South Mountain Conservancy

South Mountain Conservancy The South Mountain Conservancy serves as steward and advocate for the South Mountain Reservation.

Founded in March 2000, we work in concert with the Essex County Department of Parks by providing ongoing assessments of the Reservation’s ecology and infrastructure and helping manage restoration projects. As a volunteer-driven organization, we organize free hikes, run programs for forest regeneration, maintain and construct trails, pick up trash at picnic areas and on the trails, oversee the Wild

flower Sculpture Park, host an annual trail run, and provide educational programs. We post hikes and maintenance days at http://www.meetup.com/somocon/
as well as our website below.

✨🧚‍♀️ Step into the magic of the South Mountain Reservation…Join the fairies for our 4th Annual Fairy Trail Festival! Sa...
04/06/2026

✨🧚‍♀️ Step into the magic of the South Mountain Reservation…

Join the fairies for our 4th Annual Fairy Trail Festival!

Saturday, May 2, 2026
10 AM - 2 PM
South Mountain Reservation Fairy Trail

This festival-style day is filled with enchantment for all ages—
✨ Storytelling
🛠 Fairy house building
🎨Face painting
🔍 Scavenger hunt
…and more woodland surprises!

🛍 Wings, crowns & Fairy Trail t-shirts will be available for purchase—
with all proceeds supporting the South Mountain Conservancy Fairy Trail Fund.

Come dressed in your most magical attire (or get outfitted at the event!) 👑🧚

🌸 Let’s celebrate creativity, community, and a little bit of fairy dust—together.

NatureMagic

Thank you to the mystery volunteer who cleaned up the peace sign on our Elmdale trail! ☮️✌🏼🌈
04/04/2026

Thank you to the mystery volunteer who cleaned up the peace sign on our Elmdale trail! ☮️✌🏼🌈

We’re excited to announce that Tom will be taking on a new role as Forest Regeneration Program Co-Coordinator alongside ...
07/16/2025

We’re excited to announce that Tom will be taking on a new role as Forest Regeneration Program Co-Coordinator alongside Rich Rockwell where he will continue to help protect and restore the natural beauty of South Mountain Reservation.

Find information about monthly work days on our website and Meetup! 🌸🌷🌻

MEET THE 2025 SMC INTERNS!Starting in late June, two paid, part-time college interns began helping the Conservancy’s Fo...
07/11/2025

MEET THE 2025 SMC INTERNS!

Starting in late June, two paid, part-time college interns began helping the Conservancy’s Forest Regeneration program. During their ten-week internship they will be focused on removing invasive plant species and maintaining trails in the Wildflower and Forest Preserve. The program, which is solely funded by the Conservancy and has been in place for most of a decade, is being overseen by Forest Regen co-program coordinator Rich Rockwell. The two students are Kelly Zambrana from Blairstown and Henry Donat of Maplewood.

Kelly, a rising senior at Kean University, is majoring in environmental science and minoring in sustainability. She is also a member of that college’s women’s soccer team. Henry, a rising junior at Marist University in Poughkeepsie, NY, is an environmental science major. He is also captain of the Ultimate Frisbee Team (a role he played at Columbia High School). Henry is also serving as an advisor to the high school committee working on the Citizen Science Pollinator Meadow overseen by Lori LaBorde. We thank both of them for helping improve the ecology of the reservation.

🌲 Join us Saturday, June 14 for a day of outdoor fun in South Mountain Reservation! 🌞The South Mountain Conservancy is p...
06/12/2025

🌲 Join us Saturday, June 14 for a day of outdoor fun in South Mountain Reservation! 🌞

The South Mountain Conservancy is proud to partner with to bring you free guided hikes and a celebration of nature.

📅 Saturday, June 14
🗺️ South Mountain Reservation
🥾 All hikes are free and open to the public!

🔗 View the full schedule + register:
Essex County Parks website & South Mountain Conservancy Meetup page

Let’s hit the trails together! 🌿

In May, the Conservancy was awarded a generous $10,000 grant from the Hyde and Watson Foundation to install fencing arou...
06/12/2025

In May, the Conservancy was awarded a generous $10,000 grant from the Hyde and Watson Foundation to install fencing around the newly planted one-acre Pollinator Meadow at Shady Nook. The fencing to be installed this year will keep deer out so the native plantings can flourish. It will also have multiple gates for public access to a network of interior paths.

The Pollinator Meadow is part of our Citizens Science program in support of our multifaceted Forest Stewardship initiative. This initiative also includes work by the FoHVOS/NJ Invasive Species Strike Team funded by the Conservancy and Essex County Parks and our summer internship program that helps maintain the Preserve. Both are slated to start this month. Stay tuned for updates!

🌲 🏕️ Huge thanks to all the families who joined us for the 11th Family Campout in South Mountain Reservation!🥾We loved s...
06/10/2025

🌲 🏕️ Huge thanks to all the families who joined us for the 11th Family Campout in South Mountain Reservation!

🥾We loved spending a beautiful weekend outdoors with you—connecting with nature, making memories, and having fun in the forest.

The South Mountain Conservancy is proud to partner with to bring this special event to our community. 💚

📅 Save the Date: Our next Family Campout is coming this fall — September 27–28!

You can find our South Mountain Reservation trail maps for sale at Maplewood’s own :)While you are there be sure to ask...
05/13/2025

You can find our South Mountain Reservation trail maps for sale at Maplewood’s own :)

While you are there be sure to ask the lovely staff for a book rec! They will share their faves and help you find the perfect read!

📢📢📢 After years of advocating for extra parking at the Hemlock Falls Trail Head, South Mountain Conservancy is proud to...
05/11/2025

📢📢📢 After years of advocating for extra parking at the Hemlock Falls Trail Head, South Mountain Conservancy is proud to announce that the West Falls parking area is now open!

Hemlock Falls is one of the busiest parking areas and the small lot becomes unsafe on popular days. We encourage all visitors to this trail to choose an alternative parking location.

📍Look for the above sign on South Orange Avenue to find the new trailhead!

What an incredible day it was yesterday at our 3rd Annual Fairy Tales at the Fairy Trail Day! ✨️🧚‍♀️It was wonderful sha...
05/05/2025

What an incredible day it was yesterday at our 3rd Annual Fairy Tales at the Fairy Trail Day! ✨️🧚‍♀️

It was wonderful sharing the fairy magic with hundreds of visitors and we couldn’t have done it without the incredible efforts of our amazing volunteers! Thank you!! 🎶💪

Without further ado, we wanted to announce our Fairy House Building Contest Winners!! We had over 70 entries and there was SO much talent and love put into the designs! The judges were VERY impressed with the attention to detail, creative use of natural materials, and honoring our building guidelines to keep designs not only beautiful, but safe for the environment. 🌱💚

CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners! Get out there and enjoy all the new additions to our beloved Fairy Trail!

Address

South Orange, NJ
07079

Telephone

+18447666266

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when South Mountain Conservancy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to South Mountain Conservancy:

Shortcuts

Share

Category