Mills Reservation with New York City View

The 157-acre Mills Reservation, an Essex County park, is a wooded oasis surrounded by suburbia. Situated atop the Watchung mountain range, the park is maintained in its natural state, with a network of woods roads and footpaths. This hike circles the park on footpaths, following, for most of the way, the red and blue trails (both of which have blazes that are smaller than those used on most trails in our area).

The trail soon begins to parallel Reservoir Drive, which can be seen and heard to the right (you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Cedar Grove Reservoir behind a fence). In about a third of a mile, as Reservoir Drive curves to the right, the trail bears left, crosses a wooden footbridge, and heads deeper into the woods. Soon, the trail again begins to run close to the park boundary, with the backyards of homes visible to the right of the trail.

Near the southern end of the reservation, the red trail ends at a woods road. Cross the road and continue ahead on a wide path, now once again following the yellow-blazed Lenape Trail, which joins from the left. The trail climbs gradually and soon approaches the edge of a large depression, where it bears left.

In another 250 feet, you’ll emerge onto an open area, with an abandoned circular concrete slab. You are at Quarry Point, named for the abandoned quarry that once operated directly below. Here, there is a panoramic east-facing viewpoint from a rock outcrop, with the City of Newark visible directly ahead (the best view is from another rock outcrop just to the south). A portion of the New York City skyline may be seen through the trees on the left.

This is a good place to take a break – not only to take in the view, but also to examine the interesting volcanic igneous rock that forms the Watchung mountain range. This rock, known as basalt, was formed when molten lava extruded out onto the earth’s surface and cooled rapidly. It is completely different from the metamorphic rock found in the nearby Highlands (and also distinguishable from the igneous rock of the Palisades, known as diabase, which cooled more slowly underground).

When you’re ready to continue, head north along a woods road, marked with both yellow and blue blazes. Just ahead, though, follow the blue blazes as they diverge to the left, leaving the woods road, and continue on a footpath. The blue trail soon reaches a large clearing. As the trail begins to descend just past the clearing, be alert for a sharp left turn where the blue blazes leave the wide route and follow a narrower path. Just beyond, the blue trail jogs to the left, then almost immediately turns right and continues across several rock outcrops, with blue blazes painted on the rocks.

Soon, you’ll arrive at a complex intersection of woods roads and trails. The yellow-blazed Lenape Trail comes in here and immediately heads off to the right. You should continue to follow the blue trail, which bears left at a fork of woods roads, then almost immediately diverges to the left, leaving the woods road and continuing on a footpath.

For the rest of the way, the blue trail meanders through the woods, crossing two gravel roads along the way. Beyond the second gravel road, you might catch a glimpse of the New York City skyline through the trees. As the trail bends to head westward, it begins to descend, and it approaches Normal Avenue and begins to parallel it. After crossing a low stone wall, the blue trail ends at the parking area where the hike began.