South Mountain Reservation — Attraction in Maplewood

This is a good trail, but does require lots of stamina to walk the trails. This was another spot I came with my wife and 2 children ages 9 and 4. We came with our puppy who we are also trying to accustom to long walks as we like to remain active.

The trail started off well, lots of friendly people and some nice views on the path. Easy walk with flat land. When you start off you will come across a nice small bridge which will lead you to a corner where there is a fairly large cliff with small water fall.

As you continue the path you come across the main waterfall, which is honestly a wonderful sight. Attached to the water fall on the left side are stairs that lead you to a different path where you get a fairly nice scenic view. You can travel through the flat rock top to get deeper in to the stream area, however, we opted out for safety reasons having young small children and a puppy. We will definitely be attempting this again before winter.

At this point I feel we should have enjoyed the scenic views with waterfall and just kept close by, however, we decided to continue on the yellow path aka Lenape Trail. An important note is that we got to the trail around 3 pm which wasn’t wise of me to start a trail that long. Taking our time walking até up the hours and before my wife and i knew it it was 5:30 pm. The Lenape Trail felt like an infinite trail where we felt we weren’t reaching the end and to avoid walking into the dark the decision to turn around was made. All in all the place is wonderful, but do NOT make the mistake and start the trek in the early afternoon. I strongly recommend going early to enjoy a nice long...

Hold onto your hiking boots, because South Mountain Reservation is about to take you on a wild ride through nature! 🌳✨

Imagine a sprawling 2,100-acre wonderland where the trees are tall, the trails are endless, and the wildlife is practically waving at you. Seriously, folks, this place is massive! It's like Mother Nature's amusement park, minus the roller coasters but with way better views!

First off, let’s talk dog park! 🐕 If you have a furry friend, they’ll think they’ve hit the canine jackpot. With loads of room to roam and frolic, it’s basically a doggy paradise! Meanwhile, you get to chill while sipping your coffee and watching the four-legged antics.

Now, for the adventurers out there, the trails are your best buddies. They’re clearly marked, so you won’t accidentally end up in Narnia. Whether you’re looking for a scenic stroll or a heart-pumping trek, you’ve got options galore! And trust me, the views will have you snapping pictures like you’re a professional photographer.

Oh, and did I mention the wildlife? You might just spot a deer posing for its close-up or birds that sing sweeter than your favorite pop song. Nature is putting on a show, and you’re the VIP guest!

Need a break after all that excitement? Fear not! They’ve got clean restrooms and picnic areas set up like a cozy outdoor cafe. So pack that picnic basket and enjoy your lunch surrounded by the beauty of nature. 🍉🥪

In conclusion, South Mountain Reservation is not just a park; it’s an epic adventure waiting to happen! So grab your pals, your pets, and your sense of wonder and head over—nature...

Beautiful! I went with the intention of just doing the fairy trail with my 7 year old daughter but we ended up hiking for about an hour AFTER having completed the fairy trail. We didnt see any indication that the fairy trail actually ended. Fairy trail was about 45 min. .. and we stopped at EVERY house. My daughter examined each one closely and was totally into the experience. Total time spent here was 2 hours 45 minutes (that includes the unexpected hiking beyond the fairy trail detour). Despite this, the changing leaves were so refreshing, inspiring. If you intend to just go for the fairy trail you should stop when you get to Groot. There was one more fairy house after Groot and then the water/bubbling brook area. Once you pass the rocky water area its all hiking from that point, no fairy houses. It was a beautiful mother daughter experience and I would recommend this place any time of year, but especially early-mid fall. If you go with small children, don't bring a stroller (too many raised roots, no level ground for a smooth ride) and stop when you get to the water. The hiking trail after that had several steep inclines along edges that I wouldn't recommend walking through with small children... There were a few daring times when I feared my daughter would fall over a cliff. Past the water its a great hike to do with a group of friends or for teens (bring lots of water)... Overall a...