Stokes State Forest, NJ (Tillman Ravine) and Delaware Water Gap NRA, NJ (Buttermilk Falls and Silver Spray Falls)

 

ABOUT THE PARKS: 

Stokes State Forest - NJ Department of Environmental Protection

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - National Park Service 

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 41.15658, -74.87037

Parking on Mountain Road just past Walpack Cemetery already starting to fill up early in the morning.  At this time Mountain Road was gated to prevent access to the Buttermilk Falls parking lot which was closed.  This no doubt made this hike way less crowded than it otherwise would have been.  It also eliminated all traffic on Mountain Road for pleasant hiking.

TRAIL MAP: 

Northern Kittatinny Trails Map 122 - NYNJ Trail Conference

My almost 4-year-old granddaughter drew this trail map for us a week before this hike.  We referred to it often throughout the hike (at her request) and it kept us on track.  Note that blue = water and waterfalls.

 

HIKE DISTANCE:  6.1 miles

THE HIKE: 

My granddaughter had requested another family hike so having done this hike back in 2014 I felt this would be a great place to allow toddlers (2 and 4 years old) to actually hike yet manage the total distance with a stroller-friendly section.  This hike was a huge hit for all.

Because sleeping children had been whisked out of their beds at 6AM ...

... final preparations had to be done at the trail head.

And we are off to head into Tillman Ravine via the Cemetery Trail.

The trail starts just before the gate on Mountain Road.

Louisiana Waterthrush

Looking back at the sign where we had just come to the end of the green Cemetery Trail, heading towards the Tea Cup.

A little bit of a rock scramble on the way.

Tea Cup

Retracing on the Cemetery Trail.

Back where we started.  Surprisingly, my 2-year-old grandson hiked almost the entire 1.7 miles with only being carried a few minutes here and there.

Now the stroller portion continuing on Mountain Road beyond the gate.

It is a pretty gravel road with nice countryside scenery and it was shaded 95% of the way both out and back.

That map came in so handy.  (Thank goodness I remembered to bring it because I was asked "Grandma, did you remember my map?"  Whew.)

At Buttermilk Falls.  We actually had the whole place to ourselves for quite a while.  Thank goodness for that closed parking lot that is right at the falls.

Snacks for Brodie.

We took turns going up the steps to the top of the falls.  It is steep.  This is heading down from the top.

My granddaughter went to the first landing, beyond that was too steep for her.  And it was getting crowded all of a sudden so we packed up and moved on.

About half a mile back from Buttermilk Falls is the unmarked trail to Hidden Falls/Silver Spray Falls where we stashed the stroller in the bushes.

Heading in on foot.

The trail is not blazed or maintained but it was easy to follow.

The rocks across the creek were incredibly slippery so we waded over.  Wet feet felt good at this point anyway.

There are blow downs to navigate any way you can.

Coming up on the falls.  There was nobody else here.

A trail to the left goes up steeply to the top of the falls.  Scootching down on your behind is the safest was back down.

Letting the children take a dip in the creek when crossing back over.

Back at the stroller ...

... and continuing back on Mountain Road.

They did a great job hiking and it totally tuckered them out.

Baltimore Oriole nest.

Eastern Towhee

Now cars were parked everywhere.  We had parked facing the other way which in retrospect was a great idea.  Turning around with all of these cars everywhere would have been pretty difficult.

Before leaving, a visit to Walpack Cemetery where there are many tombstones from the 1800's.

Pin It