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Lenape Trail
Essex Co., NJ
34 trail miles
40.804997, -74.238418
Park Overview:
The 34-mile Lenape Trail is a unique urban/suburban trail network connecting 18 parks and 11 municipalities in Essex County. It offers a green respite in one of the most densely populated counties in the country.
See the Description tab for more information, including maps to explore the Lenape Trail.
Park Description:
Named in recognition of the Lenni-Lenape, the original inhabitants of this area, the Lenape Trail offers an easy escape to treasured green space including forested reservations, hilltop meadows, stunning overlooks, and rushing rivers. Along the way, those following the yellow blazes will find historic landmarks, community gardens, and three parks planned by Frederick Law Olmstead - the famed designer of New York City's Central Park. The Lenape Trail also connects to larger trail networks including the Patriots' Path, the West Essex Rail Trail, and the Morris Canal Greenway, and is itself a segment of the Liberty Water Gap Trail that connects Liberty State Park and the Delaware Water Gap.
Trail Map current as of October 2018. Click here to view a larger version of this map.
Trails Overview:
The Lenape Trail is marked with yellow blazes as it passes through 18 parks in Essex County. Highlights of the Lenape Trail include:
- Hemlock Falls in South Mountain Reservation
- The Eagle Rock September 11th Memorial with stunning views of New York City
- Hilltop Reservation's open meadow
- Branch Brook Park's Cherry Blossom Center and the Prudential Lions
- Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
- Verona Park Lake and Boathouse
- Brookdale Park's Rose Garden
- The Nutley Museum
- The Hawk Watch at Mills Reservation
.
Click the map to expose the interactive controls, or click here to view a full-screen version of this map.
The Lenape Trail is maintained by volunteers of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference in conjunction with the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs and local park conservancies. Recent improvements to the Lenape Trail have been made possible by the Partners for Health Foundation.
Park Acreage:
Not availableMunicipality:
Newark; Nutley; Montclair; Cedar Grove; Verona; Roseland; West OrangeThe 34-mile Lenape Trail is a unique urban/suburban trail network connecting 18 parks and 11 municipalities in Essex County. It offers a green respite in one of the most densely populated counties in the country.
See the Description tab for more information, including maps to explore the Lenape Trail.
Named in recognition of the Lenni-Lenape, the original inhabitants of this area, the Lenape Trail offers an easy escape to treasured green space including forested reservations, hilltop meadows, stunning overlooks, and rushing rivers. Along the way, those following the yellow blazes will find historic landmarks, community gardens, and three parks planned by Frederick Law Olmstead - the famed...
Park Acreage:
Not availableMunicipality:
Newark; Nutley; Montclair; Cedar Grove; Verona; Roseland; West OrangeContact Information
Web Link:
Essex County Park SystemPhone:
Not availableFees:
NoneDogs in park:
Dogs on leash
Web Map: Lenape Trail Interactive Map
Avenza App Map: Lenape Trail Overview Map
Directions to Trailhead
Public TransportationDirections to Trailhead :
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. The overview map linked in the description above includes parking location symbols at the primary parking access locations for the Lenape Trail.
Public transportation: Penn Station Newark is near 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).
TRAIN TRANSPORT :
Penn Station Newark is near the eastern terminus, and the Millburn station on NJ Transit's Morristown Line provides access to the southern trailhead in South Mountain Reservation.
BUS TRANSPORT :
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).
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SUPPORT
Support the trails with a donation!Trail Conference volunteers maintain trails in this park.
Trip Reports
rate experience June 11, 2018
Route through Hilltop - North Caldwell
On thru hike June 9, 2018 - noted turn from West Essex Rail trail up to Fairview Road is fenced off due to site work in Hilltop. Old trail continuing on WE Trail through Verona still marked. Pick up trail again on Bloomfield Ave and Gould Street. Not sure how long construction in place. Too bad - trail in Hilltop a great new re-route.
October 01, 2010
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.