Hike of the Week 12/26/2002

Description:

The hike begins at a kiosk in the southwest corner of the parking area. Just ahead, you’ll notice three orange blazes on a tree. They mark the start of the Schuber Trail, dedicated in June 2002 to honor retiring Bergen County Executive Pat Schuber. You’ll be following this trail for the next mile and a half. Other trails will coincide with the Schuber Trail for portions of its route, so be careful to follow the orange blazes.

The Schuber Trail (here co-aligned with the Silver Trail) descends a slope to join a paved park road, passing a very large sycamore tree on the right. The paved road bears left, but the trail continues ahead and crosses the Ramapo River on a steel truss bridge. In another 250 feet, follow the orange blazes as they turn left, leaving the wide park road. Here, the Schuber Trail is joined by the red-on-white-blazed River Trail. The trails proceed ahead through a maze of tangled vines, soon reaching the beginning of a loop in the River Trail. Bear left here, continuing to follow the orange blazes.

The trail now follows a footpath along the shore of the Ramapo River. Since the footpath is in the floodplain of the river, it may be muddy or even flooded in places when the water is high. After passing a small cascade, the trail bears right, away from the river, and the red-on-white blazes depart to the right. Continue ahead, following the orange blazes, which turn left at the next intersection. Just beyond, the yellow-on-white-blazed Waterfall Trail joins the Schuber Trail. Continue ahead, crossing a wooden bridge over a stream, and you’ll come to the ruins of a stone cabin, built by a camp that once operated on this property.

Here, the trail turns right and begins a rocky climb along the stream. When it levels off, you’ll notice attractive cascades and pools in the stream to the right. The trail skirts a fallen tree and soon bears right to reach the main park road. The Waterfall Trail ends here, but you should turn left onto the paved road, following the orange blazes. The route is now shared by the Silver Trail, marked by circular silver discs. After crossing a bridge, be sure to follow the main road as it curves left (don’t follow the unblazed dirt road that continues straight ahead). Soon, the trail passes to the left of the stone dam of the MacMillan Reservoir. You’ve gone a little over a mile from the start, and this is a good place to take a break.

When you’re ready to continue, proceed ahead on the wide road, still marked with orange and silver blazes. The paving ends at the dam, and the route becomes rather rocky. For the next third of mile, the trail continues to climb. Several side trails lead to the left, but you should follow the main park road. After reaching the crest of the rise, the road begins to descend, and in 750 feet, you’ll reach a fork in the road. Here, the Silver Trail and the orange-blazed Schuber Trail continue ahead, but you should take the right fork, marked with the light-blue blazes of the Ridge Trail. (There is also a sign for the Ridge Trail here, with an arrow pointing to the right.)

The Ridge Trail continues to descend. After crossing a stream and its tributary, it ascends gradually, levels off, and briefly descends a rocky section of the road to cross another small stream. The trail now begins a steady climb, gradual for the most part, but rather steep in one section. As it nears the crest of the rise, it bends sharply to the right and levels off, continuing along the ridge. Rocky Mountain and Drag Hill are visible through the trees to the right.

After another short climb, you’ll reach a junction where the Ridge Trail turns right, leaving the road. Follow the blue blazes and the sign, and enter the woods on a footpath. (Straight ahead, the road is marked with the blue-on-white blazes of the Havemeyer Trail). Soon, the trail reaches an exposed rock ledge, where it bears left and continues over undulating terrain. The blue markers are a little sparse in places, but the footpath is clear and obvious. (You can also follow the blacked-out paint blazes which, contrary to what you might expect, do indicate the correct route).

In about half a mile, at the top of a short climb, you’ll begin to a parallel a stone wall to the left. The trail then descends to reach another woods road (the White Trail ends here). Turn right, continuing to follow the blue blazes, and follow the road downhill. In another 500 feet, you will notice a sign “Lookout,” with an unmarked path leading to the right. Turn right and follow this path for about 400 feet to a viewpoint over the Ramapo Valley, with Campgaw Mountain visible in the foreground to the right. On a clear day, the Manhattan skyline is visible in the distance. After taking in the view, return to the Ridge Trail and turn right. Almost immediately, you’ll reach another junction. Follow the blue-blazed trail as it turns right, leaving the woods road, and descends on a wide, rocky path.
After briefly rejoining the woods road, the trail curves right and descends to end at the main park road, the route of the Silver Trail. Turn left and follow the road downhill. Just ahead, as the road bends to the left, you’ll notice a beautiful waterfall on the stream in the valley to the right. Continue ahead on the woods road, blazed with circular silver disks, which bears right at the base of the descent, passes to the right of Scarlet Oak Pond, and continues across the bridge over the Ramapo River to end at the parking area where you started the hike.

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