Ball's Bluff Trail–Elmdale Trail (Blue), 5 sights
5.3 mi · ▲ 757 ft · 2 hr 9 min
Ball's Bluff Trail–Elmdale Trail (Blue), 5 sights is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Reservation near Millburn, NJ. It climbs 757 ft. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Ball's Bluff Trail–Elmdale Trail (Blue), 5 sights
5.3 mi · ▲ 757 ft · 2 hr 9 min
Elevation 240–546 ft
Out & Back · South Mountain Reservation
Trailhead: 40.74105, -74.30883
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 78°F / low 64° · precip 1% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:25 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto West Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Elmdale Trail (Blue), heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Elmdale Trail (Blue) / West Connector, heading N.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto West Connector Green/White, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Rahway Trail (White) / West Connector, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Rahway Trail (White) / Rahway Low Ext / West Connector, heading SW.
- 350 ftBear left onto River Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Ball's Bluff Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Ball's Bluff Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Summit Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Longwood Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Reservior Road, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading N.
- 200 ftBear right onto Hillspur Road, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NW.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Yellow Bypass, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NW.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 1.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 350 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~19 min). Leave by 6:46 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from this trailhead
- West Ridge Trail 3 mi · ▲ 332 ft
- West Ridge Trail 3.9 mi · ▲ 473 ft
- West Ridge Trail 4.2 mi · ▲ 529 ft
- Orange Reservoir & Oakdale Trail (Red) via West Ridge Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 389 ft
- Elmdale Trail (Blue)–Hemlock Falls Loop, 6 sights 5.2 mi · ▲ 742 ft
- Aqual Trail–Elmdale Trail (Blue), 5 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 852 ft
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