Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Park Overview:
Ramapo Valley Reservation features a network of five loop trails, all beginning within a two-mile radius of the parking lot. The Vista Loop Trail (yellow blaze) includes three panoramic views, a pond, a reservoir and a waterfall. The park is a popular destination for dog walking.
Park Description:
“The Reservation,” located in Mahwah, is a popular Bergen County Park. Many visitors walk around 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). It is a favorite of dog owners who exercise their pets.
Ramapo Valley Reservation also offers challenging hiking. Outside the commonly used core area, the parkland has been left in its natural -- mostly hilly and rocky -- wild state, forming part of the eastern tier of the Ramapo Mountains. Several of its 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. One example, the Schuber Trail (orange; 4.7 miles + 1.8 miles from parking lot), passes through Camp Glen Gray and continues to its southern terminus at Skyline Drive.
Fishing is permitted with a valid NJ fishing license.
Trails Overview:
The newly configured loop trails at Ramapo Valley Reservation are:
- Vista Loop (yellow; loop 3.75 miles; trailhead at parking lot; rated “moderate to strenuous”) – Destined to become the Reservation’s signature trail. Hikers can follow a single set of yellow blazes from the parking lot in a counterclockwise direction (recommended) to view three panoramas: Hawk Rock, Cactus Ledge – a spectacular new addition to the trail system -- and Ridge Overlook. Additional park features include Scarlet Oak Pond, MacMillan Reservoir, and MacMillan Brook (and its waterfall). Its "moderate-to-strenuous" rating is due to the steep ascent up to Hawk Rock and Cactus Ledge.
- Click for a detailed description of a hike on this trail.
- Ridge Loop (blue; loop 3.0 miles, total to/from parking lot, 4.25 miles; rated “moderate plus”) – The existing trail to Ridge Overlook and along Monroe Ridge is extended back down to the south end of MacMillan Reservoir to meet Vista Loop Trail. Recommended hiking direction: counterclockwise
- Marsh Loop (red; loop 1.1 miles, total to/from parking lot, 3.5 miles; rated “moderate”) – Begins opposite MacMillan Reservoir dam and loops to rejoin MacMillan Reservoir at its northern end, at an intersection with the Reservoir Loop Trail near Scout bridge. Recommended hiking direction: clockwise
- Reservoir Loop (pink; loop 0.65 mile, total to/from parking lot, 3.0 miles; rated “moderate”) – Existing scenic trail circles most of MacMillan Reservoir. Hike rated moderate due to rocky patches. Recommended hiking direction: clockwise
- Pond Loop (silver; loop 0.9 mile, total to/from parking lot 1.1 miles; rated “easy”) – Combine with segment of Vista Loop Trail (yellow) to circle Scarlet Oak Pond. Wide, hard-packed sand roadway that can be navigated with strollers.
Related changes:
- River Trail (orange/green dot, designed “OG” on revised trail map, 0.4 mile) – New trail name, incorporates 0.4 mile segment of former Schuber Trail running southwest along the Ramapo River.
- Schuber Trail (orange) – now begins 1.8 miles from parking lot. To reach the trailhead: Vista Loop Trail (yellow) to Ridge Loop Trail (blue) clockwise to the west of MacMillan Reservoir to Red-Silver Trail, proceed just over 0.1 mile further, make sharp left to head south on Schuber Trail.
- Havemeyer Trail – blazing changed from blue/white to purple to eliminate confusion with blue Ridge Loop Trail.
- Silver Trail – no longer blazed from parking lot; see Pond Loop Trail
- Halifax Trail (green) now begins north of Cactus Ledge (along Vista Loop Trail)
- Yellow/Silver Trail now begins off Marsh Loop Trail, 0.5 mile from MacMillan Reservoir dam.
Beyond the Reservation’s “core” recreation area around Scarlet Oak Pond/ MacMillan Reservoir is an extended network of trails both within the park and connecting to other public lands. Use Web Map link near top of page. To view full descriptions of hikes in the Reservation, click here. Photographs taken along a Vista Loop hike may be seen here (October 2016).
Park Acreage:
4290.00 acresMunicipality:
MahwahRamapo Valley Reservation features a network of five loop trails, all beginning within a two-mile radius of the parking lot. The Vista Loop Trail (yellow blaze) includes three panoramic views, a pond, a reservoir and a waterfall. The park is a popular destination for dog walking.
“The Reservation,” located in Mahwah, is a popular Bergen County Park. Many visitors walk around 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). It is a favorite of dog owners who exercise their pets.
Ramapo Valley Reservation also offers...
Park Acreage:
4290.00 acresMunicipality:
MahwahContact Information
Web Link:
Bergen County Department of ParksPhone:
(201) 336-7275Fees:
NoneDogs in park:
Dogs on leashTrip Reports
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