake Park and Best Lake Park, both of which offer large, public parking areas. In the center of the circle is additional parking at the Texier House Museum. My preferred parking area is at Watchung Lake on Stirling Road. Even though there are a few spots closer, this lot is both large and features a relatively easy road crossing.

Alternate parking is available at the public works, police station, and courthouse, which are all directly across the street from Wetumpka Falls. While you could theoretically park there, Somerset Street is busy, and there is no crosswalk. For a safer visit, I do not recommend parking here.

Reaching the Waterfall

From the Watchung Circle, head toward Somerset Street. If you park at Watchung Lake, walk along the outer sidewalk following the flow of traffic. Cross Mountain Boulevard, pass the Municipal Building, and continue to Somerset Street (the next exit off the circle, which has minimal signage). Do not cross Somerset Street; turn right and follow the sidewalk down the road. To keep it simple, keep Google or Apple Maps open on your phone.

Follow Somerset Street for 0.3 miles to a fenced-in bench. This is the only bench you will see once on Somerset Street.

The bench is intended to be an overlook for Wetumpka Falls, but it is unfortunately largely overgrown and offers no view of the falls.

Luckily, a short but steep trail leads down to Stony Brook, where you can see the falls. You can find this trail by hopping over the guardrail and following the fence around the bench. The beginning of the trail is partially overgrown, but it is visible.

Once you get around the fence, the trail opens up and heads down to Stony Brook. This trail is mostly loose dirt and is very steep. You will likely need to grab trees to stabilize yourself on the descent.

At the bottom of the hill you will reach Wetumpka Falls.

Wetumpka Falls features three distinct tiers, separated by pools totaling 20 feet. The trail takes you to the top of the bottom tier, with clear views of the middle tier. During standard flow, most of the water flows down the far side of Stony Brook, but there is a small cascade to the right. It can be hard to see the water here, but you can carefully cross the waterfall for a better view.

If you work your way downhill, you can see the bottom tier. This is much easier on the side of Stony Creek you reached by the trail. Once again, the water flows on the far side of Stony Creek.

If you work your way uphill, you can reach the third tier. You also need to do this from the same side of the creek the trail brings you to.

Once you are done enjoying the waterfall, return to your car the same way you came.

Review

Wetumpka Falls is a very nice waterfall, but it’s unfortunately in an inconvenient location. While there is plenty of parking, it is not close, and reaching the waterfall requires walking alongside busy roads. While there is always a sidewalk, it is still not enjoyable. Additionally, the view from the overlook is essentially nonexistent, requiring visitors to hike down a steep hill. Finally, the area around the falls features an abundance of litter (though nowhere near as bad as the nearby Green Brook Falls), which is disappointing.