Hemlock Falls via Lenape Trail Loop in South Mountain Reservation, NJ

Hike Hemlock Falls via Lenape Trail Loop South Mountain Reservation, NJ

Class 1 5.8 miles 800 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Jun 2, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
Directions
Route Map
Download GPX

Hemlock Falls via Lenape Trail Loop GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

Add to Cart
View Cart

New Jersey has some nice pockets of green space, and South Mountain Reservation is definitely a nice example of one. Back home for a week for family stuff, I couldn't go without grabbing a few hikes. My parents and I did a popular loop in this park, starting from the Locust Grove Trailhead on the southern end of the park. We followed Lenape Trail heading east and up to Washington Rock Overlook. This was the most vertical gain for the day. A paved trail led to the overlook, where we picked up the Lenape Trail again as it led us north. We passed Maple Falls, a small cascade, and Balls Bluff, the remains of a patio of some rich guy.

We got up to Hemlock Falls, which was surprisingly pretty, and took a short detour to get to the top of the falls on the left side. After enjoying the falls and having lunch, we took the River Trail back to complete the loop. This trail was just a dirt road and fairly uneventful.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!

Starting along the Lenape Trail.
Starting along the Lenape Trail.
Headed up the steepest part of the trail to Washington Rock, an overlook.
Headed up the steepest part of the trail to Washington Rock, an overlook.
Lenape Trail follows a paved road for a short time.
Lenape Trail follows a paved road for a short time.
Washington Rock overlook.
Washington Rock overlook.
Back in the woods along the Lenape Trail.
Back in the woods along the Lenape Trail.
Image 5 from gallery
Maple Falls.
Maple Falls.
Maple Falls close-up.
Maple Falls close-up.
My parents hanging out at Maple Falls.
My parents hanging out at Maple Falls.
Image 9 from gallery
Image 10 from gallery
Image 11 from gallery
Image 12 from gallery
Image 13 from gallery
Balls Bluff.
Balls Bluff.
Image 15 from gallery
Image 16 from gallery
Image 17 from gallery
On the Lenape Trail, headed down to Hemlock Falls.
On the Lenape Trail, headed down to Hemlock Falls.
Hemlock Falls.
Hemlock Falls.
Image 20 from gallery
On top of Hemlock Falls.
On top of Hemlock Falls.
Pretty scenery.
Pretty scenery.
Heading to the River Trail.
Heading to the River Trail.
Along the River Trail.
Along the River Trail.
Image 25 from gallery
Image 26 from gallery
Image 27 from gallery
Image 28 from gallery
The River Trail is just an old dirt road converted into a trail. It took us back to the trailhead to complete the loop.
The River Trail is just an old dirt road converted into a trail. It took us back to the trailhead to complete the loop.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!

Hire me!
PayPal
Venmo
Cash App