South Mountain Reservation, NJ - New Trails at Mayapple Hill

ABOUT THE PARK:
South Mountain Reservation - Essex County Parks
South Mountain Conservancy  (this link is not working at this time and cannot find a working URL)
The Lenape Trail 
"Improvements to Hiking Trail System in South Mountain Reservation" - article, NJ.com

DIRECTIONS:
Mayapple Hill Parking GPS Coordinates 40.773650, -74.286933

View Larger Map

TRAIL MAPS:
South Mountain Reservation Trail Map - Essex County Parks
The map is of no use for this hike as it does not show the trails and to date I have not been able to locate one.  So for lack of anything better...

I drew a rough (keep in mind, VERY rough) outline of where the trails are just to give an idea.  The yellow-blazed Lenape Trail used to end at the Mayapple Hill parking lot coming in from the main part of South Mountain Reservation.  The new section continues on and currently ends at Whitbay Drive.  The intention is to eventually extended this Lenape Trail section to meet up with the main Lenape Trail to completely connect all of the main Essex County Parks.

HIKE DISTANCE:  4 miles

PEAK BAGGING:
Mayapple Hill - Peakery.com

THE HIKE:

Facing the kiosk at about the center of the parking lot along the side, turn right and walk to the corner of the lot and the restroom building to pick up the yellow-blazed Lenape Trail just to the left of the restrooms.

At Cedar Avenue the new blue-dot-on-white trail joins in from the right (return route) and crosses over the road.

Blue-dot-on-white leaves to the left at a boardwalk.

The white/yellow trail forms a loop with the yellow Lenape Trail.

The Lenape Trail has been cleared of Hurricane Sandy debris.

Although this hike goes through pretty wooded areas, it is an urban hike so developments and houses are sometimes visible along with the sound of traffic, bulldozers, leaf blowers...  But there is generally no hunting (there was a controlled hunt in January 2010 but I am not aware of anything for this year) so it's a nice weekday option to get outdoors and explore a new area.

The trail starts to switchback down at old concrete fence posts.

A creek crossing on large boulders.

The Lenape Trail appears to end at a paved road that leads to condos to the left.  This is the turn around point - retrace back to the white/yellow trail.

Crossing the creek on boulders.

Taking the white/yellow loop trail to meet back up with the yellow Lenape Trail.

Blow downs have not yet been cleared from this trail but they can be navigated through or around.

After getting back on the yellow Lanape Trail, turn right at the boardwalk on to the blue-dot-on-white trail.

There would probably be a better view over the McMansions on a clear day.

The blue-dot-on-white trail nears a large apartment (?) building where...

... a very interesting party spot overlooks that building to the right just off of the trail.

It's the neatest party spot I have ever seen. Looks like it even has a trash can.

Back on the trail...  Oops!  Looks like a couple of blue dots are missing.

The blue dot trail crosses over Cedar Avenue and continues along the side of Mayapple Hill...

... with views of the arena and Turtle Back Zoo down below.

A blue-line-on-white trail to the left is a shortcut back to the parking lot.

Continuing on the blue dot trail.

Found one of those missing dots!

The blue dot trail runs back into the yellow Lenape Trail from the beginning of the hike...

... and the Lenape Trail leads back to the parking lot.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Start on the yellow-blazed Lenape Trail to the left of the restroom building
[  0.25]  Cross paved Cedar Avenue when blue-dot-on-white joins in from the right
[  0.35]  Keep straight on yellow when blue-dot-on-white leaves to the left at boardwalk
[  0.40]  Keep straight on yellow when white/yellow goes right
[  0.80]  Keep straight when white/yellow goes right (other end of white/yellow loop)
[  1.00]  Cross creek on large boulders
[  1.25]  Reach paved Whitbay Drive and retrace
[  1.45]  Cross creek on large boulders
[  1.65]  Turn left on white/yellow (at the time of this hike, white/yellow not yet cleared, lots of blow downs)
[  2.20]  Turn left on yellow when white/yellow ends
[  2.25]  Turn right on blue-dot-on-white at boardwalk when yellow goes left
[  3.00]  Blue dot trail turns left on unmarked coming in from right then leaves to the right when unmarked veers left
[  3.10]  Cross over old section of yellow-blazed Lenape Trail running parallel to Cedar Avenue
[  3.15]  Cross paved Cedar Avenue
[  3.30]  Keep straight when blue-line-on-white goes left back to the parking lot
[  3.65]  Cross paved Cedar Avenue then small creek
[  3.75]  Left on yellow Lenape Trail when yellow/blue dot crosses road to the right
[  4.00]  Back at parking lot

South Mountain Reservation, NJ: Locust Grove to Mayapple Hill

 

ABOUT THE PARK:
South Mountain Reservation - Essex County Parks
South Mountain Conservancy
The Lenape Trail


DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.727503, -74.304261

View Larger Map

This parking lot is right behind Millburn trail station so this hike can be done by taking the train.

TRAIL MAPS:
South Mountain Reservation Trail Map - Essex County Parks
Purchase a laminated color map from the South Mountain Conservancy

HIKE DISTANCES:
Locust Grove to Mayapple Hill Loop:  11.3 miles
Locust Grove to Oakdale Loop: 10.3 miles
Locust Grove to Hemlock Falls Loop:  5 miles (click here for NY/NJ Trail Conference version)

PEAK BAGGING:
Mayapple Hill - Peakery.com

THE HIKE:

The hike begins on the yellow-blazed Lenape Trail.  Follow this trail for 6 miles all the way to Mayapple Hill.

