HOST COMMUNITIES:  WEST ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD / MILLBURN

WEST ORANGE

Created in 1862 by the State Legislature as the Town of Fairmont, it was enlarged in 1863 and re-named West Orange.

MAPLEWOOD

Incorporated with South Orange in 1861 when they separated from Orange.  Sections known as "Middleville" and "Jefferson Village" became Maplewood in 1922.

MILLBURN

The town called Millville became Millburn when it seceded from Springfield in 1837. In 1857 it was incorporated as a Township.

ACREAGE
2047.14

LOCATION
So. Orange Ave. & Cherry Lane, West Orange
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HISTORIC PROFILE

CHESTNUT HOLLOW, 1897

THE VIEW FROM WASHINGTON ROCK, 1927

South Mountain Reservation covers 2,047.14 acres in the central section of Essex County, extending through the municipalities of West Orange, Maplewood, and Millburn,  bordering South Orange, between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountain Range. The presence of the early Lenape Indians lingers in the name given to the Watchung—the "high hills." 

 The reservation has changed only slightly through the years. It's been preserved primarily in its wild state. Woodlands abound in a variety of hardwood trees, and tall hemlocks tower above streams, creeks and ponds. The west branch of the Rahway River flows through the valley. A reservoir and watershed owned by the City of Orange lies in the northern tract.

Turtle Back Zoo and the Richard J. Codey Arena lie within its boundaries.  The vistas of New York, Elizabeth, Union, Staten Island, and Newark can be viewed from the eastern ridge, 550 feet above the community of Millburn.  Deep in the woods a 25-foot waterfall at Hemlock Falls is a dramatic feature.

Largest of the Park System's reservations, it was built from land purchases begun in 1895—the first year of the Park Commission's life.  It took a decade to untangle the deeds and assemble all the lands at South Mountain.

Before he delegated design of the Essex Parks to his stepson's firm, Frederick Law Olmsted visited the newly acquired reservation.  He regarded it as some of the most beautiful and promising terrain he had ever seen.  The design of South Mountain was finalized by the Olmsted Brothers in stages over the years.  A good deal of construction work--trails, foot bridges, shelters, etc.—was carried out by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's.

The roadway on Crest Drive has been closed to vehicular traffic at the old deer paddock so that you may enjoy a leisurely walk down to Washington Rock. This is the Park System's bona fide Revolutionary War historic site, dating back to the late 1700's when Beacon Signal Station 9 was located here—one of 23 beacons built by General Washington to observe British troop movements quartered on Staten Island and New York City. 

It was from this outlook that, on June 23, 1780, Essex County and Newark Militia were first warned that the British had launched an attack westward toward "the Gap," (Hobart Gap), a natural pathway to Washington's troops encamped at Morris Town.  In a pincer movement designed to gain access to the Gap, Hessian troops fought bitterly along Vaux Hall Road, with the British advanced along Galloping Hill Road, until they were repelled, the Hessians at the base of the mountain and the British in Millburn—called Millville in those days.  Washington Rock served again as a lookout for the Army when reactivated during the War of 1812.

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CURRENT IMPROVEMENTS

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DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

• Turtle Back Zoo.
• Richard J. Codey Arena — contains two indoor ice skating rinks.  The NJ Devils training facilities are located here.  The arena is also used for various special events.
• Washington Rock Lookout Historic Site.
• Ten picnic areas.
• Nineteen miles of hiking and walking trails.
• Twenty-seven miles of carriage roads for jogging, horseback riding, & cross-country skiing.
• Girl Scout camp.
• Archery range.
• Rahway River runs through the valley into several ponds and the Orange Reservoir.
• Fishing at Diamond Mill Pond.
• Hemlock Falls.
• Various wildlife, including deer.
• Largest parkland in Essex County

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DRIVING DIRECTIONS

From New Jersey: Take Route 280 West to Exit 7/Pleasant Valley Way. Turn left onto Pleasant Valley Way. Reservation is straight ahead.

From New York: George Washington Bridge or Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey Turnpike South. Take Exit 15W for Route 280 West. Follow above directions.

Use the intersection of “Northfield Avenue and Cherry Lane” when obtaining driving directions from the Internet.

Richard J. Codey Arena at South Mountain

From New Jersey: Take Route 280 West to Exit 7/Pleasant Valley Way. Turn left onto Pleasant Valley Way. Turn left onto Northfield Avenue. Arena is on the right.

From New York: George Washington Bridge or Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey Turnpike South. Take Exit 15W for Route 280 West. Follow above directions.

Use the address “560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange” when obtaining driving directions from the Internet.

Turtle Back Zoo

From New Jersey: Take Route 280 West to Exit 7/Pleasant Valley Way. Turn left onto Pleasant Valley Way. Turn left onto Northfield Avenue. Zoo is on the right, behind the Arena.

From New York: George Washington Bridge or Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey Turnpike South. Take Exit 15W for Route 280 West. Follow above directions.

Use the address “560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange” when obtaining driving directions from the Internet.

South Mountain Reservation Picnic Areas

Mayapple Hill: Follow above directions for New Jersey. Turn right onto Northfield Avenue. Mayapple Hill is on the right.

Turtle Back Rock: Follow above directions for New Jersey. Turn left onto Northfield Avenue. Turn right onto Walker Road. Turtle Back Rock in on the right.

Oakdale, Tulip Springs and Shady Nook: Follow above directions for New Jersey. Cross over Northfield Avenue. OAKDALE is the first picnic area on the right. TULIP SPRINGS is the first picnic area on the left. SHADY NOOK is the second picnic site on the left.

Bramhall Terrace and Summit Field: Follow above directions for New Jersey. Cross over Northfield Avenue. Turn left onto South Orange Avenue. Turn right onto Crest Drive.

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