AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
2025-07-17 12 11 09 View across Buttermilk Falls from the middle viewing platform of the Buttermilk Falls Trail within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Walpack Township, Sussex County, New Jersey.jpg
Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Buttermilk Falls–Blue Viewpoint, 6 sights

15.5 mi · ▲ 2,254 ft · 6 hr 18 min

Buttermilk Falls–Blue Viewpoint, 6 sights is a 15.5-mile out-and-back near Haneys Mill, NJ. The route passes Buttermilk Falls, Crater Lake, Blue Viewpoint and Sand Pond before reaching Sand Pond at the turnaround, 7.6 miles in. It climbs 2,254 ft, with sections as steep as 40% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 86/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi423 – 1,562 ft · steepest grade: 40%16.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.13704, -74.88905
Nearest town Haneys Mill, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Buttermilk Falls–Blue Viewpoint, 6 sights

15.5 mi · ▲ 2,254 ft · 6 hr 18 min

Elevation 424–1,561 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 41.13704, -74.88905

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:24 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Buttermilk Falls.
  3. 1.4 miBear right onto Appalachian Trail, heading W.
  4. 0.9 miPass Crater Lake.
  5. 1.8 miTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  7. 2.8 miPass Blue Viewpoint.
  8. 200 ftBear left onto Blue Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.2 miPass Sand Pond.
  10. 0.4 miPass Sand Pond.
  11. 400 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  12. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  14. 50 ftTurn left onto Nobebosco Road, heading NE.
  15. 250 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  16. 50 ftReach Buttermilk Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 300 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  20. 250 ftTurn left onto Sand Pond Loop Trail, heading SE.
  21. 0.4 miBear right onto Blue Trail, heading SW.
  22. 0.2 miBear right onto Appalachian Trail, heading NW.
  23. 3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  24. 2.7 miBear left, heading NE.
  25. 1.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/buttermilk-falls-blue-viewpoint-out-back-8-lakes-25-km-8fc1

Trail surface

86% dirt11% gravel3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:33 AMSunset 7:24 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Haneys Mill, New Jersey