Flatbrook-Roy WMA, NJ - Historical Group Hike with Solo Bike to Buttermilk Falls

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Flatbrook-Roy WMA - NJ Department of Environmental Protection

Spring Hike 2026 – April 26 - Walpack Historical Society

Rediscovering Layton burial ground - New Jersey Herald

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 41.17772, -74.86200

Fishermen's Parking Lot

TRAIL MAPS: 

Sussex County, NJ 1860 - Avenza Maps

DISTANCES: 

Hike - 2.5 miles

Bike - 7.8 miles

THE HIKE: 

I am not a fan of group hikes but this one sounded too interesting to miss.

This is the track of the hike on the 1860 map.  It does follow the roads, the track records a bit high.

From the parking lot walking back out to the Roy Bridge.

Flat Brook

Assembling on the Roy Bridge to start the hike.  Volunteer guides wore orange safety vests.  There were at least 50 people on the hike.

There the gravel road comes to a T-intersection, the Pleasant Valley School stood directly across at that intersection.  There are some foundation stones visible in the brush.  At this intersection the hike went left; I would turn right later on the bike.

The group would occasionally stop for explanations of what once stood in various spots.

On to "Three Bridges".

Old pottery found at the third bridge.

Heading back.

At the site of the S. Layton property, a descendent provided pictures of his ancestors' home that once stood there.

Heading over to the other side of the creek ...

... where the house foundation stands.

Taking the path up to the cemetery.  This was the route used to transport coffins up the hill.  It is also referred to as the "Bear Superhighway" due to bear prints along the right of the path.

The letters ST (belonging to STEWART LAYTON in Find-A-Grave) on a broken section of a headstone.

ABIGAIL BRINK LAYTON in Find-A-Grave.

WILLIAM LAYTON in Find-A-Grave

There is a raised berm visible around most of the graveyard where a fence probably stood back in the day.  Layton Family Burial Ground Memorials in Find-A-Grave.

Heading back down.

Looking back up at where the cemetery is on top of the hill.

The former site of a mill.

Back across the Roy Bridge at the end.

THE BIKE: 

Back at the parking lot switching over to the bike for a ride out to Buttermilk Falls in the Delaware Water Gap NRA.

Back over the Roy Bridge.

At the T-intersection where the Pleasant Valley School stood straight ahead, turning right.

Timothy E Shay Property.  I could see who the old stone fences belonged to along the way by referring to the 1860 map.

Rough indeed!  Lots of puddle dodging on flat stretches due to the heavy rain the previous day.

All that rain made for nice waterfalls.

I. Losey Property

Leaving Flatbrook-Roy WMA and continuing on Mountain Road passing by Walpack Cemetery.

Buttermilk Falls

Heading back.

Passing Walpack Cemetery and continuing back into Flatbrook-Roy WMA.

There hadn't been any cars until this point where I had to get off the road so I wouldn't get splashed with mud by three vehicles passing by at the same time.

Back across the Roy Bridge ...

... to the parking lot.