South Mountain Reservation
Nature preserve
29 acres1.2 mi of trail
West Ridge TrailLenape Trail (Yellow)
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
–Not graded
Outdoors in Short Hills
Few parks or trails are on the map in Short Hills
The biggest trail networks: South Mountain Reservation (1.2 mi). 9% of Short Hills’ land is conserved, about 312 acres. 291 acres are parks and preserves, 19 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
9%
312 acres · of 5.3 sq mi of land
Trails
4.9 mi
0.9 per sq mi of land
Park land
291 ac
19 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
87%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
2
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is South Mountain Reservation, with 1.2 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
312 conserved acres
9% of Short Hills’ land. Who manages Short Hills’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city258 ac
County29 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits24 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government13 ac
Not recorded13 ac
Local Conservation Area · 183 acLocal Park · 109 acPrivate Historic or Cultural · 24 acRecreation or Education Easement · 13 acLocal Other or Unknown · 8 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Orange Water Reserve Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 124 | Open |
| South Mountain Reservation Local Conservation Area | County | 42 | Open |
| Old Short Hills Park Local Park | Town or city | 42 | Open |
| Gero Park Local Park | Town or city | 41 | Open |
| Fox Hill Preserve Local Park | Town or city | 32 | Open |
| Greenwood Gardens Private Historic or Cultural | Land trusts & nonprofits | 24 | Open |
| Hartshorn Arboretum Bird Sanctuary Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 18 | Open |
| Millburn Township Unknown Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 1 | Open |
Things to do
4 places to go in Short Hills
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Short Hills
4 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Trails & water
3 named trails and 2 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 1.0 mi
West Ridge Trail0.9 mi
Lenape Trail (Yellow)0.2 mi
Alley of Trees0.1 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
33Tennis
7Baseball
5Pickleball
5Basketball
3Soccer
1Skate park
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
The best walking months in Short Hills: April to June, August and September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.6 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15.1 | 14.8 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.3 |
| High (°F) | 40 | 42 | 51 | 63 | 73 | 81 | 86 | 84 | 77 | 65 | 54 | 44 |
| Rain (in) | 3.5 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 4.4 |
February is the driest month (2.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 86 °F). 4.7 inches fall in July, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 86 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Short Hills →
Next door
Short Hills and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Millburn Township34 miSummit7.3 miSpringfield Township6.8 miShort Hills4.9 miLivingston Township4.9 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Hills | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Millburn Township | 29% | 3.6 | 78 | 91% | A+ |
| Summit | 12% | 1.2 | 24 | 94% | A |
| Livingston Township | 23% | 0.4 | 63 | 99%+ | A |
| Springfield Township | 16% | 1.3 | 30 | 98% | A+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Short Hills
Where can I hike in Short Hills?
The longest trail networks: South Mountain Reservation, 1.2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Short Hills’ trails?
South Mountain Reservation and Short Hills Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Short Hills?
35,431 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Short Hills or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 291 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Short Hills neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →