There is good news and bad news about our latest entry in The Best NJ Hiking Trails, Lockatong High Falls. The good news is that this hike is one of the easier ones in our series. The bad news, however, is that it will require hiking boots to complete the trail. (Especially in order to reach the main attraction.)
The first reason is that there’s plenty of mud. In addition, there’s a balancing log or two to traverse along the way. What makes the Lockatong High Falls so muddy? Well, Lockatong Creek is a 15-and-a-half-mile branch of the Delaware River. It begins west of Flemington near Locktown and dips down towards the Delaware River. But before hitting the Delaware, it cuts through Stockton in Hunterdon County, where the gem of Lockatong Creek resides.
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The Path to Lockatong High Falls
The Lockatong Preserve is right off of Kingwood Stockton Road in Stockton. It’s just about midway between Strimples Mill Road and the Kingwood United Methodist church. The entrance is a bit inconspicuous, so keep an eye out for it once nearby. Parking is available at the end of the lane along a gravel circle. Once out of the car, a couple of trails lead away from the circle and loop around the preserve. There’s more than one way to Lockatong High Falls, but in this example we’re taking the southern end trail.
This trail is narrow and leads immediately into the woods. Despite the trail looking overgrown, this is the correct path to take. (We recommend thoroughly checking for ticks afterward.) Less than a quarter-mile into the trail is a fork in the path. One direction presents orange tags and blazes on trees, while the other direction features white blazes. It is important to take the ORANGE trail at this point.
Follow the Orange Markers
The orange trail leads to Lockatong High Falls. The white trail leads into the abyss of the Hunterdon County wilderness, without any additional markers to guide hikers. Meanwhile, the orange trail is well marked and the footpath is continuous and easily identifiable. The trail does alternate between orange, white, and orange/white markers throughout its entirety, but it’s easy to follow. It is important to keep an eye on the ground, though, because the trail has many roots and rocks; as well as the occasional critter. In particular, it’s not uncommon to see a frog or garter snake. Of course, it can be really muddy in certain sections, especially after a recent rain.
After roughly a mile and a half, the trail opens up. Just keep walking straight ahead to reach the Lockatong High Falls. At this point there are two options, the first is to travel north toward the Lockatong Creek above the falls. The second, to reach the base of the falls, requires descending some large rocks. This can be a challenge for beginners, so bringing a hiking buddy or guide is recommended.
The Lockatong High Falls are dazzling after a recent rainfall. Moreover, visiting on a warm day offers the chance to relax near the creek and cool off. Traversing the creek can be rocky, however, especially beyond the base of the falls. So, as always, be careful and take things slow.
Heading back from Lockatong High Falls is as easy as retracing the path back to the parking area. As before, following the blazes on the trees will lead back to the start of the trail. Whether seeing the falls from above or below, this easier hiking trail is one of New Jersey’s best.
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All Photos: © Patrick Lombardi / Best of NJ