• Wildflower Sculpture Park Artist Walk & Talk: Sunday, October 25th 
• Seton Hall ROTC Exercises in the South Mountain Reservation
• Volunteer Work Days in October: ⚒️Trail Work, 🌲Forest Regeneration & 🐝Pollinator Meadow!
• Fairy Trail and Locust Grove construction zone updates
• Build a fairy house and help re-fresh the trail after construction!
• Volunteer as an SMC Ambassador!
• Free guided hikes this October!

South Mountain Conservancy's new seasonal exhibition at the Wildflower Sculpture Park, Root System, opened quietly in September, as weekend rain cancelled our free public events!

Over the past several months, this cohort of artists met weekly to collaboratively develop new, site-responsive projects exploring roots, rhizomes, and the interconnected systems of life. Drawing on the ecological networks of South Mountain Reservation, the resulting works engage themes of community, history, ancestry, resilience, symbiosis, and environmental stewardship, activating the landscape through sculptural installation.
 

Please join us to celebrate the work of 10 local artists and hear from them and curator Doris Cacoilo at our next free event:
 

ARTIST WALK & TALK
Sunday, October 25, 2026
3:00–5:00 PM

The talk begins at approximately 3:30 PM and includes a guided tour of the exhibition. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended (no sandals!), as you'll be led along the Forest & Wildflower Preserve trails.
 

More information on the Participating Artists:

Seton Hall ROTC will be holding training exercises in the Summit Field area of South Mountain Reservation on four Fridays this fall, from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.:

• Friday, October 2
• Friday, October 16
• Friday, October 30
• Friday, November 20

If you're planning a Friday morning walk or hike, you may want to choose a different part of the reservation during those hours. If you do pass through or near Summit Field, please give the cadets plenty of room. Thank you for helping keep the reservation a shared space for everyone!

Fairy Trail is still closed for improvements until the end of October due to erosion problems caused by recent rains. The River Trail has also been improved, but is completely accessible.

Major renovations continue to the Rahway Fairy Trail in South Mountain Reservation as part of a $1.2 million project funded by a NJ Green Acres grant and Essex County's Open Space Trust Fund. During this time, the Locust Grove parking lot will be closed and the Fairy Trail will be inaccessible. Renovations to the River Trail which started mid-June are generally complete. 

Planned by the County Parks Department in consultation with the South Mountain Conservancy, this project will enhance the experience of Fairy Trail visitors. It will improve the Locust Grove parking area with a delineated turnaround area and a sidewalk to allow safe passage from Glen Avenue. On the trail itself, there will be improved paths and drainage, rustic benches, and a six-sided shelter at the high point of the trail to be fully installed in September. 

The work on most of the River Trail is for better access for medical and fire emergency vehicles.  This is part of a long-term Conservancy safety plan involving multiple woods roads throughout the reservation. The Conservancy is working with the County and contractors to ensure that the improvements are sustainable given erosion caused by recent heavy rains. 

During the construction period, access to the Lenape and Swampy trailheads from Locust Grove (but not the southern portion of the Rahway) is possible using a detour created by the Conservancy starting at Glen Ave. Look for the signs and yellow ribbon.  

                                    

Help the Fairies Find New Homes!

The Fairy Trail is undergoing refurbishment, which means many fairy houses have had to be moved off the trail — and those fairies need new homes! While we can't add magic ON the trail for now, we invite your family to make magic OFF the trail by building a fairy house of your own.

How to participate:

• Review our building guidelines on the website
• Build your house from sturdy, natural materials that blend into the forest
• Submit your house for approval by our Fairy Trail Program Coordinators, by sending photos to fairytrail@somocon.org.
  • Once approved we will coordinate trail installation in the fall. 

The South Mountain Conservancy Ambassadors Program is a dedicated team of volunteers who serve as friendly, knowledgeable stewards of the South Mountain Reservation.

Ambassadors help us preserve, protect, and restore the Reservation by:

• Educating visitors about SMC’s mission and programs
• Encouraging responsible trail use
• Promoting membership, donations, and volunteer opportunities
• Sharing trail knowledge and engaging with hikers
• Gathering feedback to improve the visitor experience

• Minimum of 4 volunteer days per year (ideally one weekend day per month at key Reservation locations) You choose your days!
• Occasional tabling at community events (fairs, festivals, etc.)
• Must be 18+

Ready to represent the Conservancy on the trails? Apply here:

We provide training, uniforms and materials — including SMC information, SMR guides and outreach guidance — so you’ll feel confident and prepared.

For more information, contact Program Coordinators Penni Malakates and John Bylancik at smcambassadors@somocon.org