Laurel Falls

Updated:
Laurel Falls with sunlight streaming in from the side.

Short hike to Laurel Falls along the Douglas Trail.

Laurel Falls is just a brief hike from the Douglas Trail parking lot in Worthington State Forest.

0.3 miles, total round tripRugged trail, slightly uphill. Detailed instructions, photos, and video follow below.
Longer, from this lotSunfish Pond – Garvey Springs and Douglas Loop (w/Laurel Falls);
Appalachian Trail – Sunfish Pond to Raccoon Ridge
NearbyCoppermines – Rattlesnake Swamp;
Van Campens GlenCatfish Fire Tower;
Rattlesnake Swamp – Catfish Fire Tower Loop;
Sunfish Pond
 (via Dunnfield), Mt. Tammany

Our two cents:

Good as a quick stop if you’re just out for a scenic drive and not looking to do a long hike, but we’ve also got a loop option using Garvey Springs and Douglas too.

Laurel Falls are on a stream that is the runoff of Sunfish Pond and, like any waterfall, the flow depends on recent rainfall and is usually best in Spring.

Updated: 6/2024 – Re-hiked as part of the longer loop; minor updates, added interactive map. Older change log at page bottom.

Map:

Kittatinny Trails section #120. Follow along on your smartphone with our Interactive Map link above.

Parking: 41.01317 -75.08217

Douglas Parking Lot Trailhead, 134 Old Mine Rd, Columbia, NJ 07832. Rt. 80 W to the last exit in NJ (1) for Millbrook/Flatbrookville which bears right onto River Road/Old Mine Road.

Cross a one-lane bridge with a stop light and continue on Old Mine Rd for about 4 miles, passing a sign for Worthington and the driveway to the park office. The lot will be on the left and has a sign.

Related: Waterfalls in NJ / Best Waterfall Hikes in NJ

Restrooms:

From the lot, walk back into the campground area to a bathroom building on the left.

Hike Directions:

Overview: Douglas (BLUE) / Note: This used to be marked with BLUE DOT on WHITE.

There are three sections to Laurel Falls. The lower section is the closest to the road and is accessed on an unmarked path near the Douglas Trail sign. With leaves on the trees, the path and falls might be harder to spot.

Douglas trail sign.

Nearby is a plaque explaining that the Douglas trail is named for U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.

Douglas plaque with Laurel Falls beyond.

Fun facts: In 1967 Justice William O. Douglas hiked with a thousand others to “Save Sunfish Pond” and protest against expanding the pond for water storage as part of the Tocks Island Dam project. Sunfish Pond was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1970. [Source: Hiking and history at Sunfish Pond]

I was curious what was removed between Douglas and “The Lenni Lenape League” but could not locate a photo of the plaque with all of the word intact.

Continue a bit on the unmarked path to arrive at the lower cascade of Laurel Falls:

Laurel Falls, lower cascade with a sunburst over it.
Laurel Falls with sunlight streaming over it.

Close up of lower Laurel Falls shows the stepped rock formations that the water tumbles over.

Close up of Laurel Falls, lower.
Laurel Falls, lower.

Continue climbing uphill on the casual path to the upper section. The upper cascade of Laurel Falls:

Upper Laurel Falls with sun light streaming above it.
Upper Laurel Falls cascading over rocks.
Laural Falls seen from directly in front.

There is a third cascade above that but’s it’s pretty steep up and not as impressive as the main ones and can be skipped. The third cascade of Laurel Falls is longer but not as tall:

Laurel Falls, uppermost cascade.

Retrace the route back down to the Douglas trail and then back to the parking lot.


Hiked: 6/15/24. With the full loop; in reverse.
Hiked: 4/7/19. With the full loop. Trail Blog: “Hiking Laurel Falls and Sunfish Pond in Spring

Updated: 3/2024 – Changed this page from a Trail Blog about a Sunfish Pond and Laurel Falls hike into a full guide for just hiking to the falls; moved the blog content to it’s own page. Not re-hiked.

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