Apshawa Preserve — Attraction in West Milford

This is an underrated trail that gets a lot of flack from the reviews. I don't consider myself an experienced hiker, but I was able to follow the trails. One review mentioned a way to get to the waterfall but I would like to add to clarify: start on blue, then go orange but then when you get to green, you need to go left if you want the waterfalls, the ruins and the summit. If you go right on green, you will just get to the reservoir, and then IF you continue down green/red trail, then you can catch the summit and then the waterfalls/ ruins. Some reviewers said they couldn't find the falls, I hope this clarifies.

The only real drawbacks, in my opinion, are that from the waterfalls to the summit, it gets very green if going midsummer and lots of plants with three leaves are rubbing against your legs (almost unavoidable). We stopped at a pharmacy and got ivy wash just in case after we left. Our whole hike we calculated was 3.15 miles (blue, orange, green to red/green, back to parking via blue). I did need my phone to help at times to orient myself. Another drawback is the sign that says not to walk on the dam which is asking to be walked on...we resisted...but it...

A great spot for a hike of varied levels. You can choose easy or more strenuous. Green and white both have alot of elevation so be informed! If you turn right from blue to green the loop will have mostly down hill. If your knees hate down hill...go left from blue to green. But the ascend climb is steep for a while White trail going out from blue to red is mostly down...coming in from red to blue...up. Water tank ruins are amazing! Must see!!! Falls are running VERY light (almost not at all) due to drought conditions on 6-18-23. Happy hiking! Trail maintenance neededin 3 locations: 2 trees have recently fallen across the bridge crossing the brook on blue trail. No damage to bridge but lots of debris on bridge and trail. Deer fence down close to where green/red meets the metal bridge by dam. Deer gate from red back to green is not making contact to lock and is therefore standing open. Hopefully, the parties that need to receive...

The park had a parking lot with 2 porta potty in place. Trail maps were availiable at the trail head by the parking lot. A fence surrounded most of the park, to keep deers and other large animals out of the reservoir area. Parking appears to be limited to 20 to 30 vehicles, 1st come, 1st served. My group was lucky, only one single vehicle was in the lot when we went in at noon time. We did not see anyone on the trails for the entire day. The blue trail was initially steep, then leveled off on the red trail, the green trail was was flooded out at the stream Ford area. It took us 20 minutes to locate a safe dry crossing. Overall, the trails were well maintained, with planks or bridges across most of the muddy areas. Due to recent rain, trails are muddy and the reservoir is overflowing. We had a fantastic time at the...