Mountainside Park Trail Guide

An image of an overlook featuring two mountain peaks

Mountainside Park features 7 trails of varying length and difficulty. Most hikers take either the Blue Trail or the Red Trail, both of which are enjoyable loop hikes. The Blue Trail is arguably the most popular and takes hikers to the top of the Pequannock Knob, offering views for miles of Morris County and even New York City. Below are the descriptions of all the marked trails in the park.

Blue Trail

Length2.42 miles
SurfaceNatural
DifficultyModerate-Difficult
Trail UsageHiking
HighlightsPequannock Knob, Scout Camps

The Blue Trail is one of the main loops in the park. The beginning and end of the trail from the parking area feature modest inclines across rolling hills. The far northern end of the trail features the Pequannock Knob, the highest point in the park. The trail up and down the Pequannock Knob is steep and rocky, but hikers are rewarded with the best views in the park. The trail also passes by two camping areas used by scouting groups. Unfortunately, much of the trail parallels Interstate 287. While you do not see the highway much, you can hear it for most of the trail.

Blue and Black Trail

Length0.17 miles
SurfaceNatural
DifficultyEasy
Trail UsageHiking
HighlightsN/A

The Blue and Black Trail is a short connector trail connecting the roadside parking area, which is located below the main parking lot, to the park.

Orange Trail

Length0.87 miles
SurfaceNatural, Woods Road
DifficultyModerate
Trail UsageHiking
HighlightsScout Camps

The Orange Trail travels from the lower Boy Scout Camp with the Pequannock Knob beginning and ending (and crossing multiple times) at the Blue Trail. Portions of the trail are along a woods road to allow vehicles to get to the camps. The northernmost part of the trail features a moderate incline to the top of the Pequannock Knob.

Orange and Blue Trail

Length0.15 miles
SurfaceNatural
DifficultyEasy
Trail UsageHiking
HighlightsN/A

The Orange and Blue Trail is a short connector trail connecting the Orange and Blue Trails.

Red Trail

Length2.04 miles
SurfaceNatural
DifficultyEasy-Moderate
Trail UsageHiking
HighlightsN/A

The Red Trail is one of the two major loop hikes in the park. While not as interesting as the Blue Trail Loop, the Red Trail is easier and is mostly free from road noise. The trail gradually works its way up an unnamed hill without a view at the top. The northern end of the trail skirts around the edge of the Cedar Crest Retirement Community and through a seasonably wet area.

Red and Black Trail

Length0.11 miles
SurfaceNatural
DifficultyEasy
Trail UsageHiking
HighlightsN/A

The Red and Black Trail is a short connector trail connecting the parking area to the Red Trail.

Red and Blue Trail

Length0.23 miles
SurfaceNatural
DifficultyEasy
Trail UsageHiking
HighlightsN/A

The Red and Blue Trail is a short connector trail connecting the Red and Blue Trails.

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