October 9, 2021 – Oakland, New Jersey
Issue: Straightforward
Size: Roughly 4 miles
Max elevation: 590 ft.– whole elevation achieve roughly 317 ft.
Route kind: Lollipop Loop
Purchase Map: Northern New Jersey Highlands Trails Map 2021
Free Map: Ramapo Mountain State Forest Map 2021
Avenza Maps: Northern New Jersey Highlands (#150 Ramapos Solely) 2021
Trailhead parking: Ramapo Lake Trailhead – 67 Skyline Drive, Oakland, NJ 07436
No entrance or parking charges – parking zone usually fills up early on weekends
Overview:
Ramapo Mountain State Forest positioned in Bergen and Passaic Counties in New Jersey, is a rugged 4,269-acre space, with elevations starting from about 200 to 1,100 toes, providing hikers practically 30 miles of trails for his or her enjoyment. From meandering outdated roads, to historic trails, to tougher rock scrambles, the realm presents one thing for out of doors fans of all talent ranges.
The central function of the realm is the scenic 120-acre Ramapo Lake, which has spectacular views from quite a few rock outcroppings and ledges, and presents wonderful alternatives for fishermen. The ponds, streams and marshes discovered throughout the forest present the proper habitat for birds and different wildlife species.
Ramapo Lake – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
The Ramapo Mountain State Forest, which incorporates wild lands within the municipalities of Oakland (Bergen County), Pompton Lakes, Ringwood and Wanaque, borders Ringwood State Park and the Ramapo Valley County Reservation, part of the Bergen County Park System. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.
Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Trails Overview:
The Ramapo Lake Loop Path (2.6 miles), which encircles the man-made lake, is a well-liked hike, accessed from the decrease parking zone on Skyline Drive through the Ramapo Lake Spur (0.6 mile). The path across the lake is a largely degree woods street with a number of minor ups and downs. Ramapo Lake is the hub of the path system within the 1,400-acre Ramapo Lake Pure Space throughout the forest.
The Ramapo Lake Spur Path is an uphill stroll from the parking zone on an eroded and rocky woods street, gaining about 190 toes of elevation in about 0.6 mile.
Hike Overview:
Coping with some well being points, I used to be in search of a soothing stroll the place I might simply soak in some nature on a gentle October day. This hike was good and it actually match the invoice. Understanding that the parking zone fills up early on weekends, we arrived shortly earlier than 9am on a Saturday morning. The lot was already practically full, however we managed to discover a spot to park. We did the loop clockwise stopping usually to take pictures and take within the surroundings.
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
In addition to the preliminary uphill, the remainder of the hike was a simple stroll across the lake. The elevation graph under illustrates the light ups and downs for many of the hike.
elevation profile – Ramapo Lake Loop
This hike might be mixed with the LeGrande Hill Loop or the Van Slyke Fort Loop.
The Hike:
On the southern finish of the parking space, a triple black-square-on-blue blaze marks the beginning of the Ramapo Lake Spur. Comply with the path into the woods, passing stone ruins. After going up a steep pitch, the path continues to climb on a large, rocky path, paralleling a cascading brook (notably engaging after heavy rains).
Ramapo Lake Spur – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Spur – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Spur – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Spur – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Spur – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
As you method the crest of the rise, you’ll cross a stream on rocks. A brief distance past, the white-blazed Fort Loop joins from the precise. Simply forward, the paths bear left at a fork and descend to a path junction at Ramapo Lake, the place the Ramapo Lake Spur ends (there are road indicators on the junction for South Shore Drive, North Shore Drive and Rye Cliff Street). Right here, it is best to flip left, crossing the dam of Ramapo Lake.
Ramapo Lake Spur – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Spur – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Spur – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Spur – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
terminus of Ramapo Lake Spur
flip left on Ramapo Lake Loop
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
On the opposite aspect of the dam, a triple blue-on-white blaze marks the beginning of the Ramapo Lake Loop. You can be following this path in a clockwise path across the lake. Simply forward, the red-on-white-blazed LeGrande Hill Loop begins on the left, and for the subsequent 500 toes, the route is co-blazed with red-on-white markers. Proceed to observe the blue-on-white blazes alongside the extensive gravel street, which runs near the lakeshore, with views throughout the lake. To the north, atop a hill with a number of pines, you may see the ruins of Foxcroft, a mansion in-built 1910 which fell into disrepair within the 1950’s. (The Fort Loop, which results in the ruins of this mansion, is one other nice hike on this space.)
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
The street proceeds by means of dense vegetation, crosses a causeway over an arm of the lake, and passes a swamp on the left and several other attention-grabbing rock outcrops. It then strikes away from the lakeshore however continues to parallel it, with views over the lake by means of the timber.
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Simply previous the southern finish of the lake, a few mile from the dam, the street reaches a T-intersection. Right here, the purple/blue LeGrande-Lake Connector begins on the left, however it is best to flip proper to proceed on the Ramapo Lake Loop. Then, in one other 300 toes, bear proper at a Y-intersection the place the Cannonball Path, marked by white-“C”-on-red blazes, joins from the left.
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
You’re now heading north by means of dense vegetation, paralleling the western shore of Ramapo Lake. At first, the street runs a long way from the water, however after some time, the lake might be seen by means of the timber. In half a mile, you’ll move a constructing on the hillside to the left (previously used as a ranger station) and, a brief distance past, a rock ledge to the precise of the path presents a nice view of the lake.
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Quickly, one other gravel street joins from the left. Comply with the street forward, crossing a stone causeway that isolates a quiet pond on the left from the principle physique of the lake. Subsequent, you’ll attain one other Y-intersection. Right here, the Cannonball Path turns left onto an intersecting gravel street, however it is best to bear proper and proceed to observe the blue-on-white blazes. A brief distance forward, you’ll discover a triple-blue blaze on the precise. Comply with this blue-blazed aspect path for 500 toes to a rock outcrop overlooking the lake. After taking within the view, return to the Ramapo Lake Loop and switch proper.
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
After passing a small, deserted stone constructing on the precise, there are open views of Ramapo Lake from the shoreline.
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
A brief distance later, you’ll come to a different intersection. Right here, it is best to bear proper, as soon as extra becoming a member of the white-blazed Fort Loop. Comply with the white and blue-on-white-blazed gravel street that runs near the shore alongside the northern finish of the lake, passing a viewpoint over the lake from a rock ledge on the precise.
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Quickly, you’ll move a non-public residence on a ledge to the left. On the finish of the lake, a triple blue-on-white blaze marks the tip of the Ramapo Lake Loop. Proceed forward to a T-intersection with road indicators, proceed by means of a spot within the guardrail at an indication for the Fort Loop Path and the Ramapo Lake Spur Path, and proceed alongside the black-square-on-blue-blazed Ramapo Lake Spur, retracing your steps again to the parking space the place the hike started.
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Evaluate:
A fantastic space to spend a number of hours. Extra like a stroll than a hike, however value a go to nonetheless. Particularly scenic in Autumn when the leaves change. Though there was fairly a number of individuals right here on a Saturday, it didn’t really feel crowded. Many viewpoints over the lake to calm down and revel in a snack.
Professionals:
Extraordinarily scenic panorama, nicely marked trails.
Cons:
Can get crowded on weekends, no overflow parking.
Take a hike!
Ramapo Lake Loop – Ramapo Mountain State Forest
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