Ramapo Lake and Castle Point Winter Hike

Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Bergen and Passaic Counties,
New Jersey

Hiking Trail:
Skyline Connector Trail: White/Red blaze
Cannonball Trail: Red blaze
Macevoy Trail: Blue blaze
Castle Point Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 1:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.6 Miles

Pros: Scenic area, nice views, and pretty lake
Cons: Homes take away from wilderness feel at first part of trail

There was still plenty of snow here from the big storm a week and a half prior. I had hike this area in 2012, and remembered it being very scenic. I was never along these trails in the winter, and I did a reverse hike than the one I did in 2012. I parked I parked on the upper parking area on Skyline Drive, and took the short Skyline Connector Trail to the Cannonball Trail. I took the Cannonball Trail down towards Ramapo Lake as it descended the ridge, and then too a short bushwack near Ramapo Lake to the Macevoy Trail.

I took some pictures at the lake, and then continued on the Macevoy Trail along the northern shore of Ramapo Lake for a very short distance to the Castle Point Trail. I took the Castle Point Trail up the steep hill to the castle ruins, a large home built by stockbroker William Porter in 1910, and abandoned in the 1940's, and then ruined in the 1950's. At this area there is also a nice view of the Wanaque Reservoir and Wyanokies. I continued along the Castle Point Trail to the Cannonball Trail, and then back to the Skyline Connector Trail, and then back to my car.

Map of the Route

Skyline Connector Trail, Full of Snow

Ramapo Lake, Northern Part

Another View at Ramapo Lake

Me at Ramapo Lake

Ramapo Lake Islands

Ramapo Lake Facing South

Another View of Ramapo Lake

Castle Point Trail Sign

View Southwest from Castle Point

View West from Castle Point Overlooking Wanaque Reservoir

View of Rockland Lake from Castle Point

Another View of Ramapo Lake

Overlooking Castle from Across the Mountain

View from Castle Point Facing East to High Point and NYC Skyline

Zoomed in to NYC Skyline

Wanaque Reservoir from Castle Point

Selfie at Castle Point

Another NYC Skyline View

The Abandoned Castle

Another View of the Abandoned Castle

Inside the Castle

The Trail in the Castle

The Next View at Castle Point, Further Up

Another View of the Wanauqe Reservoir

And Another

And One More

Another Structure North of the Castle

A Closer View

View Right Before Descending

Le Grande Hill Ramapo Mountain Forest

Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Bergen Co./Passaic Co.
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
MacEvoy Trail: Blue blaze
Hoeferlin Memorial Trail: Yellow blaze
Lookout Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 1:30 Hours
Estimated Distance: 2.7 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended

Points of Interest: Scenic lake, good view
Cons: Very busy on weekend up until lake with limited parking

Hiking Partner:
Rachel Friedman

This was a beautiful late September day, with a bright blue sky and very comfortable temperatures. We parked at the main parking area at the bottom of Skyline Drive, nearby the I-287 exit, and hiked up the very busy MacEvoy Trail to Ramapo Lake at the outlet. We crossed the dam and walked along the lake for a short distance and then took the combined Hoeferlin Memorial Trail and Lookout Trail up the mountain to the view. There is a very good view here of the Wyankokies and Wyankoie High Point. We continued along the trail at the ridgeline, and then took the Lookout Trail back around the loop and then started descending. Once the valley of the Ramapo Lake outlet stream came into view, we bushwacked down through the valley and across the brook back to the MacEvoy Trail, and we took that trail back to the car.

Ramapo Lake,Ramapo Mountain State Forest

Bergen and Passaic Counties,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
MacEvoy Trail: Blue blaze
Lookout Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 45 minutes
Estimated Distance: 1.5 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a short hike to a pretty lake
Points Of Interest: Beautiful Lake that must be hiked to.

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

I had exhibited at a trade show for much of the day, so only had a chance to do a short hike in the area near where I was. It was already nearing the end of the day, and this was a perfect hike. Being that this is one of the prettiest times to go hiking, as this was nearing the peak of the fall foliage, I really would have liked to do a longer hike, but I'll take what I can get. This happens to be a great short hike with a beautiful lake at the end.

I parked in the Parking area off Skyline Drive nearby the I-287 interchange. I took the MacEvoy Trail up to the Lake, and I had attempted to take the lookout trail, but realized it was too late as it was already starting to get dark. So I returned with the portion of the Lookout Trail going parallel to the stream and the MacEvoy Trail, and then cut through across the stream before that trail climbs up the mountain, and I diverted back to the MacEvoy Trail and then back to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Foliage Along the side of the Lake

Sun Dipping Down over the Lake

Foliage and Reflection off Ramapo Lake, from the Dam.

Another foliage shot from the Dam.

And One More.

And here is a Professional Photographer Trying
to get a Similar Shot to Mine

Foliage at the Parking Area

Ramapo Mountain State Forest

Oakland,
Bergen County,
New Jersey

Trails:
MacEvoy Trail: Blue blaze
Hoeferlin Trail: Yellow blaze
Lookout Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 1:15 hr
Estimated Distance: 2.4 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended, though too many people
Points Of Interest: Scenic Lake, Nice views of the Wyanokies

Google Maps of Parking:

View Hiking Blog Localities in a larger map

Ramapo Mountain State Forest contains a dense network of trails in a small area in the Ramapo Highlands of New Jersey. There are some scenic views with a picturesque lake, though the trails here are very busy, especially on weekends. I parked in the lower parking area on Skyline Drive near Oakland, right off Interstate 287. Took the MacEvoy Trail up to Ramapo Lake, and then took the Hoeferlin Trail (combined with the Lookout Trail) up the mountain to the viewpoint, and then continued along and picked up the Lookout Trail. There is a spur that goes to a view off the Lookout Trail, though I didn't find it, probably partly due to my being in a big rush to get back home. After the descent of the Lookout Trail, took a short bushwack across the brook back to the MacEvoy Trail and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Ramapo Lake from the easternmost point

Ramapo Lake from the Dam

Lookout Trail Marker

View From the Summit Lookout,
Looking north towards Ramapo Lake and the Wyanokies

The same view, zoomed in,
with Wyanokie High Point in the Distance.

View from the Summit Lookout, Facing West.

View from the Summit Lookout, Facing South

View From the Lookout Trail before descending.
Facing northeast directly towards Interstate 287.