Cataract Park Trail is a 0.8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Washington, New Jersey that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from April until September.
Definitely steep but I wouldn’t say dangerous or too difficult. Took blue, to orange, to red to the top of the falls, then red back down. Blue is very steep, so I prefer that on the way up, red is gentler and has switchbacks. Mine is cool to see and falls are beautiful. Nice couple hour excursion.
Blue trail gets steep and slippery, especially with wet leaves but it’s a fun challenge.
If you’re hiking the blue trail in late Fall, I’d highly recommend trekking poles or at least a walking stick. The steep hills and slippery leaves left me sliding from tree to tree for support. With that said, this is just challenging enough to make up for the short distance. Being alone at the falls was a nice quiet retreat.
This review is for the Blue Trail (as there is a separate All Trails entry for the Red Trail). This is one of our favorite local trails —a quick, steep hike initially, then it evens out a bit followed by a descent before a relatively even hike until you reach the small falls, where there is a bench to rest. The hike is generally well marked out to the falls with the exception of a portion right around/after the Orange branch to the mine, where the markers are a bit tough to see. Stay just right of the private property signs and you should be able to see the trail to the falls. Right now (late October 2020) someone has left a small gnome at the falls. We found it and left it for the next adventurer. If you find it, be sure to place it back in a secure spot for the next hiker to find.
Nice short but steep trail leading to a waterfall. A little confusing at some points but a pleasant time!
The trails are along sheer drops down into a ravine. A felt like crapping my pants half the time I was in there.
Tough little hike, steep hills, rocky trail. nice little water at the end. just a quick in and out trip.
Took the blue trail up- it’s quick but steep! The orange trail leads to the cave before the blue finishes at the waterfall. The trails are well marked and there’s a good map at the parking lot that gives you a really clear idea how it is mapped out. Got a bit rocky in some parts, make sure you have some good shoes. The waterfall is lovely (there’s a geocache nearby too).
I really enjoyed this! I’d have to agree with the others for 4 stars. It was easy to access and well-marked. I started with the blue trail, which was definitely a work out, but short. The waterfall was pretty. The cave was also cool, but don’t forget your bug spray! I loved that this was so private; I only saw one other person the whole time. Really nice if you’re just looking for a quick, but solid hike!
Difficulty Blue trail very steep- difficult Red/pink trail less steep and orange goes to mine while blue to waterfalls
Big elevation gain! Rewarding waterfall as a result. Bugs near cave and waterfall but it was a good exercise!
Enjoyed a nice morning hike with my wife, parents and dog for Father's Day. Had the trail all to ourselves for the entire hike. Explored the side trail leading to the old mine before finishing at the waterfall. The trail had a couple steep sections but overall not too bad... both my parents are close to 70 and we took it slow but had no issues. Overall, an enjoyable hike... and we even rescued a snapping turtle from the middle of the road on the drive home