Elmdale Trail (Blue)–Lenape Trail (Yellow) Loop, 8 sights
4.9 mi · ▲ 668 ft · 1 hr 58 min
Elmdale Trail (Blue)–Lenape Trail (Yellow) Loop, 8 sights is a 4.9-mile loop in South Mountain Reservation near Newstead, NJ. It climbs 668 ft. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Elmdale Trail (Blue)–Lenape Trail (Yellow) Loop, 8 sights
4.9 mi · ▲ 668 ft · 1 hr 58 min
Elevation 222–554 ft
Loop · South Mountain Reservation
Trailhead: 40.74621, -74.28166
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:25 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Openwood Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Summit Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Longwood Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Reservior Road, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow) / Turtle Back Trail (Orange), heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading N.
- 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 NW.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Elmdale Trail (Blue), heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Elmdale Trail (Blue) / West Connector, heading SE.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto West Connector Green/White, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Orange Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Overlook Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Rahway Trail (White), heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Overlook Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Overlook Trail, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Bear Lane, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Summit Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Openwood Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Crest Trail, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftThe 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~57 min). Leave by 6:08 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Longwood Trail–Openwood Trail, 5 sights 2.4 mi · ▲ 239 ft
- Washington Rock & Crest Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Crest Trail & Red Blaze 3.6 mi · ▲ 312 ft
- Openwood Trail–Red Blaze, 4 sights 4 mi · ▲ 313 ft
- Oakdale Trail (Red)–Openwood Trail, 3 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 432 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Newstead, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Newstead, New Jersey