South Mountain Reservation

Mayapple Hill–Orange Reservoir, 7 sights

5.7 mi · ▲ 408 ft · 2 hr 6 min

Mayapple Hill–Orange Reservoir, 7 sights is a 5.7-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Reservation near Newstead North, NJ. The route passes Flamingo, Orange Reservoir and Orange Reservoir before reaching Mayapple Hill at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It climbs 408 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi328 – 584 ft6.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.76635, -74.27504
Nearest town Newstead North, NJ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mayapple Hill–Orange Reservoir, 7 sights

5.7 mi · ▲ 408 ft · 2 hr 6 min

Elevation 329–586 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Reservation

Trailhead: 40.76635, -74.27504

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

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftPass Flamingo.
  3. 50 ftTurn left onto Hillspur Trail, heading SW.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left onto Reservoir/Zoo Loop (Green Dot), heading S.
  5. 0.4 miBear right onto Zoo Loop (Green Dot), heading SW.
  6. 50 ftPass Orange Reservoir.
  7. 50 ftTurn right onto Connector, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftBear right onto Reservoir Loop / Zoo Loop (Green Dot), heading SW.
  9. 1.1 miPass Orange Reservoir.
  10. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  11. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  13. 450 ftTurn right onto Oakdale Trail (Red), heading W.
  14. 0.2 miSharp left onto Oakdale Trail, heading NE.
  15. 0.2 miContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  16. 50 ftSharp right onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
  17. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  18. 350 ftContinue straight onto Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading NE.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  21. 150 ftReach Mayapple Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading N.
  23. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading N.
  24. 0.3 miSharp left onto West Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto Oakdale Trail, heading SE.
  26. 0.2 miSharp right onto Oakdale Trail (Red), heading SW.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  28. 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  30. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  31. 1.1 miBear left onto Connector, heading S.
  32. 50 ftTurn left onto Zoo Loop (Green Dot), heading S.
  33. 50 ftBear left onto Reservoir/Zoo Loop (Green Dot), heading S.
  34. 0.4 miTurn right onto Hillspur Trail, heading S.
  35. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  36. 50 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

48% dirt52% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:29 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~63 min). Leave by 6:02 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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