Frozen Ramapo Lake

Ramapo Mountain State Forest,
Bergen and Passaic Cos.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
MacEvoy Trail: Blue blaze

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Total time: 2:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.4 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points of Interest: Frozen lake, scenic area, historical sites
Pros: Pretty scenery and frozen lake
Cons: Lots of people

Ramapo Lake is a scenic lake in the Ramapo Mountains of New Jersey. There is no direct road access, and it requires a short hike to get, which adds to its scenery. Nevertheless, it is still very busy here on weekends, and I was surprised how busy it was considering it was a cold winter day with snow in the forecast. The snow was expected later in the day, and we got back just in time as the snow had just started falling prior to getting home.

We hiked up the MacEvoy Trail to the lake. This part of the trail was particularly icy and very difficult, and I did not have crampons since losing my other ones several weeks prior. Once we got to the lake dam, we walked across heading northwest to the other end of lake where all the islands are. This lake has many islands, and we explored many of them. The largest island contains a ruin of some old furnace. We explored this too, though I have no idea what the purpose of this was for.

From the large island we passed a pocket of ice fisherman, and then I headed down to the southern end of the lake which gets narrow and swampy. From there I cut across to the ring road, and headed back north to the dam and the McEvoy Trail. We took the MacAvoy Trail back down to the parking area.

Map of the Route
Jersey Highlands Map

Shimmy Walking Along the MacEvoy Trail Towards Ramapo Lake

Shimmy Resting on a Large Rock on the MacEvoy Trail

Me at the Beginning of the Lake Near the Dam

Looking North Towards Castle Point

Shimmy on Ramapo Lake

Me on  Small Island at the Northern Part of the Lake

Me Between the Islands

Approaching the Large Island, with the Furnace in the Background

Abandoned Storage Depot on the Big Island, Covered in Snow

Large Furnace on the Island

Another View of the Furnance

Ice Fisherman at Ramapo Lake

Heading South 

View from the Southern End of Ramapo Lake Towards Castle Point

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

Todd Trail Lookout

Ramapo Mountain State Forest,
Bergen County,
New Jersey

Trails:
Todd Trail: White blaze
Yellow Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:10 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.1 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a short hike
Points Of Interest: Viewpoint and tranquil pond

Hiking Partner:
Rachel Friedman

Ramapo Mountain State Forest,
Bergen County,
New Jersey

Trails:
Todd Trail: White blaze
Yellow Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:10 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.1 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a short hike
Points Of Interest: Viewpoint and tranquil pond

Hiking Partner:
Rachel Friedman

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

This trail is in a busy hiking area in the Ramapo Mountains of New Jersey. Though the parking area was full being a nice Sunday, the trail was very quiet. I parked on Skyline Drive near the top of the mountain, and took the Todd Trail slightly down the mountain along to the viewpoint. This viewpoint overlooks Oakland and the suburban sprawl further east. From the lookout headed back and then veered off on the Yellow Trail to Todd Lake. Todd Lake is a small yet very tranquil pond in the woods. It is full of Lily Pads and had more tadpoles in it than I have every seen before. After stopping at the pond we turned around and went back to the Todd Trail and headed back to our car.

Map of the Route

Approaching the Lookout on the Todd Trail

Lookout on the Todd Trail. Facing East.

Todd Lake

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:

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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.