The Lenape Trail is a unique 34-mile trail that extends from Newark’s Military Park west to the Passaic River through one of the most densely populated counties in the United States.
Established in 1982, the Lenape Trail links a dozen county and municipal parks, a rail trail, historic areas and other landmarks along a 34-mile route in Essex County. The trail was a joint undertaking of the Sierra Club and the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
The Lenape Trail is a segment of the Liberty Water Gap Trail which connects Liberty State Park and The Delaware Water Gap.
Trails Overview:
The Lenape Trail [yellow] forms a great arch from Military Park in Newark west to West Essex Park, an undeveloped largely wooded wetland along the Passaic River. Its northwestern terminus is at Bloomfield Avenue near the Essex Mall at the intersection of Passaic Avenue. A southern branch leads to South Mountain Reservation. Some of the trail is routed along power lines and residential streets, but it also passes through wooded Branch Brook Park, Eagle Rock Reservation and South Mountain Reservation - in all about 70% consists of park/trail and 30% on-street. It is a unique trail through one of the most densely populated counties in the United States.
For a walking map extending from the Lenape Trail into historic Nutley and then looping back around to the trail click here. The Lenape34 Trail Hike Report from 2010 informally describes some of trail's main features (with photos) from a one-day hike along its entire length.
