Ramapo Reservation Fall Hike

Ramapo Valley County Reservation,
Bergen Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Vista Loop Trail: Yellow blaze
River Trail: Orange/Green blaze

Total Time: 0:35 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.1 Miles

Pros: Scenic area
Cons: Very busy and crowded area

The previous day has a featured a large coastal storm with several inches of rain. I had time for a quick hike near my work at Ramapo Reservation. Fall foliage was in peak color, and it lasted later than usual than in previous years. I parked in the main parking lot, took the trail across the Ramapo River, and then took the River trail. The River Trail had many problems, from fallen trees to flooding, and each time I had an obstacle, I contemplated turning around. However, I persisted, but at the last flooded area, I fell off an unstable branch in the water and fell knee deep into the water. I then took the Vista Loop Trail back, taking the path parallel to Scarlet Oak Pond, back to my car.

The pictures below were taken with my cell phone camera.

Map of the Route

Scarlet Oak Pond

Scarlet Oak Pond and Hawk Rock

Scarlet Oak Pond Eastern Shore

Scarlet Oak Reservoir and Fall Foliage

River Trail Trailhead

Felled Tree Blocking the River Trail

Large Puddle Blocking the River Trail

Very Large, Impassible Flooded River Trail

Scarlet Oak Pond, on Return Route

Hawk Rock and Scarlet Oak Pond

Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Mahwah,
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Silver Trail: Silver blaze
Scarlet Oak Pond Path: Unblazed
Halifax Trail: Green Blaze

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.0 Miles
Level of Difficulty: East
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended for a short hike

Points of Interest: Scenic lake and short hike to view
Cons: Way too many people here on weekend

This was another beautiful September day with a bright blue sky. I had a very busy schedule, so had to keep the hike relatively short. This hike features a very scenic lake and short hike to a view, but the problem is that it is insanely busy on weekends, with well over 100 cars in the large parking area.

I parked in the main parking area, and took the path to the Silver Trail, across the Ramapo River bridge. I then took the wide Scarlet Oak Pond Path around the lake in the full loop to the Halifax Trail. I took the Halifax Trail up the somewhat steep ascent to the view at Hawk Rock. Hawk Rock is a large exposed rock with a straight cliff going down, overlooking Scarlet Oak Pond to the south and Ramapo College to the west. I turned around after Hawk Rock and went back down the same trail to the Scarlet Oak Pond Road, and then went a loop around the other way of the lake via the Silver Trail. I then took this route back to my car.

Map of the Route. North Jersey Trails

Scarlet Oak Pond

Scarlet Oak Pond

The Ramapo River

The Same View as Above Zoomed into a Flock of Mallard Ducks

Ramapo Mountain from Scarlet Oak Pond Road

Scarlet Oak Pond from Hawk Rock. Facing South.

Zoomed in to Scarlet Oak Pond from Hawk Rock

Ramapo College from Hawk Rock and Lake Henry

View from Hawk Rock Facing Northeast

Another View of Ramapo College from Hawk Rock

Scarlet Oak Pond from the Silver Trail, at the End Route of the Hike

Nurian Trail to Boston Mine, Harriman State Park

Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Nurian Trail: White blaze
Dunning Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 3:00 hours
Estimated Distance: 6.0 miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Good climb, Remote Area, Historical Mine, Scenic Pond
Pros: Good climb, nice area, hardly-used area of the park
Cons: Trailhead doesn't exist, beginning of hike is too loud from the highway

Hiking Partners:
Eli Koegel

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This was my first time doing this part of the Nurian Trail. I found the trailhead difficult to find because the map is incorrect and there aren't the symbolic three markers at the trailhead. I parked in the same parking area as the Southfields post office, and walked down a little street (Spring Street) to Railroad Ave. I then walked along the side of the railroad tracks north for a little bit until the trail came out of the right side. In retrospect I should have parked off the side of Route 17 north of Railroad Ave. since you can pick up the trail from there much easier without having to walk along the side of the tracks.

The Nurian Trail crosses the Ramapo River on an old bridge shortly thereafter, and then crosses over the busy Thruway on a pedestrian bridge. The trail then follows and old road parallel to the highway and then proceeds to climb the mountain. We climbed up and then back down to the Stahahe Brook Valley, and then ascending through the scenic "Valley of Boulders" up to a small viewpoint near Green Pond. At this point the Dunning Trail begins, but we continued along the Nurian Trail along its parallel course to the Dunning and when we hit the old mine road, we took the Dunning Trail to the Boston Mine.

The Boston Mine features a T-shaped cut with a large, water-filled hole going into the hill on one side. After the mine we bushwacked a short distance back to the road, and then took the Nurian Trail along the north side of Green Pond. This is a beatiful, natural pond that has beaver huts along the edges. There are small cliffs alongside the north and west side of it, where the trail go, making it particularly scenic, especially in the foliage. At the end of the trail it climbs up a hill to a nice view facing west. At this point we hit back to the Nurian Trail and took this same return route all the way back.

Map of the Route
Harriman State Park both Northern and Southern Maps

Crossing the Ramapo River

Pedestrian Bridge Across the Busy Thruway

Above the Thruway on the Pedestrian Bridge

Pretty Autumn Scene near Stahahe Brook.
Notice the Orange Boat cut in Half Towards the Right

Destruction Wrought by Hurricane Sandy,
Exactly One Year Ago

Entrance to the Boston Mine

The Main Hole of the Boston Mine

Green Pond Marsh Foliage

Green Swamp from the Dunning Trail, on the North Flank

Hill Along the Side of the Green Pond

Green Pond, View Taken from the West Side

Zoomed into a Beaver Hut in the Green Pond

Beautiful Red Blueberry Foliage

Ascending Towards the view

Sugar Maple Tree in Foliage

View at the End of the Dunning Trail. Facing West.

The Same View, Zoomed in More

View Facing Southwest

Mountains Behind the Trees at the End of the Dunning Trail

Lake Henry, Continental Soldiers Park

Mahwah,
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Lake Henry Trail: Unblazed

Total Time: 0:25 hours
Estimated Distance: 1.0 mile

Level of Difficulty: Very Easy
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Tranquil Lake and pretty scenery
Pros: Quiet area and very pretty lake with lots of interesting waterfowl
Cons: Double-track path takes away from natural setting

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This is a little-known trail in Mahwah, right across from Ramapo College. Although it was a weekday, a beautiful, upper-70's day in the fall called to me for a quick lunchtime hike.

This area is right next to Ramapo Mountain Reservation, which is more well-known, but is not connected to it and is separated by the Ramapo River. There is a new trail that was created surrounding Lake Henry, and it is a pretty path with nice scenery of the lake and the mountains behind the lake. Lake Henry forms from a spur of the Ramapo River, and seems to be a natural lake with no dam. At the far end of the lake there is a short path to the main artery of the Ramapo River, which runs behind the lake. There were several interesting species of waterfowl present when I was there, including swans and several types of ducks. There are two bridges, one crossing at the inlet and one crossing at the outlet of the lake. The trail starts behind the park and tennis courts, and the path is a complete loop around the lake.

Map of the Route

Map Kiosk at the Beginning of the Trail

Foliage at the Ramapo Mountains

Ramapo Mountains and Hawk Rock Behind Lake Henry

Lake Henry with Ramapo Mountains  and Hawk Rock

Ditto

From  the Eastern Side of the Lake

Lake Henry from the Western Swan,
with all Different Waterfowl Swimming Around

Swan in the Lake

Swan and Duck Together

Bridge Over the Outlet of the Lake

Outlet of the Lake

Stunning View  from Southern  Part of the Lake

Another View from the Southern Part of the Lake