All of New Jersey’s state, county, and local parks are enchanting, but only a few will transport you into a fairytale. One of our favorites? The South Mountain Fairy Trail. Located at the South Mountain Reservation in West Orange, it’s a perfect destination for families and anyone who enjoys a little magic.

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New homes are added often and they can all be seen from the main trail. Visitors can add their own as long as they meet these guidelines: use natural materials, no plastics (including no glitter and fake jewels), and stick with colors in earth tones to blend in with the woods. The fairy houses should be a bit camouflaged so that it’s an adventure to discover them!

At one point, there were well over 100 homes but the trail is often vandalized by trolls! Unfortunately, these aren’t magical trolls…they’re people. I am confident that Only in New Jersey readers will not trample the fairy homes but it’s important to spread the word, keep an eye out, and respect the magic of the South Mountain Fairy Trail. It’s truly a treasure. For more photos and information, check out the hiking trail’s Facebook page.

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