Beloved ‘Fairy Trail’ In New Jersey Still Sparking Wonder, Whimsy

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — One of the most whimsical outdoor attractions in New Jersey is ramping up for another spring awakening: the South Mountain Fairy Trail.

Over the past decade, a village of tiny, handcrafted houses have been popping up along a half-mile stretch of the South Mountain Reservation, a 2,112-acre nature preserve in Essex County that spans Maplewood, Millburn and West Orange.

In true Frank Lloyd Wright fashion, the miniature feats of architecture blend almost seamlessly into the woods, always a half-step hidden behind the nearest tree root or boulder. Move too quickly and it's easy to miss the couch made of a hunk of mushroom … the doors constructed out of tree bark … the chairs crafted from acorns.

>> Read More: Take A Photo Tour Of This Amazing ‘Fairy Trail’ In New Jersey

The trail has become an immensely popular, family-friendly destination for people seeking to get outdoors and reconnect with nature, sometimes attracting hundreds of visitors a week.

Guests at the free, public trail are asked to tread lightly to avoid wrecking the houses or the surrounding preserve. Get directions and see rules for visiting here, and check out the fairy trail’s Facebook page here.

Normally, visitors are asked to leave no trace behind – including additional fairy houses or other items. But this year, anyone who has been dreaming of making their own mark on one of New Jersey’s most unique attractions may just get their chance to shine.

According to a recent social media post:

“Hey Fairy Fans! It's time to get ready for our big 2025 season and that means we're looking for volunteers to help build new houses for the trail! This year we're making it even more exciting and announcing our first ever contest! Entries will be assessed for use of natural materials, design/craftsmanship, and of course, creativity! Building guidelines and full contest rules are listed on our website here. Follow the provided guidelines and email a photo of your house to fairytrail@somocon.org. Our program coordinators MUST approve each house before installation. Installation days will be on the trail April 12 and 26 and contest winners will be announced at our Fairy Tales at the Fairy Trail event on May 3! Winners don't need to be present to win (though we hope you'll be there!)”

Prizes for the winners include a $100 gift certificate to McLoone’s Boathouse Restaurants (1st place), a framed Fairy Trail poster (2nd place) and a Fairy Trail shirt or sweatshirt (third place, one for each child in the winning family if applicable).

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WALKING THE TRAIL

For years, the creator of the so-called “South Mountain Fairy Trail” remained a mystery, until she was revealed as local artist and special education teacher, Therese Ojibway. Since then, the trail has been embraced by the South Mountain Conservancy, a local nonprofit, which has taken charge of its maintenance.

It isn’t an easy task, the group says – especially now that it has become such a popular destination for families.

“As a magnet for hundreds of people each week, the Fairy Trail has suffered: the path has expanded in many places beyond recognition, vegetation has been trampled, and the soil compressed,” the conservancy reports on its website.

Other issues include drainage problems resulting from blocked or insufficient swales to direct water as it flows downhill.

To address these issues, the South Mountain Conservancy has developed a comprehensive plan to restore the trail and the surrounding habitat. See the Fairy Trail master plan here.

Want to help? Learn how to make a donation here.

Ojibway previously told Patch that the fairy trail attracts people from all backgrounds – a “really good cross-section of the community.” Her adult son, Clinton, who has been diagnosed with autism, is just one of the people who have used the trail as a much-needed escape from modern life.

“I think that fairies are part of a lot of childhoods,” Ojibway said. “It brings a lot of parents back to a part of their past that they want to expose their kids to. It makes people look at things in a different way, spurs the imagination. I think that people need the fairy trail as a relief from the awful stress and news that we're faced with every day.”

• See Related: Fairies vs Trolls: Racist Vandals Plague Beloved New Jersey Trail

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