Welcome to the South Mountain Reservation Fairy Trail!

UPDATE: Fairy Trail is still closed for improvements until September 30th due to erosion problems caused by recent rains. The River Trail has also been improved, but is completely accessible. (learn more)

This half-mile trail has been inhabited by fairies! As you walk along the white-blazed path, look carefully and you will find where they have chosen to live. Fairies build their homes in tree hollows and roots, or from natural materials they find in their habitat, such as branches, stones, or dried fungi. Fairy houses are delicate, so be very gentle and try not to disturb any fairies that may be inside. And do not leave the path, so local vegetation is not trampled.

The Fairy Trail is located in the South Mountain Reservation, part of the Essex County park system, near the Locust Grove Picnic Area at 197 Glen Avenue, Millburn, NJ. The Fairy Trail is at the start of the white-blazed Rahway Trail (with an added easy shortcut, for strollers, back to the parking lot, see map).

As a public park, it is open every day from dawn to dusk and there is no fee. If you bring a dog, it must be kept on leash. (See location details under the Plan Your Visit section, below.)

In order to make the most of limited space and to maximize the public’s enjoyment, Fairy Trail houses are curated by volunteer program coordinators. DO NOT LEAVE A HOUSE ON THE TRAIL WITHOUT APPROVAL (it might be removed). See guidelines about building a house, below, and the 2026 House Building contest and Fairy Trail Festival.

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.

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.

2025 Fairy Trail House Building Contest First Place Winner: “Fairy Fantasy House, ” by Jillian & Anne Burg

Click HERE to see all the winners of the
2025 Fairy Trail House Building Contest

Calling All Fairy House Builders!

The fairies need your help to bring the sparkle back to their trail!

The Fairy Trail Got a Makeover…
Now the Fairies Need New Homes!

Major improvements were made to the South Mountain Reservation Fairy Trail during the summer of 2026 (see below). Now it’s time to welcome the fairies back with a collection of creative new homes built especially for them!

Ready to Build Some Magic?

  • Review the building guidelines, below, to ensure your house is sturdy, safe and nature-friendly.
  • Email photos of your fairy house to fairytrail@somocon.org, or DM @southmountainfairytrail on Instagram for approval.
  • Please wait for approval from our Program Coordinators before bringing your fairy house to the trail.

Be part of the magic…….build a tiny home, inspire a world of wonder and help the Fairy Trail sparkle once again,

Fairy Trail House Building Guidelines

If you want to build a house for the Fairy Trail, it must be approved by the coordinators. Please see the Guidelines below, and send a photo to fairytrail@somocon.org before installing your house.

IF YOU LEAVE A HOUSE AT THE FAIRY TRAIL WITHOUT APPROVAL, IT WILL LIKELY BE REMOVED.

2026 Fairy Trail House Building Guidelines

2025 “The Fairy Gourdmothers”
Amy Polen on behalf of the Shomrei Preschool Pre-K Class

2026 First Place: Sharon and George Barton – “Fireside Retreat”

2025 3rd Place: “Dr. Seuss House”
Nicole Golden

History of the Trail

Therese Ojibway, Founder of the South Mountain 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.)

Plans to Improve the Fairy Trail

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 directed these funds to improve the Fairy Trail and to restore parts of the River Trail eroded after Hurricane Ida in 2021 to allow better access by emergency vehicles.

The planned improvements to the Fairy Trail are:  better pathways and plantings; the installation of 10 rustic benches; and a shelter at the middle of the trail. These improvements are expected to be finished by October, 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.

For more information about the Fairy Trail follow it on social media or enjoy one of the articles and video stories below :