The yellow-blazed Lenape Trail climbs up to paved Crest Drive and continues to the left of the kiosk ahead.

Revolutionary memorial to the right of the kiosk.

Overlook at Washington Rock - view obstructed by foliage

View of Watchung Reservation from Washington Rock

The Lenape Trail continues down the steps from the viewing deck.

The Lenape Trail now enters the woods for a long stretch.

Remnants of a 1908 picnic shelter at Ball's Bluff.

Hemlock Falls

Footbridge over South Orange Avenue

Yellow and orange trails merge briefly through an attractive pine forest.

You will pass through a picnic area after which the yellow blazes of the Lenape Trail are confusing and often missing.  Here is how to stay on the trail:

Walk straight through the picnic area towards a grove of trees with a field on either side.  Stay to the right of the grove of trees.  The trail will go inside the grove and come out at the other end.  There are some blazes but they pretty much stop in the open field.

After coming out of the grove of trees, veer left towards the traffic intersection.  There is no defined path through the field.  Cross Cherry Lane almost at the intersection, just to the left of the trees, and continue across a field.  There are no blazes at all in this area.

Stay to the left of the guardrail which is the end of Valley View Drive (no traffic).

Around the other side of the guardrail the yellow blazes start again and the trail turns right just behind the Oakdale sign.  This can be hard to see if it is overgrown.

The trail will go through a neat tunnel where foliage has formed a canopy overhead.

"The Crag" with limited views.

A footbridge over Northfield Avenue.

The Lenape Trail ends at Mayapple Hill - it should pick up again but I do not know where unless that connector section is not complete yet.  Across the field is a picnic area, convenient or taking a break before heading back.

Retrace on the yellow-blazed Lenape Trail, cross the footbridge, then turn left on an unmarked trail where you will start seeing red blazes.  Follow the red blazes to the right into the woods after the Oakdale sign post which you will approach from behind.

Oakdale sign post of the red blazed trail looking back the way you came.  The red-blazed Oakdale Trail will meet back up wtih the yellow-blazed Lenape Trail. 

The white-blazed Rahway Trail.

Rock hop over the Rahway River.

Some fall color on the Rahway Trail.

Cross back over the Rahway River on a bridge.

Rahway River

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Take the yellow-blazed Lenape Trail at the far right corner of the parking lot
[  0.30]  Trail levels out at concrete tank before ascending again
[  0.50]  Left on paved Crest Drive then keep left at fork
[  0.65]  Leave Crest Drive to left just before kiosk; revolutionary memorial to right of kiosk
[  0.70]  Washington Rock overlook on left; yellow trail continues down steps
[  1.40]  Left at fork when unmarked goes straight
[  3.15]  Yellow makes sharp right turn then forks, keep left at fork when red/white goes right
[  3.25]  Hemlock Falls; cross bridge then trail turns left when stairs go straight; at T intersection turn left
[  3.55]  Yellow goes right at Rahway Trail
             *** take white-blazed Rahway Trail for 5 mile hike; continue from 9.05 below ***
[  3.60]  At fork keep left when straight goes to parking lot
[  3.70]  Cross footbridge over South Orange Avenue; trail now orange/yellow although yellow seems to leave randomly - stay on orange when this happens as they come back together
[  3.95]  Keep straight on yellow when orange leaves to the right; cross through parking lot then cross creek on bridge; veer left after bridge, go through picnic area on gravel road then stay to right of tree grove - blazes start to become confusing and/or are missing
[  4.35]  Come out at other end of grove of trees into field and veer left towards traffic intersection, cross Cherry Lane almost at intersection, enter field to left of row of trees, keep to the left of the guardrail ahead
[  4.50]  Turn right behind Oakdale sign post on yellow trail; keep straight on yellow when red comes in from right (return route)
[  5.50]  Yellow trail goes through tree tunnel; "The Crag" shelter on the right
[  5.70]  Watch for trail going to the right just before footbridge - this will be return route; cross footbridge
             *** turn right on unmarked for 10.3 mile hike; continue from 6.65 below ***
[  6.00]  Yellow-blazed Lenape Trail ends at traffic island; continue straight through field to picnic area on Mayapple Hill; retrace
[  6.20]  Back on yellow-blazed Lenape Trail after traffic island
[  6.65]  Cross footbridge over Northfield Avenue then turn left on unmarked
[  6.80]  Turn right on red-blazed trail at Oakdale sign post
[  7.00]  Watch for trail to veer to the right away from the road - unmarked, blaze on back of tree
[  8.00]  Red ends at yellow, left on yellow-blazed Lenape Trail; come out on field, veer left through field
[  8.15]  Cross over Cherry Lane to the right of line of trees almost at intersection; veer left across field to grove of trees between two fields where trail enters grove
[  8.35]  Exit grove and cross field towards picnic area
[  8.60]  Proceed through picnic area; cross bridge; continue through parking lot then pine grove with orange and yellow blazes
[  8.75]  Cross footbridge over South Orange Avenue
[  8.95]  When yellow goes left, turn right on white-blazed Rahway Trail
[  9.05]  Rock hop across Rahway River, turn left on trail through overgrown section
[  9.55]  Left on gravel road
[  9.65]  Cross stone bridge, turn right immediately after bridge at double white blazes before reaching the woods road
[10.95]  At an unmarked fork, keep left
[11.30]  Back at parking lot