Turkey Mountain, Waterfall Trail

From the northern end of parking area, follow a trail blazed with white diamonds which runs north, parallel to Boonton Avenue. (This newly-built trail is not shown on the park map.) In about 500 feet, the white trail ends, and you turn right onto the blue-blazed Butler-Montville Trail, which climbs to cross Boonton Avenue and continues beneath overhead power lines. It soon begins to ascend, first moderately and then more steeply over a series of rock steps, known as the "100 Steps." There is a good view to the west at the top of the climb, a secondary summit of Turkey Mountain.

Continue along the blue trail as it follows the ridge of the mountain for a short distance, then turns right and descends through the woods to a T junction. Here, the blue trail turns right, but you should turn left onto the green-blazed Waterfall Trail. The green trail soon bears right and reaches an outstanding viewpoint over Lake Valhalla to the south. From the viewpoint, the trail turns sharply left and shortly arrives at another junction, marked by a cairn. You'll notice the remains of a small stone cabin alongside the trail. One of several cabins built atop Turkey Mountain, this particular cabin was never completed, the owner having abandoned it due to the construction of the adjacent power line.

The green trail turns right at this junction and begins a steady descent. At the base of the descent, it turns left onto a woods road, joining the Red Trail. A short distance ahead, just before the woods road begins to climb steeply, the red/green trail turns right, leaving the road, goes under the power line, and crosses a stream. Immediately past the stream crossing, the Red Trail leaves to the left, but you should continue ahead, following the green-blazed Waterfall Trail, which soon levels off as it heads through a valley.

About a mile and a half from the start of the hike, the green trail reaches another T junction, with a beautiful waterfall just ahead. (If you wish to cross the brook to get a better view of the waterfall, there is a footbridge a short distance downstream.) This is a good place to take a short break. The green trail turns left here, but you should turn right on the woods road. Follow it for only 40 feet (do not cross the footbridge), and then turn right onto the Yellow Trail, which joins from below.

Soon, the Yellow Trail crosses under a tower of the power line. Just beyond, you'll notice some deep ravines and cuts in the rock. These are the remains of a quarry that operated in the mid-to-late nineteenth century, with the crushed rock being used to remove impurities from iron that was smelted in nearby Boonton. Although commonly referred to as "limestone," the rock extracted in this area is more correctly known as dolomitic marble.

Continue along the Yellow Trail, which crosses a stream in a wet area and then turns sharply right onto a woods road. This road, which was built to transport the quarried rock to Lake Valhalla, is called the Horse Shoe Trail, after its horseshoe shape. The trail now ascends gradually, then levels off. When it starts to climb again, you will notice another pit -- part of the same quarry -- to the left of the trail. Just beyond, the Red Trail leaves to the right.

Follow the Yellow Trail ahead as it begins to descend, passing another long trench of the quarry on the left. At the base of the descent, the trail crosses a stream, and soon afterwards, it reaches a Y intersection. Here, you should turn right, continuing along the Yellow Trail, which departs from the route of the Horse Shoe Trail and begins to ascend along another woods road.

In another half a mile, the blue-blazed Butler-Montville Trail crosses. Continue ahead on the Yellow Trail, which is now level and surfaced with gravel. You'll pass a junction with the Red Dot Trail, which leaves to the left, and soon reach Boonton Avenue. Directly across the road are the visitors center and the parking area where the hike began.