Some of New Jersey’s parks are hiding magical secrets. If you want to take a walk through a storybook, fairy tale land, head to South Mountain Reservation.

If you walk along a popular hiking path in Essex County's South Mountain Reservation, you'll notice some odd things sitting at the base of trees and in nooks in the trail.
Facebook / South Mountain Fairy Trail
Take a closer look - you just discovered New Jersey's fairy trail!
The Fairy Trail stretches for half a mile along the Rahway Trail. You can find it by looking for white blazes, starting at the Locust Grove Picnic Area Lot.
Facebook / South Mountain Fairy Trail
Some of the houses are small and hard to spot, while others are ornate and intricately designed.
Facebook / South Mountain Fairy Trail

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The homes are made by the fairies, with a little help from Therese Ojibway, an artist who teamed up with the fairies a few years ago to preserve their homes.
Facebook / South Mountain Fairy Trail
The fairy houses here are delicate, and if you come to enjoy the trail, please respect the rules so that we may keep this treasure for years to come.
Facebook / South Mountain Fairy Trail
The rules of the South Mountain Fairy Trail are simple. According to the South Mountain Conservation Website, they are as follows:

Leave No Trace: Do not add fairy homes to the trail nor construct lean-tos or other structures as they disrupt natural habitat, strip and compact the forest floor, and prevent seedlings from growing.

Respect the fragile structures: While most small doors can be opened to view interiors, please do not touch or remove any items so others can also enjoy these creations. Stay on the path: Because of its popularity, hundreds of people have scavenged the woods along the Rahway Fairy Trail in search of houses and to build forts, damaging the vegetation and paths. Fairy homes are visible from the path.
Fairies make their homes here in all weather - and the trail is often far less crowded in the winter.
Facebook / South Mountain Fairy Trail
Next time you're looking for a unique hike, head to the South Mountain Reservation in Essex County and take a magical little stroll.
Facebook / South Mountain Fairy Trail

For more information, visit the South Mountain Conservancy’s website.

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Featured Addresses
South Mountain - Fairy Trail, 197 Glen Ave, Millburn, NJ 07041, USA