Loop Hike to Ridge Overlook
Directions to trailhead
Take N.J. Route 17 to U.S. Route 202 in Mahwah. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp, proceed south on Route 202 for two miles, and turn right into the Ramapo Valley County Reservation parking area.
Hike Description
This hike climbs to the Ridge Overlook on a moderate route, offering hikers the opportunity to reach this viewpoint, as well as the scenic MacMillan Reservoir, without any steep climbing.
The hike begins at a kiosk in the southwest corner of the parking area. Just ahead, you'll notice a triple-black-square-on-yellow blaze on a tree, which marks the start of the Vista Spur Trail. Follow the black-square-on-yellow blazes as they descend wooden steps, join a wide dirt road, and continue ahead to cross the Ramapo River on a steel truss bridge.
Just beyond the bridge, bear right at the fork and begin to follow the purple-on-white-blazed Pond Trail, a wide dirt path which loops around the northern end of Scarlet Oak Pond. At first, the trail runs between the pond, on the left, and the Ramapo River, on the right. After passing the northeastern end of the pond, the trail bears left, and it again curves to the left at the northwestern end of the pond.
You’ll soon notice a footbridge on the right. Here, the yellow-blazed Vista Loop Trail joins from the right, and you should continue ahead on the wide path, now following both yellow and purple-on-white blazes. At the next intersection, the Pond Loop Trail ends and the Vista Loop Trail bears left, but you should bear right and follow the blue/yellow-blazed Vista-Ridge Connector, which begins here.
The Vista-Ridge Connector curves left and climbs gradually on the main park road. In a third of a mile, you'll notice on the left two sets of triple blazes, which mark the end of the Vista-Ridge Connector and the start of the blue-blazed Ridge Loop Trail. Continue ahead on the Ridge Loop Trail (do not turn left) and head uphill on a footpath with wooden steps. Just ahead, the blue blazes turn left onto a woods road, which ascends on a slightly steeper grade.
After curving to the left, the Ridge Loop Trail reaches a fork (with a sign: “Ramapo Reservation Parking Lot - 1.0 mile”). Turn left here and follow the yellow-blazed Vista Loop Trail for about 200 feet. When the yellow blazes turn sharply right, continue ahead, following black-star-on-yellow blazes a short distance to a panoramic southeast-facing viewpoint from a rock ledge. Campgaw Mountain may be seen in the foreground to the right, and the New York City skyline is visible in the distance on a clear day.
After taking in the view, retrace your steps to the yellow-blazed trail and turn left, following the trail as it descends steadily. Just before reaching a large pile of boulders, the trail turns right and climbs to a rocky outcrop, from which Matty Price Hill is visible ahead. The trail now descends towards the MacMillan Reservoir, passing another rocky outcrop (with a view of Matty Price Hill) along the way.
Soon, you’ll emerge onto a large expanse of open rock that overlooks the reservoir. Here, the pink-blazed Reservoir Loop Trail comes in from the right. Turn left and head southeast, parallel to the shore of the reservoir, now following both yellow and pink blazes. You’ll pass the concrete dam at the southeast corner of the reservoir and continue downhill to reach a junction with the main park road. The pink-blazed Reservoir Loop Trail ends here, and the blue-blazed Ridge Loop Trail comes in from the right.
Continue ahead and proceed downhill along the road, now following both blue and yellow blazes. Just before reaching a wide bridge over a stream (the outlet of the reservoir), at a sign for the "waterfall," follow the Vista Loop Trail as it turns right, leaving the road (the blue-blazed Ridge Loop Trail continues ahead on the road).
The yellow-blazed trail now begins to parallel the stream, with its attractive cascades and pools. Soon, it begins to descend on stone steps, passing an attractive waterfall along the way. This beautiful trail section was built in 2017-18 by an AmeriCorps trail crew of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. At the base of the descent, the Vista Loop Trail turns left and crosses the stream on a wooden footbridge.
Just ahead, the Vista Loop Trail bears left, as the black-square-on-orange-blazed River Spur Trail begins on the right. Follow the yellow-blazed trail for another quarter mile to a wide dirt road, where the loop ends. Turn right and continue along the wide dirt road parallel to the southern shore of Scarlet Oak Pond, then proceed across the bridge over the Ramapo River and climb steps to reach the parking area where the hike began.