South Mountain Reservation

Park Overview:

Wooded hiking trails, picnic areas, and views are the main reasons for South Mountain Reservation’s popularity.
Trail Uses:Hiking, Bridle path, X-C skiing
Dogs:Dogs on leash
Trail Miles:19 miles
Park Acreage:2047 acres
City/County/
State:		West Orange/Essex/NJ
Park Description:

Wooded hiking trails, picnic areas, and views are the main reasons for South Mountain Reservation's popularity.  The park's 2,047 acres contain five marked hiking trails, many miles of carriage roads and bridle paths, views of falls, millponds, a popular dog park, and - off in the distance - Manhattan.   Two year-round skating rinks, the Turtle Back Zoo, and horseback riding also draw people to the reservation
Trails Overview:

The five trails ranging from 1.2 to 6.0 miles combine for 19 miles.  In addition there are 27 miles of carriage roads for jogging, horseback riding, & cross-country skiing.  The longest trail in the reservation is the Lenape Trail [yellow blaze].  A trail map is available on the park's web page [see Contact Information below] 

Click here for our description of a hike at this park.
Directions:

Take Route 280 West to Exit 7/Pleasant Valley Way. Turn left onto Pleasant Valley Way and the reservation is straight ahead.   [Google Maps: "Northfield Avenue and Cherry Lane, West Orange, NJ"]

  • Public transportation: Take NJ Transit's Morristown Line to Millburn Station for the southern trailheads in South Mountain Reservation.  NJ Transit Bus #73 runs along the northern end of the reservation.
Contact Information:Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs
973-268-3500
Region:Watchungs
Fees:None

Comments

Nice article in New York Times

On July 13th, 2012 Georgette Weir says:

Check out this nice article on the reservation. The author also mentions the Lenape Trail, a Trail Conference project: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/13/nyregion/south-mountain-reservation-in-essex-county-nj.html