Fairy Trail

For more than a decade, small “fairy houses” have been secretly popping up along a half-mile stretch of the white-blazed Rahway Trail starting at the Locust Grove picnic area in the Reservation. These were mostly the work of a local artist and founder of the Fairy Trail, Therese Ojibway. It has been enormously popular since publicity in the New York Times and during the pandemic where it is promoted on many websites.

The South Mountain Conservancy worked with Therese over several years to enhance the experience of visitors of all ages by maintaining the trail, installing low rope fencing and constructing a new, safer bridge. Our aim is to make it sustainable in light of its enormous popularity (see master plan).

When Therese left the area in the summer of 2022, Julie Gould and Beth Kelly jointly took on the program responsibilities, with Julie stepping away in May 2025. Beth is now assisted by Operations Director Penni Malakates with additional program co-coordinators soon stepping in. If you are interested in working with them as part of a Fairy Trail Makers and Keepers group, contact them at fairytrail@somocon.org. (This group is for adults 18 and older, and for teenagers 15 to 17 with participation of parents.)

Visitor Etiquette

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.

Plan Your Visit

The Fairy Trail starts on the side of the Locust Grove parking area, 197 Glen Ave., Millburn, NJ. Parking fills up quickly; if the lot is full, park across the street. Do not block pedestrian walkways.

The trailhead starts to the left of the parking area along the Rahway Trail (white-blazed). You will see a large Fairy Trail Welcome sign (right) at this point.

To avoid ground-nesting bees and poison ivy, stay on the trail. There are port-a-johns in the parking area. Bring your own trash bag and carry out all trash.

At the end of the parking lot, up the path to the right, are some picnic tables for your use.

Starting in 2020, the Conservancy developed a comprehensive Master Plan for the Fairy Trail that outlines the many significant improvements needed to make it safer and more enjoyable. As a magnet for hundreds of people each week, the trail has suffered: the path has expanded in many places beyond recognition, vegetation has been trampled, and the soil compressed. There were drainage problems resulting from blocked or insufficient swales to direct water as it flows downhill. In addition, the trail lacked many amenities like benches and a shelter.

To address these issues the SMC has undertaken several projects since that time. Starting in 2020, it replaced the rickety bridge over the creek as part of an Eagle Scout project. A couple of years later, it installed rebar posts and rope to delineate the path and protect the adjoining vegetation. Finally, in 2024, several SMC and high school groups (Newark Academy and Seton Hall Prep) improved the drainage to reduce muddy areas. They built channels and water bars and raised the tread at the start of the trail. Nonetheless, more still needs to be done to improve the infrastructure.

In October 2024, the Conservancy received a $25,000 challenge grant from the Bolger Foundation for improvements such as benches and to encourage the County to invest in this popular attraction. To receive these funds, the Conservancy needs to raise twice that amount in 2025.

In March 2025, Essex County announced that the SMC could use $1 million in funds ($500k from an untouched 2021 Green Acres grant and a matching $500k from the Essex County Open Space Fund) to make reservation improvements. The Conservancy plans to direct these funds to make major improvements to the Fairy Trail and to restore several eroded woods roads damaged after Hurricane Ida in 2021.

These two grants will allow multiple improvements to the Fairy Trail. We plan to install around 10 rustic benches, a shelter mid-trail and improve trail safety and access down to the river. These infrastructure improvements are estimated by the Conservancy at over $400,000 and should be implemented in the spring and summer of 2026.

If you are interested in sponsoring a bench along the trail please contact chair@somocon.org

Please show your support for these efforts to improve the Fairy Trail by donating to our special fund.