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LakeQuality

At 25 feet, Hemlock Falls is the tallest waterfall in South Mountain Reservation near Millburn, cascading over basalt ledges along the Rahway River. From the Tulip Springs parking area, a roughly 1.6-mile loop on the Lenape and Hemlock Falls trails reaches the falls.

Height
25 ft
Type
Cascade
Access
Short Hike
Trail
1.6 mi loop
Elevation gain
300 ft
Best season
Spring and after rain
Land manager
Essex County Parks / South Mountain Conservancy (South Mountain Reservation)
Watercourse
West Branch Rahway River

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Essex County Parks / South Mountain Conservancy (South Mountain Reservation) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Hemlock Falls drops about 25 feet. That makes it the 578th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 16% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Hemlock Falls Loop (Lenape Trail) reaches it about 1.6 miles (loop) with roughly 300 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Millburn. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Essex County Parks / South Mountain Conservancy (South Mountain Reservation) for closures and current conditions.

Spring and after rain. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

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