Upper Blue Mine Brook Falls is a small waterfall near the Highlands Natural Pool and Weis Ecology Center. The waterfall is just below a small dam directing water into the Highlands Natural Pool, a guarded swimming pool fed by natural water. As such, it is difficult to determine how much of the waterfall is actually “natural” and how much is created by diverting excess water away from the pool.

Access to the waterfall is complicated. Until recently, the Otter Hole Trail passed directly next to the waterfall. Currently, however, the trail has been detoured, and signs are posted in the parking area. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, which maintains the trails in the park, reports:

As of late 2023, the New Weis Center has relocated the Otter Hole Trail (Green) off their property and onto Snake Den Road. Hikers are still able to park in the lot provided by the New Weis Center but are asked to follow the relocated green blazes along Snake Den Road for approximately 0.4 miles to the Richard M. Warner kiosk to rejoin the pre-existing green-blazed Otter Hole Trail. This is a residential road, so use caution, be aware of vehicles that will be sharing the road with hikers, and keep to the side of the road whenever possible.

Upper Blue Mine Brook Falls is situated on the now-closed trail, severely limiting its permitted access. Fortunately, the waterfall is actually located on property owned by the Highlands Natural Pool. During the summer, when the pool is open to the public, visitors can catch glimpses of the waterfall from the pool itself. The pool also maintains picnic areas outside the pool near the waterfall, allowing easy, permitted access for pool guests.

The risk of visiting in the summer when the pool is open, is that Blue Mine Brook is diverted into the pool to fill it. This means that if the pool is not full, Upper Blue Mine Brook Falls might be “shut off” to fill the pool.

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