South Mountain Reservation is an oasis of wilderness in an urban sea. The creator of these was revealed in an article in July 2016, “Thumbelina’s Secret Architect, Creating Fairy Houses on a New Jersey Trail“. Fairly soon the trail turns off the paved path at a slight angle, while the paved path continues ahead to a dead end. It’s also surrounded closely by development and has some traffic … Updated: 5/2020: Page refreshed, not re-hiked. Trail Guide to the South Mountain Reservation. [RED DOT on WHITE is straight ahead up some stairs to go to the top of the falls. We prefer Rahway but the River Trail is a level woods road and meets up with this description at 4.1 miles below. South Mountain Reservation, West Orange: Address, Phone Number, South Mountain Reservation Reviews: 4.5/5 A few easy stream crossings, and one over the Rahway River that may be tricky depending on water level/rock shifting. Hiked: 12/22/11 – Trail Blog: “South Mountain Reservation in December“, Copyright © 2020 | site by OPAQUE DESIGN LLC, njHiking.com | facebook.com/njhiking | twitter.com/njhiking | instagram.com/njhiking | youtube.com/njhiking. South Mountain Reservation, Hemlock Falls, South Orange, New Jersey. Moderate hike that takes in a viewpoint from historic Washington Rock, Hemlock Falls, and the Rahway River. Moderate hike that takes in a viewpoint from historic Washington Rock, Hemlock Falls, and the Rahway River. There are two WHITE markers indicating the turn, but if you find yourself at the tree just ahead that has 3 WHITE over RED markers, you missed the turn. 0.5 – Turn LEFT onto a paved road. Children will enjoy the Turtle Back Zoo located within the park's boundaries. Rahway (WHITE) is a path along the river, not the woods road. Continue following Rahway (WHITE) as it hugs the river. Shortly, the paved road splits. Discover Hemlock Falls, a 25-foot waterfall, and Washington Rock, a … 0.0 – Start in the far corner of the lot, by the wooden trail kiosk. In fact, Rahway (WHITE) co-joins with the River Trail a few times over bridges. South Mountain Reservation, West Orange: See 140 reviews, articles, and 101 photos of South Mountain Reservation, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 18 attractions in West Orange. Questions? About Hemlock Falls The 25 foot Hemlock Falls are found within the South Mountain Reservation (Essex County). Leaving from the Summit Field parking areas, your short hike (less than 2 miles round trip) will bring you the beautiful landscape of the park. Hemlock Falls Is A 6 Mile Hike In New Jersey That Leads You To A Pristine Waterfall Get out into the forests of South Mountain Reservation and take an easy, rewarding hike to Hemlock Falls. Enjoy your day under the cool, lush canopy of some of New Jersey’s prettiest countryside. South Mountain Reservation – Hemlock Falls. Hiking. The South Mountain Conservancy serves as steward and advocate for the 2,110-acre South Mountain Reservation by working to protect, restore and enhance its ecology, natural beauty and infrastructure through sustainable use and informed public policy, and to foster public engagement with, appreciation of, and support for this beloved regional park. Continue straight on Rahway (WHITE). The Rahway (WHITE) is between these. Wyoming Hamlet, 1½ miles south; Landmarks. This nature reserve covers 2,110 acres and features hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and a 25ft waterfall known as Hemlock Falls. Over the years, friends would ask me for tips on where to hike, so I started this website as a way to give back and hopefully help others discover nature. On the far shore of the brook, the trail turns sharply left and follows the brook for about 0.1 miles, at which point it turns right and follows along the base of a small cliff. So I couldn't help but take the kids to explore a new hiking trail that I recently heard about. Follow Lenape (YELLOW) uphill on a woods road, with houses on the right. The South Mountain Reservation, covering 2,112 acres, is a nature reserve that is part of the Essex County Park System. Posted by Christine Dyer on March 18, 2020 at 7:24pm in Places You Explored. There are steps to climb to the top of the waterfall, as well as benches to sit and enjoy the majesty of the falls. Hiking South Mountain and Hemlock Falls for the first time. Hemlock Falls Only 20 miles west of New York City, Hemlock Falls is located in the South Mountain Reservation in Essex County. This trail was just a dirt road and fairly uneventful. To find other great hikes, check out the whole list. After enjoying the falls and having lunch, we took the River Trail back to complete the loop. Location: South Mountain Reservation, South Orange, Essex County, NJ, Parking: Park at the Tulip Springs parking area. To find other great hikes, check out the whole list. Hemlock Falls Trail via Lenape (Yellow) Trail, Rahway Trail (White) and River Trail is a 5.8 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Millburn, New Jersey that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. It descends into a wooded area and, making a hairpin turn to the right, comes to the bank of the brook and crosses it. Hemlock Falls, South Mountain Reservation. No paper maps at the park the time we went, print the map beforehand. 6.0 – Moderate, somewhat rocky trails. [The trail is also marked with WHITE over RED blazes]. Get out into the forests of South Mountain Reservation and take an easy, rewarding hike to Hemlock Falls. This route starts from the Locust Grove parking area. ///. Park at Glen Avenue lot (Locust Grove) in Millburn and start by taking the right-hand trail. Hemlock Falls NJ, New Jersey is a good place to hike. The reservation holds a vast amount of trails with various terrains and skill levels. Crossing the woods road, the trail in about 100 yards makes a sharp right turn and descends gradually along the edge of the ravine on the left (the Lenape Trail is on the other side). Share on reddit. The falls seen straight ahead after this descent are Hobble Falls, not Hemlock. Wildflower and Forest Preserve This preserve is open to the public - simply enter through the gates on either side of the dog park. More things to do around the South Mountain Reservation: There are several other activities nearby: Turtle Back Zoo, Orange Reservoir (you can walk around), playgrounds and of course, other parts of the South Mountain Reservation you can explore. 6.0 – Moderate, somewhat rocky trails. Nestled in South Mountain Reservation in West Orange, Hemlock Falls cascades down 25 feet, and you have several trails you can follow to reach it. The clouds burned off as the morning went on, leaving us with blue skies and sun. (Hemlock Falls) - YouTube A little hike with the girls through the South Mountain Reservation in South Orange NJ. This nature reserve covers 2,110 acres and features hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and a 25ft waterfall known as Hemlock Falls. Bear LEFT (the other side joins up anyway) and head over to the stone wall for views over the surrounding area. Turning right after crossing the bridge, follow the woods road to the falls and the stone staircase where our description of the trail started. The South Mountain Conservancy serves as steward and advocate for the 2,110-acre South Mountain Reservation by working to protect, restore and enhance its ecology, natural beauty and infrastructure through sustainable use and informed public policy, and to foster public engagement with, appreciation of, and support for this beloved regional park. At the fourth light (Millburn Ave.), turn left. There are some benches, making for a nice break spot. Share on linkedin. Routes | Ascents. 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