This 3.5-mile figure-eight loop hike in the Ramapo Valley County Reservation climbs about 450 feet to traverse a little-used section of this popular park. It begins by paralleling the scenic Ramapo River, then climbs along a stream with a waterfall to reach the MacMillan Reservoir. After climbing some more to the stone ruins of an old mill race channel, the hike ends by following along the shore of Scarlet Oak Pond. Rated as moderate, the hike should take about two hours. Dogs are allowed on leash (this park is a favorite for dog lovers, and you should expect to encounter quite a few people walking their dogs along the way).
To get there, take N.J. Route 17 North to U.S. Route 202 in Mahwah. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp, proceed south on Route 202 for 2.0 miles, and turn right into the Ramapo Valley County Reservation parking area. GPS address: 608 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. The trailhead is 20 miles from Teaneck, and it should take about 25 minutes to get there.
The hike begins at a kiosk in the southwest corner of the parking area. Just ahead, you’ll notice a triple-black-square-on-yellow blaze on a tree, which marks the start of the Vista Spur Trail. Follow the black-square-on-yellow blazes as they descend wooden steps, join a wide dirt road, and continue ahead to cross the Ramapo River on a steel truss bridge.
Just beyond the bridge, the orange-on-white-blazed River Loop Trail begins on the left. Turn left, leaving the wide gravel road, and follow the River Loop Trail along a narrower footpath, parallel to 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.
Soon, you’ll reach a T-intersection, where the black-square-on-orange-blazed River Spur Trail begins on the left. Turn left onto the River Spur Trail, which continues along the river. After passing a small cascade, the trail bears right, away from the river, and crosses a wet area on rocks. It soon ends at a junction with the yellow-blazed Vista Loop Trail. Turn left onto the Vista Loop Trail and cross a stream on a wooden footbridge.
On the other side of the bridge, the trail turns sharply right and follows the cascading stream. Soon, it begins to climb on stone steps, passing an attractive waterfall along the way. This beautiful trail section was built in 2017-18 by an AmeriCorps trail crew of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. After passing more cascades and pools in the stream on the right, the Vista Loop Trail levels off, curves to the right, and reaches a junction with the wide park road leading to the MacMillan Reservoir.
Follow the Vista Loop Trail as it turns left, joining the blue-blazed Ridge Loop Trail, and continues along a paved section of the park road. A short distance ahead, the two trails diverge. The Vista Loop Trail continues ahead, but you should bear left to stay on the Ridge Loop Trail. 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, you’ll notice a triple red blaze on a tree, opposite the dam. This marks the start of the Marsh Loop Trail. Follow this red-blazed trail, which heads uphill on switchbacks, levels off, then resumes its climb.
After a relatively level stretch, you’ll reach a fork. The Yellow-Silver Trail begins on the left, but you should bear right and continue along the red-blazed Marsh Loop Trail. After curving sharply to the right and passing a phragmites marsh on the right, the Marsh Loop Trail parallels the stone-lined walls of an old mill race channel and reaches a junction with a wide woods road—the route of the blue-blazed Ridge Loop Trail.
Cross the road and continue ahead on the red-blazed Marsh Loop Trail, which descends steadily on a footpath through attractive woods, passing to the right of a deep ravine. It curves to the right and ends at a junction with the pink-blazed Reservoir Loop Trail near the shore of the MacMillan Reservoir.
Turn right and follow the Reservoir Loop Trail along the southwestern side of the reservoir, traversing some rocky areas. After continuing for some distance close to the shore, the Reservoir Loop Trail ends at a junction with the blue-blazed Ridge Loop Trail, just south of the dam.
Proceed ahead (downhill) on the Ridge Loop Trail, which follows the wide park road. You’ll be following the wide road all the way back to the parking area. Soon, the yellow-blazed Vista Loop Trail joins from the left, but when the two trails diverge, bear left to stay on the blue-blazed Ridge Loop Trail. A short distance ahead, you’ll reach a junction where a triple-blue blaze marks the end of the Ridge Loop Trail. Here, you should bear right and follow the descending route of the blue/yellow-blazed Vista-Ridge Connector. Near the base of the descent, the Vista-Ridge Connector curves to the right, and it soon ends at a junction with the yellow-blazed Vista Loop Trail. Proceed straight ahead on the wide park road, and in 100 feet you’ll notice a triple black-square-on-yellow blaze, which marks the start of the Vista Spur Trail. Continue ahead on the Vista Spur Trail, which passes to the right of Scarlet Oak Pond, continues across the bridge over the Ramapo River, and ends at the parking area where the hike began.
This hiking article is provided by Daniel Chazin of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. Daniel Chazin can be reached at [email protected].
