South Mountain Conservancy Springs Into the Reservation

It may not (yet) look like spring, but a certain sign of the season is the South Mountain Conservancy's Spring schedule. The events include free family hikes, an open meeting, and work days.

See the full schedule below: 

Annual Meeting, Thursday, April 4, 7 - 9:15 p.m.

Maplewood Memorial Library, 51 Baker St., Maplewood. 

 Come and meet other community members concerned with the environment and restoring the Reservation at the Conservancy's Annual Public Meeting.  

Hear about – and join – Conservancy programs for forest regeneration planting, building new trails, Trash Tacklers, Trailkeepers, new trails and 
free hikes.  Featured speaker: 

Michael Van Clef, Ph.D., Ecological Solutions, 

Wide experience with NJ Parks to control invasive species, measure the effects of excessive deer browsing, and implement conservation strategies.  Topic: "Stewardship of Public Park Lands & the Public’s  Role."

Trailkeeper Breakfast, Saturday, April 6, 10 - 11:30 a.m.

 Codey Arena, Northfield Avenue, West Orange, Meeting Room 1

 For current and prospective Trailkeepers, the volunteers who help maintain the hiking trails by clearing the trails of debris, clipping encroaching foliage, blazing the trails, and reporting major problems.  Meet other Trailkeepers and find out how you can care of part of a trail.

 Trailkeeper Trail Blazing, Saturday, April 6, 11:45 a.m. - 2 p.m.  Codey Arena

Help blaze (with paint) parts of the new Reservoir-Zoo Loop trail. Meet outside Codey Arena. 

Trail Work, Sunday, April 7, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Join us the first Sunday of each month (except for July 4th and Labor Day weekends, then the second Sunday). Trail building is rewarding, but strenuous work and only for volunteers 15 years or older. Bring: Solid footwear and a friend…; we supply work gloves, tools, and water. Steady rain cancels. 

For April, We will continue working on the relatively new Rahway Hi-Lo Extension trails near Dogwood Hillside  to make them safer. Because Brookside Drive is closed to traffic on Sunday mornings, we will meet at the County maintenance area accessible from South Orange Avenue, an eighth of a mile east of the intersection with Cherry Lane/Brookside Drive. You can access this from both the the east and westbound lanes, as there is a break in the median barrier at this point (but signal!). Go into the maintenance area and turn right to find the parking. From the maintenance area, we will walk south about 3/4 mile. Alternatively, you can bike to Painter's Point. Call John Verzani at 973-223-3529 or Dennis Percher at 973-868-6994, if there are questions.

Chain Saw Gang, Sunday, April 13, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Help clear the final debris from Supersotrm Sandy and ensuing windstorms.  Bring a chain saw or loppers if you have them. Must be 18 or older.  Meet at Dog Park off Crest Drive.

Free Hikes 

You are invited to join a free Conservancy hike and explore the many beautiful spots in the South Mountain Reservation.  No need to register, just come to the meeting point a little before the starting time.  Steady rain automatically cancels a walk; intermittent showers do not.  All hikes are appropriate for children 10 and older with their families.  Younger children may come with their families when indicated.  Bring your own water.  If you have a question, call the leader.   For more information on all Conservancy activities, seewww.somocon.org. 

Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. - noon: Washington Rock. Good for children 5 and older with their families. Two and a half miles at an easy pace.  We will take an unusual route to this favorite destination with its view over Millburn and Staten Island.  Meet at the Wildflower and Forest Preserve (also the Dog Park).  Enter the park near the crest of the mountain on S. Orange Ave. and drive a half mile to the barrier and turn right into the parking lot.  Leader: Dave Hogenauer - cell#: 973-901-0824.

Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Rahway River Valley & the West Ridge Road. An 8-9 mile hike from Mayapple Hill around the Reservoir, along the river to Painter’s Point and then up to Old Short Hills Park and the West Ridge Road which will take us back to Mayapple Hill.  Bring Lunch.  We will walk at a moderate pace, using some trails of very recent origin.  Meet at Mayapple Hill.   The entry road is one tenth of a mile west of the traffic light at the intersection of Northfield Ave. and Pleasant Valley Way in W. Orange. Leader: Dave Hogenauer, cell #: 973-901-0824. 

Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. – noon:  Nature Walk -- Trees & Flowers of Spring. We will walk at an easy to moderate pace, stopping often to note the plant life of spring in our park.  One short section will be over rough ground. Possible sightings: skunk cabbage, jewel weed, Dutchmen’s britches, ginseng, tulip trees, ferns and much more. Good also for children 8 and older with their families, if they are interested in nature. Meet at Locust Grove, across Glen Ave. from the Millburn RR. Station and Library.    Leader: Dave Hogenauer, cell #:  973-901-0824. 

Sunday, April 28, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.: New Trails in Mayapple Hill Area. Three new trails were constructed in the Mayapple area during the Spring/Summer of 2012.  They are not on our maps yet.  Come discover these beautiful, rather level, smooth trails, about 4 miles at a moderate pace.  Mayapple is reached via a drive that turns north from Northfield Ave. one-tenth of a mile west of the traffic light at the corner of Northfield Ave. and Pleasant Valley Way in W. Orange.  Leader: Dave Hogenauer cell # : 973-901-0824.