Yellow-Silver Trail Schuber Trail Loop Ramapo Reservation

Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Schuber Trail: Orange blaze
Yellow-Silver Trail: Yellow-silver blaze
Yellow Trail: Yellow blaze
Silver Trail: Silver blaze

Total Time: 3:25 Hours
Estimated Distance: 7.4 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended

Points of Interest: Long hike with good view
Cons: Beginning part very busy

Hiking Partners:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Our last hike at Ramapo Reservation at the Bear Swamp area gave me some interest in further exploring the area. The problem is that there is no parking near Bear Swamp Road, so it requires a long hike to properly visit this area. But since I was never in this part before, it was worth it. The weather was colder than the extremely warm temperatures that we had been having. But it was still warmer than usual for early March.

We parked at the large parking log at Ramapo Valley County Reservation. Being a weekend, it was pretty busy, but was still early enough so that there was plenty of parking (you have to come early to get a parking spot here on weekends.) We took the Schuber Trail at the beginning along the Ramapo River, past the waterfalls, and then in the valley towards MacMillan Reservoir. We took some pictures at the reservoir, and then took the Yellow-Silver Trail from its beginning going in a southwest direction. We went up the back end of Matty Price Hill, went down the valley to the old ruin, and crossed Bear Swamp Brook and Bear Swamp Road. We took the trail to its terminus after it looped around to the west, and then took the Yellow Trail going northeast, starting or loop back.

Shortly thereafter, there is an excellent sweeping view facing north and east. The skyline of Manhattan is also clearly visible. We continued along the Schuber Trail, down the valley and again across the Bear Swamp Brook, and then met up with the Red-Silver Trail. We continued along the Schuber Trail as it turns here to start descending the mountain, past the MacMillan Reservoir dam going back down, and then veered off to the Silver Trail which we took down to the end, passing Scarlet Oak Reservoir on the left before crossing the Ramapo River prior to the parking lot.

Map of the Route. North Jersey Trails, Eastern Map

Me at the Dam Spillover of the MacMillan Reservoir

Dam Spillover from the MacMillan Reservoir

Ruin Along the Yellow-Silver Trail

Looking Into the Ruin

The Ruin as Seen from Bear Swamp Road

Shimmy at Bear Swamp Road Where it Crosses Bear Swamp Brook

Bear Swamp Brook

The first Signs of Spring! A Flowering Tree in Early March!

Yellow Trail Ascending Towards the View

Marker at the Summit where the View Is

Facing East Towards Giant Houses Near Seminary Road

Facing Northeast from the View Towards Matty Price Hill

Matty Price Hill

From the View Facing North

From the View Facing East

From the View Facing Southeast Towards Manhattan

Zoomed in to the Manhattan Skyline

From the View Facing Northeast

Shimmy Hiking Along the Ridgeline

Descending from the View

A Sliver of Remaining Snow

Ruins Along the Schuber Trail