Scarlet Oak Pond to MacMillan Reservoir

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

Hiking Trails:
Silver Trail: Silver blaze
Scarlet Oak Pond Path: Unblazed
Pink * Trail: Pink blaze
Waterfall Trail: Yellow blaze

* This is a new trail near the MacMillan Reservoir, and its not yet on the map and I don't know its name.

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.6 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Highly recommended
Points Of Interest: Scenic lakes
Pros: Beautiful lake scenery and foliage
Cons: Very busy with lots of people, even on a weekday

Google Map of Parking:

View 2014 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This was a beautiful, late-October fall day with temperatures in the 70's. Though it was a weekday, I took a bit extra off for lunch to do this hike. I parked in the large parking lot at the entrance, and took the Silver Trail across the Ramapo River, and at the Scarlet Oak Pond took the wide loop trail around it. I then went back on the Silver Trail, climbing up the hill through the valley, and near the MacMillan Reservoir, I took a short spur to the south side of the dam. This used to be a well-known shortcut; now it's blazed pink and keeps on going after the dam.

I walked across the dam and headed back south on the Silver Trail, and then took the Waterfall Trail down. The waterfall to the side of this trail was not impressive due to the prolonged dryness. I took the Waterfall Trail back to the Silver Trail, back to my car.

Map of the Route. North Jersey Trails.

Small Pond Filled with Duckweed Near the Entrance of the Park

The Trail at the Beginning Crossing the Ramapo River

White Dove at the Beginning of the Trail.
It was Just Resting on the Bridge.
It had a Tag on its Foot - Must have been Released to the Wild.

View of the Ramapo River Crossing From the Bridge.
Facing South.

View Approaching Scarlet Oak Pond

Scarlet Oak Pond

Scarlet Oak Pond

Scarlet Oak Pond

Scarlet Oak Pond

Scarlet Oak Pond

Facing North Towards Hawk Rock

MacMillan Reservoir

MacMillan Reservoir

Intersection Of Silver Trail and Waterfall Trail

Monksville Reservoir View

Monksville Reservoir,
Long Pond Ironworks State Park
Passaic Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Monks Trail: White blaze
Monks Trail Lookout: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 0:40 hours
Estimated Distance: 1 mile
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended for a short hike
Points Of Interest: Beautiful Viewpoint, Cactus Grove
Pros: Very scenic
Cons: Power lines are a slight view spoiler

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This was a very short hike. Although the trail goes further, due to my limited time I only took it up to the viewpoint and then back. I parked the car at the southern parking area of Monksville Reservoir, near the trail, and took the trail west up the mountain. You have to go in just a little bit off the parking area to find the  trail. I climbed up to the top where I took the spur trail to the view. The early autumn view was excellent, with the cactus grove on top producing prickly pear fruit (I tried tasting it but it didnt have much flavor). I then turned around and took the same way back down the mountain.

Map of the Route

View From the Parking Area. Facing Southwest.

Early Foliage on the Side of the Reservoir.
Facing West.

Amazing Picture From the Shore Facing Southwest.

Approaching the View at the end of the Climb.

End of the Spur Trail. Facing South.

Facing South from the View

Another View Facing South

Prickly Pear Cactus Grove At the View

Prickly Pear Fruits. I tried tasting one of these but it wasn't too tasty.

Early Foliage At the End of the Hike.

Bright Red Tree at the Reservoir.

Ringwood Manor Trail Loop

Ringwood State Park
Passaic County,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Manor Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:15 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.3 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Not Recommended
Points Of Interest: Scenic mansion gardens and grounds, tranquil lake 
Pros: Pretty walk through mansion property,
Cons: $8 charge for parking, first part of hiking trail is an old road rather then traditional hiking trail,

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

The weather was rainy and steamy, so I had to pick a short hike that was not too intense. Although for most of the hike it was not raining, it did rain steadily for some time and I got considerably wet. I parked in the Ringwood Manor Parking lot, and walked alongside the Ringwood Manor Mansion next to the marble pillars and small pond. I continued through the grassy area alongside the south part of the Ringwood Mill Pond, where I picked up the Manor Trail. This is a loop trail that starts and ends at the same point. It is a rather uninteresting trail without any viewpoints or points of interest, aside from an old historical cemetery along the trail. After completing the loop and getting very wet, I explored the property a bit more and walked through some of the gardens and groves before heading back to my car in the main parking lot.

