New Jersey
Nature|Waterfalls

Hemlock Falls Is A 6 Mile Hike In New Jersey That Leads You To A Pristine Waterfall

Explore the scenic Hemlock Falls Trail in South Mountain Reservation, New Jersey, for an easy and rewarding hike with beautiful waterfall views.

Published Aug 2, 2020

Written by 

Megan McDonald

Get out into the forests of South Mountain Reservation and take an easy, rewarding hike to Hemlock Falls. This nature reserve is filled with beautiful scenery and waterfalls to boot. Enjoy your day under the cool, lush canopy of some of New Jersey’s prettiest countryside.

In the South Mountain Reserve, you’ll find 2,110 acres to explore.

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Mitch Cohen / Google Maps

Within this nature reserve lies quite a few hiking trails. Among them is the Hemlock Falls Trail.

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This trail is actually only 6 miles long, and is a loop around Hemlock Falls itself.

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C2 Mira / Google Maps

There are many different trail systems that will bring you to Hemlock Falls Trail, and the easiest is the Lenape Trail, more commonly referred to as the "Yellow" Trail, so named because the markers along the trail are yellow.

There are wonderful features on the trail, like stone bridges and staircases, and wide, meandering path.

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Anthony Nunez / Google Maps

Most of the trail is well marked and easy to follow. If you do find yourself turned around, keep an eye out for the yellow markers, or ask another hiker that you pass.

The hike is popular due to its paved pathways and easy trail.

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H S / Google Maps

There’s only 784 feet of elevation total, so it won’t be a hard climb to see the waterfall. The tree canopy also provides a refreshing escape to the summer heat.

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The views are stunning all along the trail.

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Wellington Wortee / Google Maps

Because of its easy accessibility, the trail can be busy during the day. If you’d like to hike it during a quieter time head out in the morning or late afternoon. Or even hike it on a drizzly day; you may just be the only ones out there!

For the most impressive waterfall views make sure to head over after a good rainfall.

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Eric Stone / Google Maps

Otherwise, the falls can seem a little underwhelming. If you choose to hike down to the waterfall and explore, that adds a bit more distance on the entire trail, and it will be closer to a 7.5 mile hike.

This is one hike you don’t want to miss this summer.

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Gerry P / Google Maps

Grab your loved ones and spend a day exploring this beautiful spot in New Jersey. You will love every minute of these stunning waterfall views!

Have you ever hiked Hemlock Falls Trail? What did you think? Would you recommend it? Let us know in the comments below!

Want to explore more waterfalls in New Jersey? Check out The 2-Hour Road Trip Around New Jersey’s ‘Waterfall Loop’ Is A Glorious Summer Adventure!

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Nature|Waterfalls

The Magnificent Waterfall In New Jersey That’s Located Only Minutes From Main Street

Not only is there a great hidden waterfall in NJ hiding in the town of Little Falls, but it's found in a quaint park with little walking.

Published Sep 12, 2024

Written by 

Raymond Goldfield

New Jersey has some amazing waterfalls, most of them in our many parks and mountains. A day trip to explore these amazing cascades is always worth it - but sometimes there's just no time for that! So what happens when you need the calming effect of a waterfall, but you don't have time to head to the biggest? Well, we discovered an incredible hidden waterfall in NJ waiting in the town of Little Falls - and it's surprisingly close to the town center! Found in a small park known as the Morris Canal Preserve, it's part of the Morris Canal Greenway - a still-under-construction trail that will ultimately connect four New Jersey counties over a whopping 111-mile stretch. It's still far from that goal, but this incredible waterfall is only one of the charming surprises you can see along the way. Read on to discover this hidden gem!

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To find New Jersey's best-hidden waterfall, just look for the archway reading "Morris Canal Preserve" - it's well-hidden, but it's your pathway to serenity.

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Burt Shoobs/Google Local

Inside, you'll find a small and rarely crowded park that's filled with nice shady spots for a hot day.

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PR/AllTrails

Even when you go off the beaten path, the trails are pretty easy to navigate - so just follow them until you get to the water.

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PR AllTrails

It's a 0.2-mile walk along the Passaic River past some impressive old buildings before you reach your destination...

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Ricardo Monte/AllTrails

This is one of the smaller waterfalls in New Jersey, but it has powerful rushing water especially after a rainstorm.

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Jenny Lai/AllTrails

It's a beautifully serene spot, and because it's hidden in plain sight, you'll rarely have too many people joining you - it's easy to get a great photo.

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Ricardo Monte/AllTrails

The entry to the preserve is right across the street from the Valley National Bank on main street, which makes it easy to locate if you know what you're looking for.

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PR/AllTrails

Have you visited this hidden waterfall in NJ in the town of Little Falls? What are your favorite spots along the Morris Canal Greenway? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section! If you want to learn more about the past, present, and future of the Morris Canal Greenway, check out the official website. There's more to do in Little Falls than just this spot, too - it's an amazing historic day trip. And if you're looking for a place to stay in the area, we recommend the DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel & Suites Fairfield - it's only a ten-minute drive away.

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Nature|Waterfalls

The Stunning Top-Secret Waterfall in New Jersey Nobody’s Ever Heard of

The most secret waterfall in New Jersey, Kugler Falls is located close to the Pennsylvania border and is a worthy adventure to reach!

Published Sep 10, 2024

Written by 

Raymond Goldfield

For a small and highly urban state, New Jersey has some amazing Garden State Waterfalls. Yet, for all the cascades everyone knows, there are some much better-hidden ones. These are the ones hiding in little-known state parks, that require a challenging hike to reach. Your reward? One of the best views in New Jersey. If you're up for the challenge, there's one of these secret waterfalls in New Jersey only minutes from the Pennsylvania border. The Kugler Woods Preserve, found in Stockton, is home to the Kugler Woods Preserve Trail, which leads you to the little-known Kugler Falls. This trail is less than half a mile, but it'll test you along the way. Read on to discover your next great waterfall adventure!

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Mike User/AllTrails

Kugler Woods Preserve is one of the most peaceful spots in New Jersey, a little nature preserve run by the Hunterdon Land Trust. It's a great spot to spend the day - but if you're up for it, there's a challenge awaiting with a great reward at the end.

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Heath G/AllTrails

The Kugler Woods Preserve Trail is only 0.4 miles, but this woodlands trail is rated moderate and is rarely very busy. You should bring good hiking boots and be prepared for some seriously uneven terrain.

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Shaun Williams/AllTrails

This trail includes bouldering and should only be attempted in good weather. You don't want slick boulders, but it's best to take this trail outside of dry seasons.

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Tamilyn Bee/AllTrails

That's because Kugler Falls, coming in at 12 feet, is only running when there's a sufficient waterflow. You'll want to come after a heavy rain, but once the area surrounding it has had a chance to dry off a bit.

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Khurtwilliams/Flickr

Your reward for this challenging journey is easily one of the most peaceful waterfalls in New Jersey. That it's so secret and is only running for some parts of the year makes it all the more special - like you're in on one of the Garden State's best little nature secrets.

Have you visited Kugler Falls in the Kugler Woods Preserve? Let us know about your visit to this secret waterfall in New Jersey in the comments section! You can see more photos of the trail on the official AllTrails trail listing, and we highly recommend a subscription to AllTrails + for this journey - you'll want its point-by-point directions on your side as you navigate this challenging trail. If you'd like to bunk down for the night before trying this trail, we found a great vacation home rental in Stockton.

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