Hilltop Reservation

West Essex Trail

3.7 mi · ▲ 544 ft · 1 hr 30 min

West Essex Trail is a 3.7-mile out-and-back in Hilltop Reservation near Cedar Grove, NJ. It climbs 544 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi331 – 643 ft4.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Verona Pool Access 40.84776, -74.24498
Nearest town Cedar Grove, NJ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

West Essex Trail

3.7 mi · ▲ 544 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Elevation 331–641 ft

Out & Back · Hilltop Reservation

Trailhead: Verona Pool Access · 40.84776, -74.24498

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Verona Pool Access, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miSharp left onto West Essex Trail, heading NE.
  3. 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
  4. 300 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  5. 150 ftContinue straight onto Endor, heading NE.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  9. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  10. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  11. 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  12. 150 ftTurn left onto Endor, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miSharp left onto Spruce Trail - Inner Loop, heading NW.
  14. 100 ftBear right onto Old Hilltop Trail, heading W.
  15. 350 ftBear left onto Peace Trail, heading W.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Old Hilltop Trail, heading SW.
  17. 100 ftBear right onto C-29 Trail, heading N.
  18. 450 ftContinue straight onto Old Hilltop Trail, heading S.
  19. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Peace Trail, heading SW.
  20. 450 ftContinue straight onto Switchback Trail, heading SW.
  21. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  22. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Peace Trail, heading E.
  23. 450 ftContinue straight onto Old Hilltop Trail, heading SE.
  24. 0.2 miContinue straight onto C-29 Trail, heading SW.
  25. 450 ftBear left onto Old Hilltop Trail, heading NW.
  26. 100 ftTurn left onto Peace Trail, heading S.
  27. 50 ftBear right onto Old Hilltop Trail, heading S.
  28. 350 ftBear left onto Spruce Trail - Inner Loop, heading S.
  29. 100 ftSharp right onto Endor, heading W.
  30. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  31. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  32. 200 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  34. 150 ftBear right onto Lenape Trail, heading NW.
  35. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Endor, heading NE.
  36. 200 ftSharp right onto West Essex Trail, heading E.
  37. 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
  38. 0.5 miSharp right onto Verona Pool Access, heading E.
  39. 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

84% dirt5% paved11% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:29 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Verona Pool Access Trailhead