Lenape Trail Extension

The Lenape Trail is a unique 34-mile trail that extends from Newark’s Military Park west to the Passaic River through one of the most densely populated areas in the United States. Established in 1982, it links a dozen county and municipal parks, a rail trail, historic areas and other landmarks throughout Essex County. The trail was a joint undertaking of the Sierra Club and the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, and it is managed by staff and volunteers from the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC).

Previously, the Lenape Trail skirted the eastern edge of the Hilltop Reservation. In 2017 the Conservancy and the NYNJTC worked together to extend a portion of the trail through the Hilltop in order to improve hiker experience and to familiarize visitors with the Reservation. The trail now leads hikers up to the forested ridgetop of the Second Watchung Mountain, through recently-restored meadows, and alongside historic features like White Rock and Prisoner's Pond.

To learn more about the Lenape Trail and / or the NYNJTC, click here.