Despite what some may think, New Jersey has some beautiful natural areas with all sorts of water features. Today, we are going to be going to learn about the tallest waterfall in New Jersey, where it got its name, plus a lot more! Let’s get started.
The Tallest Waterfall in New Jersey
Buttermilk Falls in New Jersey.
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The tallest waterfall in New Jersey is Buttermilk Falls, an 85-foot waterfall located in Stokes State Forest.
Buttermilk Falls is a historic site that dates back to the early 17th century, when the Dutch settlers named it Boter Melck Val after the frothy appearance of the water. The waterfall was also the original name of the village of Highland Falls, which borders the West Point Military Academy. The area was a mill site and a strategic location during the Revolutionary War.
Buttermilk Falls is now part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, a protected area that covers 70,000 acres of land along the Delaware River. The waterfall is a somewhat popular attraction for visitors and many hikers and sightseers go to visit it since it isn’t hard to reach and view.
Where is Buttermilk Falls Located on a Map?
Buttermilk Falls is located between two major interstates, I-80 to the south and I-84 to the north. US 209 is the main north/south road through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on the Pennsylvania side. Old Mine Road is the main north/south road though the park on the New Jersey side. Major cities with air service near the park and the falls include Allentown and Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, Newark, New Jersey, and New York City, New York.
To reach Buttermilk Falls as a hiker, you can park near the Walpack Cemetery and hike about 2 miles down gated Mountain Road to the trailhead.
As another option, you can park at the trailhead if Mountain Road is open. From there, you can follow the blue-blazed Buttermilk Falls Trail to the base of the waterfall, where there is a viewing platform. You can also continue on the trail to the top of the waterfall and connect with the white-blazed Appalachian Trail, one of the most famous hiking trails along the east coast. Along the way, you can enjoy two lakes: Crater Lake and Hemlock Pond, plus a marsh and a forest. It’s a great place to spend the day outdoors!
Wildlife Around Buttermilk Falls
Beavers and a lot of other animals live in the wildlife area around Buttermilk Falls.
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The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is home to quite a bit of wildlife, including birds, mammals, and other animals. Some of the birds that can be seen in the area are hawks, bald eagles, great blue herons, green-backed herons, and ruby-throated hummingbirds. Some of the mammals that live in the area are black bears, bobcats, groundhogs, cottontail rabbits, weasels, skunks, red foxes, coyotes, white-tailed deer, raccoons, muskrats, mink, beavers, and otters.
The Delaware River and the streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands within the park support more than 60 species of fish, including native and introduced species. Some of the native fish are striped bass, American shad, blueback herring, sea lamprey, brook trout, yellow perch, and pumpkinseed. Some of the introduced fish are brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish, black crappie, channel catfish, walleye, and muskellunge (also known as muskies).
The Best Time to Visit Buttermilk Falls
Buttermilk Falls and the surrounding region have a pretty temperate climate with four distinct seasons. The average annual temperature is about 50°F, with highs reaching the 80s°F in summer and lows dropping to the 20s°F in winter. The area receives about 50 inches of precipitation per year, most of which is rain and a little snow. The park is open year-round, but some facilities and roads may close or have reduced hours in winter due to weather conditions.
The best time to visit the park depends on your preferences and activities, but generally, the spring and fall months offer comfortable temperatures and some of that beautiful foliage changing that everyone always loves to see.
Other Notable Waterfalls in New Jersey
Already been to Buttermilk Falls? Here are a few other options that you may want to check out!
- Tillman Ravine: not a single waterfall, but a series of cascades along a 1.6-mile trail, with an elevation change of about 275 feet
- Coppermines Trail: not a single waterfall, but a series of cascades along a 4.5-mile loop trail, with an elevation change of about 1,000 feet
- Hemlock Falls: a 25-foot waterfall inside the South Mountain Reservation
- Paterson Great Falls: a 77-foot waterfall and a National Historical Park
- Chikahoki Falls: a small waterfall near Wyanokie High Point in Norvin Green State Forest
- Apshawa Preserve: a small waterfall along a 6.5-mile loop trail in the Apshawa Preserve
- Van Campens Glen: not a single waterfall, but a series of cascades along a 1.6-mile loop trail in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
- Tinton Falls: a 23-foot waterfall and the highest on the New Jersey Coastal Plain
- Duke Farms: not a natural waterfall, but a man-made one on the Raritan River at Duke Farms Estate
- Hacklebarney Falls: a small waterfall in Hacklebarney State Park
- Boonton Falls: a 25-foot waterfall on the Rockaway River in Boonton
