Lenape Trail
| Park Overview: | The Lenape Trail is a unique 34-mile trail that extends from Newark’s Military Park west to the Passaic River through one of the most densely populated counties in the United States. |
| Trail Uses: | Hiking |
| Dogs: | |
| Trail Miles: | 34 miles |
| Park Acreage: | |
| City/County/ State: | Newark; Nutley; Montclair; Cedar Grove; Verona; Roseland; West Orange/Essex/NJ |
| Park Description: | Established in 1982, the Lenape Trail links a dozen county and municipal parks, a rail trail, historic areas, and other landmarks along a 34-mile route in Essex County. The trail was a joint undertaking of the Sierra Club and the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. The Lenape Trail is part of the Liberty Water Gap Trail connecting Liberty State Park and The Delaware Water Gap. Official information can be found at www.libertygap.org and www.libertygap.org/lenape-trail.html. |
| Trails Overview: | The Lenape Trail [yellow] forms a great arch from Military Park in Newark west to West Essex Park, an undeveloped largely wooded wetland along the Passaic River. Its northwestern terminus is at Bloomfield Avenue near the Essex Mall at the intersection of Passaic Avenue. A southern branch leads to South Mountain Reservation. Some of the trail is routed along power lines and residential streets, but it also passes through wooded Branch Brook Park, Eagle Rock Reservation and South Mountain Reservation -- in all about 70% consists of park/trail and 30% on-street. It is a unique trail through one of the most densely populated counties in the United States. A helpful if sketchy trail map is available at: http://www.libertygap.org/lenape-trail.html Click to see an exceptionally detailed trail map showing every (!) blaze along 29 miles of the trail [before a reblazing and partial re-routing project in September, 2010]. Update: Click for an interactive map incorporating the re-routing. |
| Directions: | Given the nature of the Lenape Trail, access points are available throughout the route. Major parks traversed by the trail include Branch Brook Park, Eagle Rock Reservation and South Mountain Reservation. Public transportation: Penn Station Newark is close by the eastern terminus, and the Millburn station on NJ Transit's Morristown Line provides access to the southern trailhead in South Mountain Reservation. NJ Transit bus #73 runs along the northern end of South Mountain Reservation. NJ Transit bus #71 from West Orange and bus #29 from Montclair and Newark stop at the Essex Mall. The trail also passes close to several stations on NJ Transit's Montclair-Boonton Line (no service on weekends). |
| Contact Information: | Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs 973-268-3500 |
| Region: | Watchungs |
| Fees: | None |
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Lenape Trail Closure
Please be advised that the section of the Lenape Trail that runs along the PSE&G right of way from Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange, NJ to Eisenhower Parkway in Roseland, NJ will be closed until Summer 2014 due to power line upgrades. Call (877)678-5784 with inquiries. For more information on the Lenape Trail, visit www.lenapetrail.org.
Putting Lenape Trail On The Map
From the Nutley Sun:
Putting Lenape Trail on the map
Friday, October 1, 2010
BY MEGHAN GRANT
"Over the years, the yellow-colored markings of the nearly 40-mile Lenape Trail, like the network itself, has faded from the public's eye, but efforts by Essex County and volunteers of the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference promise to expand the trail and publicize it."
For the rest of the story, click here.
Walking Nutley