Map of the Route

Marble Pillar Columns on the Manor Grounds

Small Pond in Front of the Manicured Grounds

The Western Side of the Manor

Mill Pond from the Northern Side

Another View of Mill Pond

Old Historic Cemetery Along the Trail

Trail Passing Underneath a Fallen Tree

Confluence of Trails at the Beginning of the Loop

Monks Trail Loop,Monksville Reservoir

Long Pond Ironworks State Park
Passaic Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Monks Trail: White blaze
Monks Trail Lookout: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 3 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Nice lake view, historical mine, cactus grove

Google Map of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

This looks like a shorter and simpler hike on the map than reality. Also the top spur to the lookout is missing on my 2002 map edition, and the Monks Trail is not listed as a loop. I really need to update my maps of this area. I parked the car at the boat launch at the Monksville Reservoir, and walked up to Greenwood Lake Turnpike, where I went to catch the Lookout Trail. On the map it shows this trail starts here, but in fact it now starts at the end of the parking area and forms a complete loop, ending at the same point where it starts. I went along the trail to the Winston Mine, and explored a little bit around here. Then continued along the trail to the other side of the Monksville Reservoir, where there is a different parking area. At this point the trail climbs steeply up the mountain, and there is a spur on top to a beautiful view. At this view is a nice cactus grove. I then went back to the Monks Trail and continued along down to the mountain, and then alongside the reservoir near the end of the trail.

Map of the Route.
Note the USGS Map was mapped prior to the
creation of the Monksville Reservoir, so I artificially added it in Photoshop.

Main pit of the Winston Mine

Another large pit in the Winston Mine

View from the 2nd parking area halfway along the hike.

Ditto

View from Atop the Lookout. Facing south across
the Monksville Resrervoir

Same view with broader perspective

Some sort of hut on top by the lookout.

Cactus Grove at the Summit.
The cacti are withered this time of year.

Shore of the reservoir near the end of the hike
where the trail makes its final descent.

Terrace Pond at Bearfort Mountain

Wawayanda State Park,
Passaic Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Terrace Pond North Trail: Blue blaze
Terrace Pond Trail: White blaze

Total Time:  2:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.2 miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Good climb, interesting rock formations, and impressively scenic natural lake

Google Map of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

Many parks and trails were still closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. I was in the vicinity of West Milford, and had heard about the scenic and serene Terrace Pond which is nearby, so I took this opportunity. Terrace Pond is a natural Lake high up on top of Bearfort Mountain, known for its interesting purple puddingstone rock, with rough climbing exposures and scrambles.

I parked at the trailhead at Clinton Road, and took the Terrace Pond North Trail. The first part is a scenic and tranquil part with an even terrain, and then the trail meets up with a gas pipeline which it briefly climbs, steeply. After the pipeline there are some nice scrambles and views, and eventually Terrace Pond is reached, with its beautiful waters and cliffs plunging into the lake. This is a natural lake and is not dammed. The trail goes over its outlet, which is on the south of the lake, and I found this part extremely flooded and muddy, and very difficult to navigate.

I then veered off on the white-blazed Terrace Pond Trail, which loops around the lake. After completing the trail, I was back at the Terrace Pond North Trail, and I took that trail back the same way I came.

At the pond, I met two park volunteers, who were scouting the area for downed trees to cut along the trails. They had mentioned to me they sighted a bear in the vicinity of the pipeline, so I should be cautious. I didn't see any bear here, but apparently many others have sighted bears on this hike in the vicinity of the pipeline.

Map of the Route

Sign Kiosk at the beginning of the hike

Rocks Crossing a stream

Gas Pipeline. The Bear lives around here.

Steep Rocks Climbing the Pipeline

View from atop the pipeline

Rock Face at Scramble at the main view

Rounded, glaciated rock protruding up at the view

View, facing west.

Same view, facing southwest.

Terrace Pond, from the south shore.

Natural outlet of Terrace Pond.
This area lacks a bridge and is very muddy and difficult to cross.

Terrace pond, from the east shore facing west.

Ditto