Lenape Trail, hiking trail between Newark & Millburn, New Jersey
The Lenape Trail is a hiking path stretching roughly 36 miles through Essex County in New Jersey, connecting 18 parks and passing through 11 towns. Marked with yellow blazes, the trail forms a horseshoe shape, weaving through both urban and wooded sections with varying terrain from flat to steep climbs on Second Watchung Mountain.
The trail was named after the Lenape, the original population who inhabited the region before European settlement, hunting and gathering throughout the area. Over time, the region developed into a place marked by 19th and 20th century structures, including old sanatorium sites and early automobile race tracks whose remnants can still be spotted along the route today.
The trail is named after the Lenape people, the indigenous inhabitants who lived in this region for generations. Visitors can learn about their history through informational signs and markers placed along the route as they walk through the various parks and neighborhoods.
The trail is well marked and can be split into shorter segments to explore on different days, making it manageable for various fitness levels. Wear comfortable shoes, bring plenty of water, and carry a map or use an app to stay on track, especially when walking through neighborhoods where paying attention to traffic and crossings is necessary.
Quarry Point offers an expansive view over Montclair and the distant city skyline, making it a favorite spot for photos and rest breaks. From this elevated vantage point, visitors can see mountains and urban landscape together, revealing how closely nature and development sit side by side in this region.
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