South Mountain Reservation

Ball's Bluff Trail–Elmdale Trail (Blue) Loop, 4 sights

4.1 mi · ▲ 579 ft · 1 hr 39 min

Ball's Bluff Trail–Elmdale Trail (Blue) Loop, 4 sights is a 4.1-mile loop in South Mountain Reservation near Newstead, NJ. It climbs 579 ft. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi240 – 545 ft4.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lenape Trail (Yellow) 40.75557, -74.29297
Nearest town Newstead, NJ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ball's Bluff Trail–Elmdale Trail (Blue) Loop, 4 sights

4.1 mi · ▲ 579 ft · 1 hr 39 min

Elevation 240–546 ft

Loop · South Mountain Reservation

Trailhead: Lenape Trail (Yellow) · 40.75557, -74.29297

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  2. 50 ftBear right onto Yellow Bypass, heading SE.
  3. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading E.
  4. 350 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading E.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right onto Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading S.
  6. 250 ftBear right onto Reservior Road, heading S.
  7. 0.3 miSharp right onto Longwood Trail, heading E.
  8. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  9. 50 ftBear right onto Summit Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftBear left onto Ball's Bluff Trail, heading SW.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
  13. 50 ftBear left onto Ball's Bluff Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.3 miTurn left onto River Trail, heading NE.
  15. 0.3 miBear right onto Rahway Trail (White) / Rahway Low Ext / West Connector, heading SW.
  16. 300 ftTurn right onto Rahway Trail (White) / West Connector, heading S.
  17. 0.1 miTurn left onto West Connector Green/White, heading SW.
  18. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Elmdale Trail (Blue) / West Connector, heading NW.
  19. 350 ftTurn left onto Elmdale Trail (Blue), heading W.
  20. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
  21. 150 ftTurn right onto West Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  22. 0.7 miBear right onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  23. 0.5 miThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

15% dirt1% gravel84% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:29 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 6:38 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Lenape Trail (Yellow) Trailhead