Maple Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated (Essex County, NJ)

Maple Falls is a waterfall in Essex County, New Jersey, about 1.5 miles southeast of Short Hills. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Essex County, NJ

Nearest town

Short Hills (1.5 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★☆ 4.0 from 25 reviews

Crowds

Quieter

Coordinates

40.73455, -74.30376

USGS topo

Roselle quad

Getting there

Maple Falls sits about 1.5 miles southeast of Short Hills in Essex County. Google lists the address as Millburn, NJ 07041.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Maple Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Land managers vary widely for such a small state. The Great Falls is within Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, run by the National Park Service in an urban setting with street parking and city amenities nearby. Essex County's falls are in county park reservations, while Sussex and Warren county falls fall under state forests and parks such as Stokes State Forest, along with the federally managed Delaware Water Gap area. Some sites are small and have limited parking that fills on fall weekends. Hazards include slick shale and basalt, steep ravine walls, and fast water on the Delaware River. Ticks are abundant in the northwest from spring through fall. At the Great Falls, stay behind the fences along the gorge rim.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Maple Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of New Jersey. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 40.73455, -74.30376 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

Northern New Jersey's falls run strongest in spring, typically March through May, when snowmelt and steady rain fill streams in the Highlands and the Kittatinny. The Great Falls is on a large river and flows year-round, but it is most dramatic after heavy rain or snowmelt, and during dry late summers its flow can drop sharply. Summer thunderstorms bring brief surges, while August and September are often low-water months for small ravine streams. Fall foliage in the northwest usually peaks in mid to late October, making autumn a pleasant if lower-flow season. Winter can produce ice along the basalt gorge and in shaded ravines, though footing becomes treacherous. With 25 reviews, it sees fewer visitors than the region's headline falls, so you may have it to yourself on a weekday.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

What visitors say

Maple Falls holds a 4.0-star average across 25 Google reviews, and 64% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the most reviewed waterfall in Essex County. Visitors have shared 23 photos.

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

Maple Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on July 1, 1981, and it appears on the USGS Roselle 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Maple Brook (stream, 0.1 mi), Campbells Pond (reservoir, 0.2 mi), Diamond Mill Pond (reservoir, 0.3 mi), and Nook Hill (summit, 0.3 mi).

Watchung Ridges and Northern Piedmont. This is urban and suburban waterfall country. The Great Falls of the Passaic, listed here as both Great Falls and Passaic Falls, roars through a basalt gorge in Paterson, viewed from an overlook and a footbridge within a national historical park that also preserves the city's industrial history. In Essex County, the wooded South Mountain area around Short Hills holds small cascades along stream ravines, including Maple Falls. Pottersville Falls, on the Lamington River where Hunterdon, Morris and Somerset counties meet, is a small drop in a historic village setting. These falls are easy to reach and make good short outings from New York and northern New Jersey.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Maple Falls about 1.5 miles southeast of Short Hills is rated 4.0 out of 5 by 25 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Maple Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.