Best hikes in South Mountain Reservation

Ambleway maps 31 hikes in South Mountain Reservation, from a 1.2-mile walk to a 11-mile day out. 2 of them score as wild, staying clear of roads and development for most of the route; the wildest is Grassy Trail & Swampy Trail Loop via Lenape Trail (Yellow). The biggest climb is Nook Hill–West Ridge Sunset Point, 8 sights, gaining 1,176 ft, and the network tops out at 597 ft. One trailhead is within walking range of public transit.

• Grassy Trail & Swampy Trail Loop via Lenape Trail (Yellow) 2 mi · ▲ 280 ft
• Campbells Pond–Rahway Trail (White), 3 sights 2.5 mi · ▲ 81 ft

Show 29 less-wild hikesHide 29 less-wild hikes

• Bramhall Terrace & Openwood Trail Loop via Summit Trail 1.2 mi · ▲ 56 ft
• Crater View–Bramhall Terrace Loop, 5 sights 1.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft
• Summit Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 55 ft
• Hemlock Falls–Hobble Falls Loop, 7 sights 2 mi · ▲ 256 ft
• Rahway Lower Ext White/Red–Rahway Trail (White), 5 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 155 ft
• Lenape Trail via Lenape (Yellow) 2.3 mi · ▲ 152 ft
• Orange Trail–Rahway Trail (White), 5 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 173 ft
• Lenape Bow & Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot) Loop 2.3 mi · ▲ 151 ft
• Longwood Trail–Openwood Trail, 5 sights 2.4 mi · ▲ 239 ft
• West Ridge Sunset Point–Orange Reservoir Loop, 3 sights 2.5 mi · ▲ 233 ft
• Red Blaze–Summit Trail, 3 sights 3 mi · ▲ 283 ft
• West Ridge Trail 3 mi · ▲ 332 ft
• Mayapple Hill–Billy Goat Way, 5 sights 3.1 mi · ▲ 340 ft
• Washington Rock & Crest Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 54 ft
• Lenape Trail 3.2 mi · ▲ 142 ft
• Hemlock Falls Viewpoint–Flamingo, 3 beaches 3.5 mi · ▲ 223 ft
• Crest Trail & Red Blaze 3.6 mi · ▲ 312 ft
• Orange Reservoir–West Ridge Sunset Point Loop, 7 sights 3.8 mi · ▲ 345 ft
• Big Cat Country–Flamingo, 8 sights 4.5 mi · ▲ 509 ft
• Flamingo–Hillspur Trail, 4 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 227 ft
• Orange Reservoir & Oakdale Trail (Red) via West Ridge Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 389 ft
• Oakdale Trail (Red)–Openwood Trail, 3 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 432 ft
• Grassy Trail–Longwood Trail, 4 sights 5 mi · ▲ 218 ft
• Aqual Trail–Elmdale Trail (Blue), 5 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 852 ft
• Tulip Springs–Lenape Yellow Blaze, 6 sights 5.6 mi · ▲ 680 ft
• Hawk Hill–Campbells Pond Loop, 10 sights 6.1 mi · ▲ 930 ft
• Diamond Mill Pond–Flamingo, 7 sights 6.9 mi · ▲ 512 ft
• Diamond Mill Pond–Flamingo, 7 sights 6.9 mi · ▲ 485 ft
• Nook Hill–West Ridge Sunset Point, 8 sights 11 mi · ▲ 1,176 ft