Ramapo Valley County Reservation (commonly referred to as “Ramapo Reservation” or “The Reservation” is a large and very popular park in the Bergen County town of Mahwah. Located at the foot of the Ramapo Mountains, the reservation features many miles of hiking trails and access to nearby state parks, including Ramapo State Forest and Ringwood State Park. The park features many trails for more casual hikers as well, with Scarlett Oak Pond being especially popular with dog walkers. Further into the park is a waterfall, a small reservoir, and a series of overlooks.
Explore North Jersey Review: Extremely popular park with a good variety of hiking trails
Basic Information
Parking: 610 Ramapo Valley Rd, Mahwah, NJ 07430
Restrooms: Yes-in the parking area
Activities
Hiking
Ramapo Valley Reservation features many miles of hiking trails for all abilities. The trails in the park connect to Ramapo State Forest and Ringwood State Park, allowing virtually unlimited trail combinations.
Fishing
Visitors can fish in Scarlett Oak Pond and the Ramapo River.
Points of Interest
- MacMillan Falls
- Scarlett Oak Pond
- MacMillan Reservoir
- Hawk Rock and Cactus Ledge
Alerts
- Ramapo Valley Reservation is extremely popular. Despite having a large parking area, the park does fill to capacity on nice days. There is no alternate parking if the parking lot is full.
Scarlett Oak Pond
Most visitors spend their day near and around Scarlett Oak Pond. The pond provides an easy trail around its perimeter and multiple fishing areas. Swimming is not permitted.
MacMillan Falls
MacMillan Falls is an easy-to-reach to reach waterfall less than a mile from the parking area. At 20 feet tall, MacMillan Falls is good after a lot of rain. Unfortunately, if it has not rained in a while, MacMillan Falls runs dry.
MacMillan Reservoir
Above MacMillan Falls is a small reservoir. There is a short scenic loop around the reservoir. The reservoir is a good stop for those wanting a slightly longer hike with a slight degree of challenge while still not venturing too far into the woods.
Hawk Rock and Cactus Ledge
Situated above Scarlett Oak Pond are a pair of overlooks with views of the Ramapo Valley below, including Ramapo State College, and views of New York City in the distance. A hike up to these overlooks is moderately challenging as the trail heads steeply uphill immediately after passing Scarlett Oak Pond. This is arguably the most popular hike in the park (aside from the short trail around Scarlett Oak Pond), and you will likely see other visitors.
Posts About Ramapo Valley County Reservation
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MacMillan Falls: An Easy to Reach Winter Waterfall
MacMillan Falls is a scenic waterfall at Ramapo Valley County Reservation, and one of the best waterfalls in New Jersey to visit in the winter. The 20-foot waterfall becomes arguably more impressive in the winter, as the cascades freeze solid. At just over a half mile from the parking area with flat and easy terrain,…
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MacMillan Falls: An Easy to Reach Waterfall in Bergen County
MacMillan Falls (also known as Ramapo Falls), is an easy-to-reach waterfall in Bergen County’s Ramapo Valley Reservation. Less than a mile from the parking area is the 20-foot waterfall, passing the scenic Scarlet Oak Pond along the way. As one of the only waterfalls in Bergen County, this is a perfect place to visit for…
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