Ramapo Valley County Reservation
| Park Overview: | Stroll around Scarlet Oak Pond or to MacMillan Reservoir – a popular walk with dogs on leashes. Plenty of challenging trails on the eastern side of the Ramapo Mountains. |
| Trail Uses: | Hiking, Handicapped |
| Dogs: | Dogs on leash |
| Trail Miles: | 19.7 miles |
| Park Acreage: | 3313 acres |
| City/County/ State: | Mahwah/Bergen/NJ |
| Buy Trail Map: | North Jersey Trails Map |
| Park Description: | "The Ramapo Reservation," located in Mahwah, is a 3313-acre Bergen County Park. Challenging hiking is possible but areas closest to the parking lot are primarily used for strolling, especially with one or more dogs. Most visitors walk around near-by Scarlet Oak Pond, a former gravel quarry, or climb on a wide smooth-surface road to MacMillan Reservoir (which once supplied the Crocker Mansion on the far side of Ramapo Valley Road). If you come at off-peak times, occasionally you may see Giants football players jogging up to the Reservoir during training season. A short but strenuous hike to Hawk Rock via the Halifax Trail (green blaze) results in a picture-book panorama of suburban New Jersey, including Ramapo College. For the hiker, the Reservation's trails connect with those in Ringwood State Park to the west, Ramapo Mountain State Forest to the southwest, and Camp Glen Gray to the south, making possible a wide variety of rugged day-long hikes. Outside of the commonly used strolling areas, the Reservation has been left in its natural wild state, and is mostly hilly forming part of the eastern tier of the Ramapos. Fishing is permitted with a valid NJ fishing license. Tent camping is allowed by permit only (201-327-3500). |
| Trails Overview: | The Reservation offers ten marked trails, the longest is the newest -- dedicated on National Trails Day in 2002: The Schuber Trail is 6.5 miles and links the Reservation to Camp Glen Gray and beyond to its southern terminus at Skyline Drive. Individual trails range from 0.3 to 6.5 miles. Click here for descriptions of several specific hikes, scroll down the "Park" column to Ramapo Valley County Reservation. MAPS: Detailed trail maps are available for purchase from the Trail Conference (click link for North Jersey Trails at top). A simplified trail map can be downloaded by clicking here. |
| Directions: | Ramapo Valley Road (US 202) about two miles south of NJ 17 in Mahwah. Parking is rarely a problem; only on a near-perfect Sunday afternoon or special holiday will spots be scarce. Short Line offers bus service from Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City to Ramapo College, which is located about a mile to the north of the park entrance on Route 202. For schedule information, go to www.shortlinebus.com. Only limited service is available on weekends. |
| Contact Information: | Bergen County Department of Parks 201-336-7275 |
| Region: | Ramapo Mountains |
| Fees: | None |
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version
- Send by email
Comments
Yellow-Silver Trailhead Relo
The trailhead for the Yellow-Silver Trail in Ramapo County Valley Reservation has been relocated to the beginning of MacMillan Reservoir, and still can be found by following either the Silver or Schuber trail to the reservoir.
Reservation open
September 4 -- Sunday morning, the parking lot is open as is the main "Silver" trail from the parking area.
Shortly into the park, after crossing the bridge over the Ramapo River, the informal path that veers right to circle Scarlet Oak Pond remains closed.
Pathway open
A month later (October 5) the pathway circling Scarlet Oak Pond counter-clockwise is now open although still under construction. The surface is soft in places, like wet sand on a beach, making it more difficult to hike with a baby stroller.
Yellow Trail Bog Bridges
Ramapo Mountains County Park Management Plan
What is the Ramapo Mountains County Park Management Plan?
A park management plan is an active and ongoing process for making choices about how to effectively plan and manage the Bergen County section of the Ramapo Mountains for the next 15 to 20 years.
What is the Bergen County Ramapo Mountains County Park?
The Bergen County Ramapo Mountains County Park encompasses the following park areas: Ramapo Valley County Reservation; Camp Glen Gray; Camp Tamarack; and Camp Todd.
Why is the County of Bergen doing a park management plan now?
After years of acquiring forested lands, the County is now focusing on how best to protect and provide appropriate visitor experiences in the Bergen County section of the Ramapo Mountains.
What is the Ramapo Mountains County Park Management Planning process?
The planning process is a one and a half year long effort that involves collecting existing park and population data, touring and evaluating the conditions of the nature park areas and facilities, and connecting with the public to gather community interests and needs. Input from park users will help the park planners develop the plan.
If you want to participate by taking the survey, click here.
Source: County of Bergen, http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/planning/os/ramapo.html
The Yellow Trail bog bridges
The Yellow Trail bog bridges south of Camp Yaw Paw and north of gas line are in passable shape but hikers should use caution. Full replacement due by October 2010
Source: John Moran, Trail Chair
The Yellow Trail bog bridges