One of Essex County’s largest outdoor spaces is South Mountain Reservation, located across Millburn, West Orange, and South Orange and boasting about 2,110 acres of land along the Rahway River and nearly 20 miles of walking and hiking trails. Perhaps the most notable of these trails is the Fairy Trail, which sits on the edge of the reservation in Millburn and is home to 100 unique fairy homes visitors can spot from the trail. Keep reading to learn how the South Mountain Reservation Fairy Trail came to be and what makes it special today.

About The Fairy Trail

For over a decade, delightful fairy houses have been mysteriously appearing along a half-mile stretch of the white-blazed Rahway Trail. In the early days, these charming creations were mainly the handiwork of a local artist and the Fairy Trail's founder, Therese Ojibway.

Therese wanted her autistic son to have a safe place to discover and explore these mythical dwellings. The South Mountain Conservancy took notice, and when they learned of the intent, they allowed Therese to continue building her kingdom into what is now known as the Fairy Trail.

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Therese and her son have moved out of the area, but the Conservancy maintains the trail. Beth Kelly and Julie Gould are at the forefront as co-coordinators of the trail, managing the “fairy experience” portion. They believe the trail is uniquely magical, and as Beth said, “It is more than a path through the woods. The fairy houses are crafted with imagination and love. It is a fairy tale that comes to life.”

Maintaining The Trail

At the top of the list for maintaining the trail, visitors are asked to Leave No Trace: not adding fairy homes to the trail or constructing lean-tos or other structures as they disrupt the natural habitat, strip and compact the forest floor, and prevent seedlings from growing.

Additionally, Beth and Julie ask visitors to respect the fragile structures. While visitors can open most small doors to view interiors, they should be gentle with the houses and not remove any items. They also ask fairy seekers to stay on the path, where fairy homes are visible, to protect the bordering vegetation.

They also welcome the addition of new fairy houses, as long as they meet specific criteria and photos are submitted beforehand. Beth told The Montclair Girl, “There are wonderful benefits to making/building a Fairy House. Children are outside enjoying the natural environment, it gets them away from computer screens, encourages healthy, creative, and imaginative play, and best of all, it creates an opportunity to make memories and build connections.”

Visiting + Events

In addition to welcoming daily visitors, the Conservancy hosts an annual Fairy Tales at the Fairy Trail event every spring. The day is filled with activities at the reservation and on the trail, such as a scavenger hunt, storytelling, fairy house building, face painting, and searching for fairies. Those interested can join the South Mountain Fairy Trail Facebook group to stay connected.

Beth and Julie are proud of what the trail brings to the community. Beth said, “Whether you’re a child searching for adventure or an adult looking to recapture your inner child, the Fairy Trail is a unique and unforgettable experience. It is a journey that makes you feel like you are on a passage through a living storybook.”

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When heading to the trail, search Locust Grove Parking Lot or 197 Glen Avenue, Millburn, in Maps. Both will lead to the parking lot where visitors can access the trailhead. Parking fills up quickly, but there are spots across the street if the lot is full. The trailhead starts to the left of the parking area along the Rahway Trail (white-blazed). A large Fairy Trail Welcome sign to the right greets visitors.